About Eric Banh

Eric Banh is a longtime presence in the Seattle restaurant scene who, alongside his sister Sophie and his wife Teresa, has guided several Monsoon and Ba Bar locations since 1999. Eric Banh’s restaurant Monsoon introduced traditional Chinese-influenced Saigon cooking to Seattle, including a number of savory seafood and meat dishes served with rice. Today, the two Monsoon locations are known for specialties such as Dungeness crab and steamed halibut, which incorporate fresh Northwest ingredients.

Mr. Banh has a passion for the ingredients sourced from local forests, farms, and coastal regions, from heirloom tomatoes to mushrooms such as morels and chanterelles. One of his sister’s specialties is in-house fermented soybeans that infuse spicy cumin lamb. Monsoon locations also feature an upscale cocktail bar with extensive German and Alsace wine selections.

Mr. Banh also manages Ba Bar, an eatery that invites casual diners to enjoy noodles, banh mi sandwiches, and other street flavors. With roots as a Vietnamese refugee, he is a strong supporter of community efforts, including those that support education and job opportunities. Having benefited from a Red Cross feeding program while living in a refugee camp, he is a passionate advocate for community initiatives that focus on education and job opportunities. Mr. Banh has been devoted to supporting refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine, as well as communities impacted by natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and wildfires in Maui, Hawaii.

In 2020, Mr. Banh extended his philanthropic efforts by making monthly donations to a local non-profit organization. At Ba Bar, Mr. Banh continues to bring people together through delicious food and a shared celebration of diverse cultures. Outside of the restaurant, he remains committed to giving back to the community and making a positive impact on the lives of those in need.