It might surprise you to hear that actors Don Johnson (Miami Vice) and Cheech Marin (Cheech and Chong) paired with husband and wife chef team Khai Duong and Kieu-Loan Phan to open a modern Vietnamese restaurant in Ghirardelli Square. Ana…
Yes, Don Johnson is part owner. But more importantly, this Fisherman's Wharf favorite serves excellent, inventive Vietnamese food in an outstandingly beautiful setting. Chef Khai Duong is considered a pioneer of modern Vietnamese cuisine with stacks of awards to back up the claim. Amid a shuttered room with mood lighting, palm trees, and Vietnamese-inspired decor, diners (mostly tourists)...
Peep the pro soundstage lighting across the ceiling? With founding owner Don Johnson, such Hollywood details are par for the course. Cordon Bleu-trained Chef Khai Duong makes this lavish Ghirardelli Sq. destination purr. Crispy lobster ravioli, tender Mekong basa, and lemongrass-infused Ana Mandara cocktails that go down way too easy. Dinner menu too expensive for our tastes. Plan B: Eat pupus...
Actors Don Johnson and Cheech Marin have teamed with husband and wife chef team Khai Duong and Kieu-Loan Phan to create a modern Vietnamese restaurant tucked away in Ghirardelli Square. The name means beautiful refuge, and it fits---Ana Mandara is one of the city's most beautiful restaurants, with the dramatic look of a palatial Southeast Asian home. Past the courtyard entrance, different areas...