Millbrae, Calif. — Chef Ho Chee Boon, the Malaysian-born culinary talent behind high-end Cantonese destinations including Empress by Boon in San Francisco's Chinatown, is preparing to open a more personal project: Nyonya House, a restaurant celebrating the food of his homeland.
The 60-seat restaurant is scheduled to open on November 18, 2026, at 979 Broadway in Millbrae, tucked into a South Bay strip mall between a nail spa and a Great Clips.
Unlike the grand, 7,500-square-foot setting of Empress by Boon—where dishes might feature caviar-topped dumplings and produce from the restaurant's own Gilroy farm—Nyonya House takes a more approachable, neighborhood form. The interior features a sleek pink-and-green design inspired by the colorful patterns of traditional Nyonya textiles. White fans adorned with pink flowers hang from the ceiling, and a deep-green bar seating about 10 guests lines one side of the room.
The menu will blend Malaysian street food with regional specialties. Expect dishes such as nasi lemak (coconut rice with anchovies, cucumber, chicken, and egg), asam fish prepared with steamed California rockfish in a tangy lemongrass-mint-chili sauce, brothy Ipoh chicken rice noodles with shredded meat, laksa, and apam balik, a sweet peanut pancake.
On the beverage side, guests will find milk teas, mocktails, and wines from San Francisco's low-intervention Voon label. A dedicated beverage counter will operate day and night, serving Southeast Asian coffees and other regional drinks.
Ho has long wanted to create a restaurant that feels closer to the flavors of his native Malaysia after years of operating refined Cantonese fine-dining spots around the world. Nyonya House represents that long-held vision finally coming to life in the Bay Area.
The announcement was first reported today by the San Francisco Chronicle.
For updates on hours, reservations, and the full menu closer to opening, check local coverage or the restaurant’s forthcoming announcements.