Thien Le has been trained as an architect, interior designer and electrical engineer. He's shifted gears and his latest venture is running a Vietnamese restaurant.
Mangosteen Bistro opened March 14 across from Intel's Jones Farm campus in Hillsboro -- a posh restaurant smack dab in a business park.
Le emigrated from South Vietnam in 1981 and recently went back to open and run a similar restaurant for two years. Starting a business in the United States was a much greater challenge compared to the lax environment abroad, Le said. It took six months to take the restaurant from plan to grand opening.
Le, a Beaverton resident, designed Mangosteen Bistro in its entirety, from selecting the orange carnations on every table, painting the portraits of mangosteen fruits hanging on the walls to growing the bonsai tree near the cash register.
"I really love the contemporary feel with an Asian flair. I decorated many houses the same way," Le said.
The restaurant has a wide-open layout with large televisions and a section for private parties.
Mangosteen Bistro is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., drawing in a morning Vietnamese-coffee crowd, packed lunch crowds and a late afternoon happy hour with a full-service bar. Some of its cocktails contain mangosteen syrup, adding a unique touch. Food includes MSG-free pho, rice and meat dishes that are about $10. Le says the curry dishes are inspired more by Indian cuisine than Thai curries.
As the restaurant grows, Le plans to expand hours to serve dinner and add outdoor seating when the weather improves.
Mangosteen Bistro, 2130 N.E. Griffin Oaks St., 503-846-1870. www.mangosteenbistro.com
Open and Shut runs in the Sunday Business section and provides a weekly look at new businesses in the Portland metropolitan area. Know of a new business that recently opened in Washington County? Email fnirappil@oregonian.com.