{"id":242470,"date":"2026-03-29T20:14:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T20:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/242470\/"},"modified":"2026-03-29T20:14:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T20:14:10","slug":"passion-leads-real-estate-agent-to-life-in-and-out-of-kitchen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/242470\/","title":{"rendered":"Passion leads real estate agent to life in and out of kitchen"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestarnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Casey-Vu-Teriyaki-Grill.jpg\" data-caption=\"Casey Vu\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"696\" height=\"928\" class=\"entry-thumb td-modal-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Casey-Vu-Teriyaki-Grill-696x928.jpg\"   alt=\"\" title=\"Casey-Vu---Teriyaki-Grill\"\/><\/a>Casey Vu<\/p>\n<p>In the heart of Chula Vista, the kitchen at Teriyaki Grill hums with activity. Behind the counter, owner Casey Vu moves easily between cooking, greeting customers, and making sure every plate leaving the kitchen reflects the care she puts into her food<\/p>\n<p>Vu didn\u2019t begin her career in the restaurant business. Before opening Teriyaki Grill, she worked as a real estate agent. But her love for cooking eventually pulled her in a different direction.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBefore Teriyaki Grill, I was a real estate agent,\u201d Vu said. \u201cI took the leap because I wanted to follow my passion for food, and it just felt right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Today, that decision has grown into a restaurant known for its welcoming atmosphere and fresh, carefully prepared dishes. For Vu, staying personally involved in both the kitchen and the dining room is a big part of what makes the restaurant special.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStaying hands-on with both cooking and hosting is essential for me because it embodies the true essence of service and connection,\u201d she said. \u201cCooking is more than just preparing meals; it\u2019s an expression of love and care.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Vu says hosting guests is just as important as the cooking itself. Greeting customers and creating a warm environment help turn a simple meal into something more memorable.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis personal touch creates a stronger bond with my guests, enhancing their overall experience,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Many of the values she brings to the restaurant started long before Teriyaki Grill opened its doors. Some of Vu\u2019s earliest food memories come from grocery trips with her mother.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of my fondest childhood memories is going grocery shopping with my mom for fresh ingredients,\u201d she said. \u201cI loved watching her transform those ingredients into vibrant dishes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That tradition still shapes the way her kitchen operates today. Fresh produce is purchased daily, and the restaurant\u2019s specialty sauces are made in-house.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll our specialty sauces are made in-house, reflecting that same commitment to quality and care that I learned from her,\u201d Vu said.<\/p>\n<p>Among the menu items, one dish stands out for the time and effort it requires: the pork banh mi.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe pork banh mi stands out as one of the most labor-intensive dishes in my kitchen,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n<p>The pork is marinated in spices, then slow-grilled for tenderness and smokiness. Pickled daikon and carrots add crunch, and a house-made butter spread finishes the sandwich.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEach component is essential in crafting a banh mi,\u201d Vu said.<\/p>\n<p>For Vu, the most rewarding moments come when customers share how the food makes them feel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCustomers often share that our food evokes a sense of comfort and nostalgia, reminding them of home-cooked meals and cherished family gatherings,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Like many restaurant owners, Vu also faced major challenges. The most difficult moment came when restaurants were forced to shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe hardest day since opening was undoubtedly the first day of the shutdown due to COVID-19,\u201d she said. \u201cAs I walked through the empty restaurant, the silence felt overwhelming.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite those challenges, the support of the local community helped keep the business going.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Chula Vista community and Tava have been incredibly supportive and welcoming since our very first day,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead, Vu hopes Teriyaki Grill continues to be more than just a place to eat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I think about legacy, I envision Teriyaki Grill as a place where families and friends come together to share delicious meals and create lasting memories,\u201d she said. \u201cI want it to be a welcoming space that fosters a strong sense of community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For Vu, that sense of connection is the real ingredient behind every dish she serves.<\/p>\n<p>Please follow and like us:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Casey Vu In the heart of Chula Vista, the kitchen at Teriyaki Grill hums with activity. Behind the&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":242471,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[74,76,75],"class_list":{"0":"post-242470","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-diego","8":"tag-san-diego","9":"tag-san-diego-headlines","10":"tag-san-diego-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=242470"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242470\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/242471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=242470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=242470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=242470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}