When VOX Kitchen first opened its doors in Fountain Valley, it wasn’t part of a grand rollout or an elaborate expansion plan. It was a humble, heartfelt venture that found its footing through word of mouth, glowing Yelp reviews, and a wave of community love. Within months, it had gone from hidden gem to local favorite.

Now, VOX Kitchen & Bar brings that same energy to South Coast Plaza!

At the heart of it all is Chifa: a Chinese-Peruvian cuisine rooted in the immigrant experience and elevated here with modern flair.

The new VOX location plays to Orange County’s multicultural palate; garlic noodles sit comfortably next to their take on the popular Peruvian dish, lomo saltado.

In our interview with Chef & CEO Viet Nguyen of Kei Concepts, we talk about how VOX grew from a strip mall standout to a standout in one of the most iconic shopping destinations in California. He shares the story behind the restaurant’s roots, the spirit of Chifa cuisine, and why VOX is less about trends and more about building a place that feels like home.

Read on for our conversation with Viet.

Meet Viet Nguyen, Chef & CEO of Kei Concepts

How did the success of your Fountain Valley location lead to this second location?

When we first opened VOX in Fountain Valley, it took off in a way we couldn’t have predicted. We blew up on Yelp, started showing up on “Top Restaurants” lists, and became this kind of cult favorite spot in Orange County. Honestly, it wasn’t part of some big master plan—it was really the people and the community that gave us the confidence to open a second location. Without their support, none of this would have happened.

How does VOX Kitchen & Bar fit into the South Coast Plaza dining scene?

VOX brings something a little different to the table. Chifa isn’t something you see every day—even less so in a space that feels approachable. We wanted to create a restaurant that felt warm, vibrant, and welcoming, without losing the depth or history behind the food. The space is lively, the menu is thoughtful, and the flavors are bold but familiar.

Opening here felt like the right next step—a chance to introduce more people to this cuisine, and show that Chinese-Peruvian food has a place in modern dining just as much as anything else.

For many guests, this will be their first time trying “Chifa” - can you tell us more about this type of cuisine? What dishes would you recommend?

Chifa is what happens when Chinese and Latin cultures come together. It started in Peru, with Chinese immigrants adapting their cooking to South American ingredients. It’s comfort food.

At VOX, we take that inspiration and do our own version of it—a mix of different Asian and Latin cultures, just like Southern California. Honest to who we are.

If you're new to it, I’d recommend starting with the lomo saltado—it’s a classic Chifa stir-fry of beef, onions, tomatoes, and fries, but we make it in a way that feels distinctly ours. And, of course, our garlic noodles are something people always come back for. I'd say that these two dishes are a big part of what makes VOX, VOX.

What do you hope visitors will take away from a visit to VOX?

We hope they leave feeling like they found something that feels both new and familiar. That the flavors make sense. That the cultures come together naturally. And maybe it sparks a little curiosity—like, hey, these combinations work. What else could work? What other stories could come together like this?

More than anything, we hope it's a place they want to come back to—whether it’s for a big night out or just a casual dinner with friends. We didn’t build VOX to be a one-time bucket list spot. We built it to be part of people's lives. A place that feels like it belongs to the community. A place that feels like home.

How does it feel to open a second location in one of the biggest malls in the country?

We’re just grateful. We started out in a small strip mall in Fountain Valley, and now we’re lucky enough to open at South Coast Plaza—a spot we grew up looking at like it was a whole other world. We’re excited to be here. And we’re excited to keep doing what we love, the way we’ve always done it—through the food, the flavors, and the people who show up for it.

If you’ve never had Chifa, if you’re curious about what we’re cooking up, just come by. The food speaks for itself.

Key Info

Address: 16161 Brookhurst St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Walk-ins welcome, reservations recommended

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