Chefs and Restaurants

Chefs to Watch 2020: Yia Vang, Union Hmong Kitchen and Vinai, Minneapolis

Liz Grossman

A month before the pandemic hit, Yia Vang found himself at his father’s bedside, keeping him company in the hospital while he recovered from a stroke. “He doesn’t speak English and he wanted someone there,” says Vang. “He’s my hero. He was always super vibrant, and seeing him like that made me realize I didn’t want to [wait to] talk about his legacy after he’s gone. I wanted him to see...