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Two powerhouse chefs with deep New York ties are joining forces for a one-night-only dinner that blurs the line between street-food nostalgia and Michelin-level technique.
On March 24, in celebration of Women’s History Month, Yingtao will host a four-course, $90 collaboration with Saigon Social, bringing together chef Emily Yuen of Yingtao and chef Helen Nguyen of Saigon Social for a menu inspired by “Chinese-Vietnamese street food” through a contemporary lens. The event marks part one of a two-part collaboration and highlights female leadership in the kitchen at a moment when both chefs are earning national attention.
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Yuen and Nguyen are James Beard semifinalists and alumni of legendary French chef Daniel Boulud, and that shared fine-dining foundation underpins the evening. But this won’t be a white-tablecloth tasting menu in the traditional sense. Instead, the chefs are leaning into bold, personal flavors that reflect their roots.
The concept centers on the cultural and culinary overlap between Chinese and Vietnamese cuisines, two traditions that have long influenced one another yet are often flattened into generic “fusion.” Expect layered broths, punchy herbs, fermented depth and textural contrast—classic street market flavors—reimagined with the refinement of fine-dining kitchens.
For Yingtao, the evening represents a deliberate departure from its usual format. The portions will be more generous, the structure more relaxed and the atmosphere more celebratory than the restaurant’s typical tasting experience. It’s designed to feel like a gathering as much as a dinner, one that honors shared history, mentorship and the evolving role of women at the helm of serious kitchens.
Saigon Social, known for its vibrant, Vietnamese-driven cooking, brings a distinctly downtown energy to the collaboration. Paired with Yingtao’s polished sensibility, the result is expected to be dynamic and deeply personal rather than trend-chasing.
At $90 per person, the dinner offers an accessible way to experience two nationally recognized chefs working side by side. In a city saturated with pop-ups and collabs, this one stands out for its intention: not just a mash-up of brands, but a conversation between culinary identities shaped in New York and refined through years in some of the country’s most demanding kitchens.
The March 24 event is just the first chapter, with a second installment planned for later this year. For now, consider this your invitation to snag a seat at what’s likely to be one of the more meaningful (and delicious) Women’s History Month events on the city’s dining calendar.
Reservations can be made on OpenTable.