Phuc Yea Modern Vietnamese

Chef Cesar Zapata is a distinctive Miami culinary talent whose restaurant Phuc Yea blends his Colombian roots with his passion for Vietnamese flavors. After immigrating to the U.S. as a child, he honed his cooking skills early, later expanding his culinary perspective during his time in Texas and through formal training at the Art Institute of Houston. Zapata gained experience in prestigious kitchens before launching Miami’s first pop-up concept, Phuc Yea, and opening the acclaimed restaurant The Federal, which earned numerous national accolades. In 2016, he and his partner Aneice Meinhold reopened Phuc Yea as a permanent MiMo District fixture, earning widespread praise from major publications and critics. Today, Zapata continues to receive national recognition while actively supporting culinary and philanthropic initiatives, including earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2022.