NOODLE TREE

CourtesyTwo San Antonio TV personalities are speaking out against the hate Asian American communities have seen both nationally and locally. Mike Nguyen's San Antonio restaurant was vandalized with hateful words smeared along windows and property. The events that unfolded have left the Asian American communities on edge. News 4 San Antonio and Fox29 reporter Gloria DeLeon said when she first heard about the news on Noodle Tree, she felt fear for her Asian community. She met DeLeon's dad, who was serving in the U.S. Army in South Korea, and moved to the United States in 1987.

Courtesy photo / Mike NguyenUTSA-area business Noodle Tree was vandalized last weekend. That someone would take such offense and use racist language to protest is not going to be tolerated," Gonzales said in a news release. "Last week, vandals spray-painted racist graffiti on Noodle Tree’s front windows. The police chief said his department is working diligently to find whoever was responsible.Anwar Tahir, the president of the Asian American Alliance of San Antonio, noted that Asian Americans have families and contribute to the strength of the local economy. "We don't have to prove it every time, we are American too," Tahir said, according to the TV station.

click to enlarge Instagram / @noodletreetxNoodle Tree owner Mike Nguyen surveys the vandalism to his restaurant on Sunday. There was plenty of breaking food news during the week, and some of it left a bitter taste in our mouths — namely the racist graffiti scrawled on chef Mike Nguyen's Noodle Tree restaurant. Nguyen has faced insults and death threats for speaking out on CNN about Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to lift the statewide mask mandate while only a fraction of Texans have been vaccinated. Fortunately, though, community leaders have rallied around him and sent a clear message that SA has no place for hate.Catch up on that and other easier-to-digest news by perusing the's most-read food stories of the week.

Update: Noodle Tree reopened the dining room on Friday using a reservation model. Original post continues below:Noodle Tree owner Mike Nguyen said the continued harassment directed towards him and the restaurant, following Sunday's racist vandalism, has forced him to close the dining room. Nguyen, who spoke from the restaurant Thursday afternoon, said all he's currently experiencing is support, but the threats are still looming. READ MORE: San Antonio shields Noodle Tree owner with support after racist attack spurred by masksThe local FBI office is also aware of the situation and is standing by. “We are aware of the incident at a local restaurant in San Antonio, Texas and are in regular contact with San Antonio Police Department," spokeswoman Michelle Lee said in a statement.

Two Asian American groups will show support for Noodle Tree, the San Antonio ramen shop hit by racist vandalism, as the restaurant reopens on Thursday. The Asian American Alliance of San Antonio and San Antonio Lodge Chinese American Citizens Alliance are hosting a press conference at the Bexar County Courthouse at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. Kin Yan Hui, an AAASA board member, said the event will focus on supporting Noodle Tree owner Mike Nguyen. The restaurant will reopen on Thursday, per normal business hours, marking the first time since national media attention narrowed in on Noodle Tree. "The gathering and presser shows support for Noodle Tree and Mike Nguyen's right to free speech," Hui said.

SAN ANTONIO – The owner of the Noodle Tree ramen shop that was attacked with racist graffiti over the weekend said threats have been “ramping up,” but that’s not stopping him from promoting COVID-19 safety and speaking out on hate crimes. He told “New Day” anchor John Berman that he had to leave San Antonio due to the increase in harassment he’s received since the graffiti was found Sunday morning. Threats have been “ramping up” since Monday, making him think there could be a second “attack” on the Northwest Side restaurant, he said. “And the thing is, the more I speak about it, the more it seems the threats are ramping up but that’s not going to stop me,” he said. “I’m going to bring awareness to this situation because, you know, we’re not going to let the hate and ignorance prevail.

SAN ANTONIO – The Governor of Texas’ Office called the recent attack on the Noodle Tree ramen shop “abhorrent” on Tuesday. Over the weekend, shop owner Mike Nguyen found his shop covered in racist and anti-mask messages. Just days before the attack, Nguyen was interviewed by CNN about his opposition to the statewide reopening and mask mandate reversal. In a lengthy post on Tuesday, Nguyen recounted the racist attack and how the community responded by posting messages of support on the same windows that were vandalized. “Removing state mandates, however, does not end personal responsibility or the importance of caring for family members, friends, and your community.

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio community has come together to denounce a racist attack on a Northwest Side ramen noodle shop after its owner spoke out against Texas’ statewide reopening and mask mandate reversal on CNN. On Sunday, Mike Nguyen, the owner and chef of the Noodle Tree, found the shop painted with racist and anti-mask messages in red paint graffiti. Days prior to the attack, Nguyen spoke to CNN about his opposition to the statewide opening and his battle with cancer. The Alamo Asian-American Chamber of Commerce issued the following statement following the incident:The Alamo Asian-American Chamber of Commerce is standing behind various Asian-American ethnic groups, together with the Asian-American Alliance of San Antonio, in denouncing hate crimes and bigotry towards Asian-Americans. The resolution must resonate within the community for continued peace and harmony within the citizens of San Antonio.

On Sunday morning, Mike Nguyen got a text alerting him that his Texas restaurant was spray-painted in red with racist messages. When he arrived at Noodle Tree in San Antonio, he told CBS News, he felt "hurt." Noodle Tree in San Antonio was vandalized after its owner spoke out against the lifting the Texas mask mandate. Tyler PrinceThe community rallied around Nguyen and Noodle Tree, which he has owned for the last two years. About two dozen people helped clean up Noodle Tree after it was vandalized Sunday.

SAN ANTONIO This is the last weekend customers can enjoy ramen from popular San Antonio restaurant Noodle Tree, according to its owner. Chef Mike Nguyen announced on Facebook last week that his restaurant, located at 7114 UTSA Boulevard, would be closed until further notice. San Antonio chef fighting cancer: Dining room to remain closed, money not worth losing lives overHe goes on to say that there is no timeline on how long the restaurant will be closed, but ensured customers it would be back. Earlier this month, Nguyen made national headlines as he battled cancer, financial struggles and the coronavirus pandemic all at once. At the end of the day, it was that the money was not worth losing lives over."

click to enlarge Instagram / noodletreetxNoodle Tree owner Mike Nguyen speaks with Erin Burnet on CNN's OutFront. Last week, Noodle Tree chef and owner Mike Nguyen spoke to the Current about his decision not to reopen his dining room due to concerns about customer safety and his own health.Over the weekend, CNN anchor Erin Burnett also spoke to Nguyen, allowing him to share his story with the nation.Youre battling cancer yourself, your grandmother died from coronavirus, just what youre dealing with right now is overwhelming," Burnett said as the segment opened. At the same time, youre dealing with a business that you cant keep shut much longer.Nguyen remained steadfast in his decision to keep his UTSA-area eatery closed for the time being, even though Texas Gov. Greg Abbott cleared the way for restaurants to open on May 1 at 25% capacity.I have a financial responsibility to run this business, Nguyen said. At the end of the day, it was that the money was not worth losing lives over.

click to enlarge Lea ThompsonNoodle Tree chef Mike Nguyen vehemently opposes the reopening of San Antonio restaurants. Find out the latest San Antonio dining news with our Flavor Friday Newsletter. He's both a restauranteur trying to keep the lights on and a concerned citizen fighting to stay alive. "I do need my dining room to be open, but I have an illness that could prove fatal if I contracted COVID-19. We're gambling with people's health, and I understand the need to try to stay afloat, but we have ask ourselves: at what cost?"