After more than 30 years, Cam Huong Restaurant to close its doors in Oakland Chinatown

After more than 30 years, Cam Huong Restaurant to close its doors in Oakland ChinatownPhoto: Albertino M./Hoodline Tipline
Nathan Falstreau
Published on September 18, 2018

After more than three decades in operation, Chinatown's Cam Huong Restaurant at 920 Webster St. (between 10th and 9th streets) is permanently closing its doors tonight, according to its owners. 

Veteran Hoodline tipster Al M. was the first to alert us of the impending closure, which was confirmed in a phone call from Lele Quack, the daughter of restaurant owner Huong Luu. 

"It's emotional," said Quack. "It's going to be ... talking about it now, I'm getting emotional. It's like losing a kid or a sibling." 

The family behind the Vietnamese eatery, known for its banh mi sandwiches and fresh-baked baguettes, has been toying with the idea of shutting down for several years so that Luu could retire, Quack said.

"We wanted to push on longer, but she physically can't do it any longer," she said. "I just want to give her some quality years." 

Photo: Alex D./Yelp

Luu's daughter noted that her mother has been at the helm for such a long time that "she's never had a chunk of time where she was not running the business. She has a bunch of grandkids that she wants to spend time with." 

The restaurant's companion eatery, Cam Huong Cafe at 702 International Blvd., will remain open. Though the two are roughly a mile apart, Quack said it would have been too difficult for her to run both restaurants once her mom retired.

Instead, the family will focus on the remaining cafe, "where you're still going to be able to get the same menu items," she said. "It's still going on strong, so come on by." 

The restaurant will be open as usual today until 7 p.m. After that, the doors will close and the business will be put up for sale. 

"We didn't share the news yet, because she doesn't want people to know," said Quack referring to her mother. "But she's excited. I've been crying for days. We both have."