Fountain Valley's Gem Dining, praised by former Orange County Register food critic Brad A. Johnson as "the most impressive non-Vietnamese restaurant to open in Fountain Valley, ever," announced its temporary closure, earlier Today. The team at Kei Concepts, who are behind Gem Dining, took to social media to describe the move as a "bittersweet pause" designed to help shape a brighter, more exciting future for the restaurant, according to OC Register.
Since its opening in 2018, Gem Dining, under the leadership of executive chef Viet Nguyen, has gained recognition for its contemporary take on Pacific Rim cuisine seen through a California lens, even earning a mention in the Michelin Guide. This success was not without its challenges, as the pandemic forced the establishment to adapt and transform its space.
During the height of the pandemic, Kei Concepts opened Nếp Café inside Gem Dining in an effort to stay open and profitable. This move proved fruitful, leading to the opening of a second Nếp Café location in Irvine in 2022 following the popularity of the Vietnamese coffee and brunch concept in Fountain Valley. However, the coexistence with Gem Dining eventually led to an inevitable stress on the space, according to an Instagram post by chef Nguyen.
In the same Instagram post, Nguyen stated that "the space is getting too small for two concepts," marking Yesterday, as the last day for Gem Dining in its current form. The hiatus will provide time for staff to travel, learn more about different cuisines, and come back with a "much better menu (and) better space."
No details regarding a specific reopening date nor a potential new location for Gem Dining have been announced. However, Nếp Café will continue to operate within the Gem Dining space, with updated hours of Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., starting Monday, September 25th, 2023, as reported by the OC Register.
In a message shared on their official Instagram account, the team at Gem Dining described their departure as "a moment of gratitude and anticipation as we dream up a Gem Dining that is reborn, reenergized, and richer in spirit."
