Mid-Autumn Festival (Tết Trung Thu) Comes to Grand Century on September 26

Mid-Autumn Festival, Tết Trung Thu in Vietnamese, falls on Friday, September 25 this year. Story Road is marking it the next afternoon. Visit San Jose lists Mid-Autumn Festival Bay Area at Grand Century Mall, 1111 Story Road, starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 26. The mall sits in Little Saigon, the stretch of East San Jose filled with delicious bánh mì shops and herbal stores.

The event features free lanterns for children, music, performances, games, food, and storytelling. There is a mooncake giveaway along with free gifts for the first 500 families along with live music and cultural performances.

Grand Century is indoor-outdoor and already crowded on weekends. Arrive after 4 if the goal is lanterns after the heat drops. Bring cash for mall vendors if you want the best deals.

The same Saturday also has a morning Moon Festival at Children’s Discovery Museum, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with Yun Yee Tong lion dance and playdough mooncakes. Andrew P. Hill High School will hold its large children’s Moon Festival on September 19.

Visit San Jose listing: https://www.sanjose.org/events/mid-autumn-festival-bay-area

Story Road events: https://www.visitstoryroad.org/events1

Tang Bar Expands to San Jose: Sichuan Hot Pot Arrives in Vietnam Town

Tang Bar is coming to 909 Story Road in The Shops at Vietnam Town. This San Francisco-founded restaurant specializes in Sichuan-style Chinese cuisine, focusing on fast-casual hot pot and malatang. Set to welcome guests later in January, the new spot adds to our city's diverse food scene, drawing from a brand already established in San Francisco, San Mateo, Rancho Cucamonga, and Bellevue, Washington.

The 1,600-square-foot space, complete with a patio, represents an $800,000 investment and plans to employ 40 to 50 people with competitive compensation, including benefits like medical coverage, tuition reimbursement, and retirement contributions. Tang Bar stands out by sourcing produce from nearby Gilroy farms and supporting local vendors, enhancing the community's economic ties while delivering fresh ingredients.

Diners can look forward to a do-it-yourself hot pot experience, selecting meats, vegetables, seafood, and broths, or opting for malatang, a numbing spicy hot dish prepared in the kitchen and served in a large bowl. Positioned near Grand Century Mall and other Asian eateries, including Vietnamese favorites and fellow hot pot spot Long Men Bay, Tang Bar fits seamlessly into this vibrant area, promising flavorful meals that celebrate cultural fusion.

As competition grows in the fast-casual hot pot market, Tang Bar's arrival underscores San Jose's appeal as a hub for diverse eateries, catering to a large population with tastes for bold, authentic flavors.

Source: SVBJ

La Ca Phe now open on 740 Story Road in San Jose near Vietnam Town

La Ca Phe is a Vietnamese Coffee shop specializing in a variety of specialties that are not easy to find in the Bay Area. Their Eggspresso Hanoi is a special egg-based coffee drink that I last tried in Vietnam and it blew my mind. They also have Ube Coffee and a wide variety of other Vietnamese and Southeast Asian-style drinks.

They have been working on this coffee shop for three years and opened to huge demand. La Ca Phe is at 740 Story Road. Instead of doing your typical Starbucks routine, come try out some unique and truly delicious coffee someplace new!

Source: Insta