Olympic Champions Toast New Crustacean San Francisco at Downtown Opening

Downtown San Francisco welcomed culinary–and Olympian–royalty on July 17, as the House of AN hosted an exclusive VIP celebration for the opening of the reimagined Crustacean San Francisco at 195 Pine Street. Olympic figure skating legends Kristi Yamaguchi and Brian Boitano joined former NFL quarterback John Paye and renowned Chronicle food critic Michael Bauer for an evening that perfectly captured the restaurant’s blend of Vietnamese tradition and modern sophistication. The historic building’s soaring ceilings and abundant natural light provided a stunning backdrop for the festivities, where guests savored Master Chef Helene An’s famous Garlic Noodles and clever Tuna Cigars served smoking in colorful cigar boxes.

The evening’s most touching moment came when Moisés Garcia from Mayor Daniel Lurie’s office and California State Senator Scott Wiener presented proclamations to Master Chef An, a 2024 California Hall of Fame inductee whose culinary empire spans generations. The ceremony recognized not only “Mama” An’s extraordinary contributions to Vietnamese cuisine, but also celebrated her daughter Monique An and son-in-law Kenneth Lew, who now lead this Northern California gem. Guests sipped Saigon 75 cocktails made with Vietnamese gin while exploring the restaurant’s feng shui-inspired design, featuring one-of-a-kind 18th-century carved Asian wood doors, rose gold accents and graceful cranes suspended above the kitchen workstations.