The word Phuc means “blessings and prosperity” in Vietnamese—a fitting name for a restaurant built on celebrating culture, community, and unforgettable dining experiences.
Founded in 2011, Phuc Yea began as Miami’s first pop-up restaurant in Downtown Miami. Fueled by old-school hip-hop, street art, and a deep appreciation for Vietnamese culture, co-founders Chef Cesar Zapata and Ani Meinhold created a style of modern Vietnamese cuisine that was entirely their own. Inspired by family recipes, the vibrant flavors of the Mekong Delta, and their personal culinary journeys, Phuc Yea delivers bold, layered dishes that are distinctly original.
Phuc Yea is not a traditional Vietnamese restaurant. With Ani’s Vietnamese heritage and Zapata’s diverse culinary background, the restaurant has developed a next-level approach to Vietnamese cuisine—one that honors tradition while reimagining it through a modern Miami lens. Many of the dishes on the menu are rooted in family recipes and memories, transformed into a dining experience that is vibrant, creative, and unmistakably Phuc Yea.
Leave your expectations at the door. There is no pho, no noodle shop format, and no clichés—just conceptual, modern Vietnamese cuisine designed to surprise and delight.
Today, Phuc Yea calls Miami’s historic MiMo District home. Located inside the former Sir Williams Hotel, the Michelin-recognized restaurant occupies the building’s first level and offers several distinct dining experiences. Guests are welcomed by a lush lobby lounge centered around a 15-foot raw bar ideal for oysters and cocktails. A speakeasy-inspired mezzanine features intimate private and semi-private dining spaces, while the Lantern Garden offers al fresco dining during Miami’s cooler months. The design blends mid-century modern aesthetics, street art, and traditional Asian influences, creating one of Miami’s most distinctive dining destinations.
Offering a menu of bold, shareable plates inspired by family-rooted recipes, Phuc Yea draws from Aniece Meinhold’s Vietnamese heritage and Chef Cesar Zapata’s diverse culinary influences to create a distinctive style of modern Vietnamese cuisine. Set in the heart of Miami’s historic MiMo District, guests are invited to soak in the neighborhood’s energy, embrace old-school hip-hop and street culture, and experience Chef Zapata’s vibrant, contemporary take on Vietnamese dining.
Offering a selection of shareable plates that capture the soulfulness and passion behind family-rooted recipes, the restaurant is inspired by Aniece Meinhold’s Vietnamese heritage and Cesar Zapata’s Cajun and Colombian culinary roots. Under one roof, guests are invited to marvel at Biscayne’s blossoming Mimo district; embrace ‘90s hip-hop, street-cool music; and enjoy Cesar’s version of Modern Viet cuisine.
