Mar 21, 2023
With 11 fast-casual locations across California, Founder and Executive Chef Grace Nguyen brings her flair for healthy, fresh, made-to-order meals to the heart of San Francisco
Digital Press Kit (Base Menu, Food Images, Press Release)
March 21, 2023, San Francisco — The Asian Art Museum is thrilled to make mouths water later this month, partnering with Bay Area-based, Asian American- and woman-co-owned, fast-casual restaurant group Asian Box to open their newest location in the museum’s historic Civic Center space.
As the neighborhood continues to revive from the pandemic, Asian Box offers museum visitors a chance to enjoy delicious, healthy, and freshly made fare from Chef Grace Nguyen’s Vietnamese-influenced menus. Nguyen has helmed the expanding Asian Box for more than 10 years, having previously served in positions including Chef de Cuisine at the iconic Slanted Door, which transformed the way San Francisco —and the country — eat.
At Asian Box, customers can choose from a signature set “box” — including perennial favorites like banh mi — or mix-and-match their own meal by choosing a base of salad, noodles, or rice; savory proteins like tofu, shrimp, pork, chicken, salmon, or steak; herby, tangy, citrusy, spicy toppers; and rich sauces. The entire menu is 100% gluten-free and locally sourced. Condiments like sriracha, curries, fish sauce, and tamarind play a starring role in flavor profiles. Vegan options will always be available, and the ability to customize meals ensures that kids (of all ages) will leave with smiles on their faces.
“We are excited to be part of the expanded Asian Art Museum, with its emphasis on sharing the contributions of Asian Americans, and looking forward to complementing visual experiences in the galleries with the tastes and smells of Asian and Asian American kitchens,” says Nguyen. “Like the museum, we want to offer a memorable, meaningful encounter with culture that inspires the senses — a palate pleaser for everyone who comes through our doors.”
With its creative menu including some items inspired by on-site programs and special exhibitions, Asian Box is a reminder that there’s always something new cooking at the Asian Art Museum. Museum members will get a first bite during the preview for the latest special exhibition Beyond Bollywood: 2000 Years of Dance in Art during museum visiting hours on Thursday, March 30.
Asian Box will be open during standard museum hours from 10 AM to 5 PM, Fridays to Mondays and 1 PM to 8 PM on Thursdays (the museum is closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays). Anyone is welcome to dine at Asian Box without purchasing a museum admission ticket. Guests will order food and drinks and then select their own seats (the restaurant is wheelchair accessible). Menu items are also available for takeout, with plans for online ordering.
About Asian Box
Asian Box is on a mission to create an exciting dining experience without compromise. Our “Farm-to-Box” approach is the cornerstone to our commitment to food that is not only authentic and tastes great, but also made with healthier, fresher, sustainable ingredients. Good for people, our community, and the planet.
We aspire to stand out against the competition in the healthy fast-casual space with our 100% gluten-free, customizable, vegan and vegetarian options with proprietary sauces made in house. We are committed to sourcing local, fresh ingredients, raised and grown without pesticides or hormones, and served to you in our compostable packaging designed to help shape the future of our planet. For more information, please visit www.asianbox.com.
About the Asian Art Museum
Located in the heart of San Francisco, the museum is home to one of the world’s finest collections of Asian and Asian American art, with more than 20,000 awe-inspiring works ranging from ancient jades and ceramics to contemporary video installations. Dynamic special exhibitions, cultural celebrations, and public programs for all ages provide rich art experiences that unlock the past and spark questions about the future.
