Christina Nguyen is the chef and co-owner of Hai Hai and Hola Arepa, two eateries that have been enriching the food landscape in Minneapolis, Minn., for at least a decade. As a matter of fact, Christina and her family members have been doing the same thing – and for much more than 10 years. The self-taught chef was born and raised in the Twin Cities by parents who emigrated from Vietnam during the war. They met as students at the University of Minnesota, fell in love, started a rock cover band and settled down to have a family.
Proving the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, Christina operated her own boba stop and clothing boutique before starting a mobile Latin-food spot with her husband, Birk. No longer on wheels, her Hola Arepa is a popular and lively Latin American café, and Hai Hai has been called “a love letter to the flavors and lush tropical beauty of Southeast Asia.” A James Beard Award finalist, Christina’s restaurants have been featured in Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Esquire and a host of other publications.