Exclusive: Moon Rabbit team will open a Southeast Asian cocktail bar
Why it matters: Bar manager Thi Nguyen won local fans and Michelin honors for her creative cocktail program at the modern Vietnamese restaurant — and now she'll have a standalone bar to call her own.
Zoom in: The team plans to embrace "nhau," a term in Vietnamese drinking culture for friends and family gathering. "It translates to 'drink and eat for no reason,' and it's a way to celebrate without waiting for a special occasion," Tien tells Axios.
Born in Vietnam, Nguyen is currently traveling home for research and development. Her cocktails, which have landed on plenty of best lists, stand out for their creative use of Southeast Asian spirits and ingredients.
Take a pho-inspired coupe with beef broth-washed Nikka Coffey vodka, pho seasoning, and culantro mist. Or the "Out of Dipping Sauce" with Japanese vodka, passionfruit liqueur, and fish sauce syrup.
Spirit-free cocktails get equal attention, like a purple-shiso pomegranate spritz.
All eyes are on the bar, but Tien will also serve Southeast Asian snacks — likely coming from an open-fire kitchen to replicate street flavors in Vietnam.
The team hasn't yet set an opening date.
What we're watching: Nhau isn't the only concept Moon Rabbit's team is planning. Tien tells Axios an Asian market near Chinatown is still in the works, which will include a pastry shop from chef Susan Bae.
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