The article highlights the history of Rico Taco, the first Vietnamese restaurant in San Jose, opened by Hoa Thi Nguyen and Vo Viet Linh in 1977. Despite starting as a taco place, it introduced traditional Vietnamese dishes to the local community and quickly became popular among Vietnamese refugees. Their adaptation and embrace of their culinary heritage at Rico Taco symbolize the broader immigrant experience, which has enriched San Jose’s food landscape.
Since the immigration of almost 150,000 Vietnamese to the United States two years ago, more than a dozen Vietnamese restaurants have sprung up in the Bay Area, but until Rico Taco-that's right, Rico Taco-there were no Vietnamese eateries in San Jose. This is a significant historical milestone that illustrates the evolution of San Jose's culinary landscape and the role of immigrants in shaping it.
At first, most of their customers ordered the standard digs. Then the word spread through the fledgling Viet refugee community that pho, banh cuon and cha gio were available. This part of the story emphasizes how cultural exchange and community support can lead to culinary success.
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