Mi La Cay Closes Thursday After 33 Years of Serving Seattle

Mi La Cay will close its doors permanently this Thursday, ending a 33-year run as a staple of Seattle's Chinatown-International District. The restaurant first opened in 1993 and moved to its current location in 2016. Co-owners Trinh Ong and Ha Ong are stepping down after decades of managing the establishment themselves.

Patrons filled the dining room on Monday, with lines extending outside as news of the closure spread. Trinh Ong described the space as her second home and noted that many customers came specifically after learning the shop was shutting down. "This is my second home. Love it," Ong said. "The past few days, they heard I'm closing. Everybody come."

The restaurant gained popularity in the 1990s and early 2000s when fewer Vietnamese businesses operated in the region. Ong recalled that diners traveled to Chinatown for groceries and meals because it offered the most authentic food available at the time. Customer Alvin, who discovered the spot through a recommendation, said the family has loved the food since their first visit.

Ong cited several factors for the decision to close. She pointed to rising competition outside the district, changes in foot traffic, and personal health issues. The business survived the COVID-19 pandemic with only the two siblings working the dining room and kitchen to cover overhead and rent. However, Ong said business never returned to its peak volume. "We were non-stop from opening to closing," she said. "Yeah. But now we don't have that wave anymore."

Operating strains were compounded by neighborhood challenges. Ong noted persistent crime and open drug activity near 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street. She observed that it took time to build the restaurant to its current level and acknowledged that the surrounding conditions would take time to improve.

Ong expressed gratitude to the neighborhood and the generations of diners who supported the family. She emphasized that while she was born in Vietnam, Seattle is her home and community. The Ong family has invited longtime customers and community members to stop in for a final meal before the permanent closing.

The restaurant's closure marks the end of a long era for Vietnamese dining in the International District. The space will no longer serve its signature noodle soups after this week's final service.