Vietnamese Chef Opens Wiregrass Ranch Shop With $8.95 Sandwiches

Tiên’s Sandwich, a new banh mi and boba tea establishment, is scheduled to open in November at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel. The restaurant will seat approximately 40 patrons and will feature menu prices starting at $8.95 for a classic sandwich and reaching $10.95 for a premium option.

Owner Tommy Nguyen stated that the shop will import ingredients from Vietnam and tea from Taiwan. The baguettes are baked in-house using a proprietary flour mixture. Nguyen said the blend is designed to achieve a specific crunch consistency and airy fluffiness. He noted that different regions of Vietnam process flour and protein differently, and the correct blend prevents the bread from becoming too doughy.

Nguyen and his wife, Trang Le, spent time in Vietnam earlier this year to study bread-making techniques. The couple compared various flour blends to determine the best method for their fast-casual location. Le is a Vietnamese chef, and the business is named after the couple’s daughter.

The restaurant menu includes beef pho, vermicelli bowls, and spring rolls alongside the sandwiches and boba tea. Nguyen said the community has requested another Vietnamese dining option. He noted that residents have expressed concern that recent openings in the area are primarily expensive chain restaurants. He added that family-owned restaurants are closing frequently, and Tiên’s aims to customize the menu to local preferences.

The couple lives in the neighborhood and has prior experience in the local restaurant scene. Le’s family, under the direction of her father, has consulted for multiple Vietnamese restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Tampa Bay. They previously owned and operated Pho Nhu Trang, which is now Viet Kitchen, on West Waters Avenue in the Egypt Lake-Leto neighborhood.

The owners plan to expand the menu with regional specialties in the future. They also intend to open a full-service restaurant later. For the initial launch, they are combining selected items from Le’s culinary background into one location.

Tiên’s Sandwich is located at 2557 Mansfield Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. The website for the restaurant is tienssandwich.com.