New York’s Thai restaurant scene has already welcomed Soothr and Sappe with plenty of enthusiasm. Now, the hospitality team behind both downtown favorites is getting ready to explore a different corner of Southeast Asian cuisine. Annam Tân, a new Vietnamese restaurant from chef Joel Chidensee Watthanawongwat and the team behind Soothr and Sappe, is expected to open in Midtown Manhattan in early 2027.
And if the restaurant’s inspiration is any indication, this won’t be another predictable bowl of pho.
A Vietnamese Restaurant Inspired by Three Cultures
Chef Joel Chidensee Watthanawongwat is drawing on a personal family history that spans Vietnam, Laos and Thailand to shape Annam Tân’s culinary identity.
His grandmothers were from northern Vietnam, he spent time in Laos, and he was ultimately born in Thailand. The upcoming restaurant will bring those influences together, celebrating Vietnamese culinary heritage and its connections to the broader Indochinese region through a contemporary New York perspective.
It’s an intriguing direction for a chef whose previous projects have helped establish a strong following for Thai cuisine in Manhattan.
The name Annam Tân also signals a connection to Vietnamese heritage, setting the stage for a restaurant that aims to explore tradition while embracing a modern dining experience.
The Team Behind Soothr and Sappe Is Going Bigger
The restaurant is being developed by the hospitality group behind Soothr NYC and Sappe, two popular Thai dining destinations known for their vibrant flavors and energetic atmosphere.
With Annam Tân, the team is expanding its culinary focus while bringing its experience in creating distinctive Southeast Asian restaurants to a new concept.
The announcement has already generated conversation among New York food enthusiasts, particularly those eager to see how the group translates its success into Vietnamese cuisine.
When Is Annam Tân Opening in NYC?
Annam Tân is targeting an early 2027 opening in Midtown Manhattan. Additional details about its exact address, menu and reservations have yet to be announced.
For New Yorkers hungry for something new, this is one Vietnamese restaurant opening worth watching. The team behind Soothr and Sappe is heading into new territory — and Midtown could be getting a very exciting addition to its dining scene.
