2020 Smith Fellow: Reyna Duong

Reyna “Reye” Duong left the corporate world to open Sandwich Hag, a Dallas Vietnamese restaurant, in honor of her mother. Growing up in her mother’s Southern California kitchen, Duong watched her make everything from scratch. It wasn’t until Duong left home as a young adult that she developed her own cooking techniques and recipes. Being an outspoken advocate for ‘people with all abilities’, she hired her younger brother with Down Syndrome, who is now her most loyal employee. Duong has uncompromising standards on the quality of food and service, a strict zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment in her restaurant, and is passionate about community outreach and supporting small businesses, women, and persons of color.  Duong frequently puts on festivals and night markets to support and promote local artists, small businesses, and inclusion in the workforce.