Pho District’s Kenzo Tran Will Take Over Closed Banh Shop Space Near SMU

A restaurant space near Southern Methodist University will be taken over by local restaurateur Kenzo Tran of Pho District and and Piranha Killer Sushi. Tran, along with chefs Dien Nguyen and Long Nguyen, will reportedly bring a new concept to the former Banh Shop location at 5629 SMU Blvd., according to CultureMap.

Tran told CultureMap the team has yet to decide on a name for the new restaurant as they finalize the concept, which will be fast-casual and Japanese-inspired, likely featuring ramen, bao, and potentially hot dogs. The new place could turn around and open quickly, as soon as March.

Banh Shop, which first opened in 2014 and was known for its Vietnamese-inspired sandwiches, officially closed its doors on January 28, as previously reported. The Yum! Brands-developed restaurant underwent a change in ownership, and the SMU shop was not included in the business transaction, however its location at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport remains open.

Former Banh Shop in Dallas preps for hot-doggin' new Japanese eatery [CultureMap]
Banh Shop Closes Its Doors After Change In Ownership [EDFW]