Exclusive: Moon Rabbit chef Kevin Tien plans Asian market in Chinatown

Zoom in: The Vietnamese American chef may be a finer dining fixture, but markets are a passion. His family ran a grocery in his native Louisiana, and he's planned Asian night markets around town.

• Tien's a weekend regular at mega-Asian groceries like H Mart in the suburbs, but his downtown vision — with space constraints — is more like a "Mom's Organic market and Trader Joe's smashed together. Chef and D.C.-driven."

Lofty plans for the still-to-be-named project include:

• A grocery stocked with Asian snacks, noodles, produce and pantry staples.
• Chef-y prepared foods, sauces and ready-to-cook items.
• A front-facing food stall that doubles as a mentorship space, inspired by the James Beard Foundation's NYC food hall.
• A "semi-hidden" rear tasting room with a handful of seats, like at Brooklyn Fare.

• An Asian bakery and cafe run by fellow James Beard finalist Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit's pastry chef.

Zoom out: Tien is also a co-founder of Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate and works with the dwindling Asian community in the neighborhood, largely residents of Wah Luck House.

• His vision is to carve out a dedicated community and cultural space at the market. Tien also hopes to offer CSA-style grocery packages at a reduced price for Wah Luck residents.

The intrigue: Tien has found a location (TBA) with a "supportive landlord," but he's waiting on potential grants from the city to come through — hopefully by year's end — to push the project across the line. Stay tuned.