Eric Sze
Eric Sze | |
|---|---|
| Occupations | Chef, restaurateur |
| Known for | 886, Wenwen |
Eric Sze is a Taiwanese chef and restaurateur based in New York City.[1] Alongside Andy Chuang, he co-founded the Taiwanese restaurants 886 and Wenwen in New York City.[2] In 2021, he and Chuang were named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 for Food and Drink.[3]
Early life and education
[edit]Sze was born in Taipei, Taiwan in 1993.[4] In 2011, he moved to the United States and studied hospitality at New York University.[5]
Career
[edit]Scallion Foods
[edit]Prior to his own ventures, Sze had never worked in a restaurant other than a brief internship at Momofuku. During college, he created a food startup called Scallion Foods which sold "direct-to-consumer prepackaged beef noodle soup kits" right out of his apartment, "which was very illegal, but people liked it, and it was fun."[6]
Restaurants
[edit]After a skiing accident rendered Sze bedridden and unable to deliver food, an acquaintance told him to look into the possibility of opening a noodle shop in East Village, Manhattan, which led him to co-found Tang.[6]
In 2018, after selling his shares in Tang, Sze and Chuang, his business partner, opened 886, a Taiwanese restaurant also in East Village known for its fun, laidback vibes.[6] In 2022, they opened Wenwen, a Taiwanese restaurant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.[7] Sze named Wenwen after two important women in his life: his mother, Wenchi, and his wife, Wenhui.[8]
In 2023, Sze collaborated with Dominique Ansel on a Lunar New Year special: "a French-style shaobing pork belly sandwich, with a peanut rice milk drink."[9]
Initiatives
[edit]During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sze made thousands of bento boxes for healthcare workers and local institutions.[6] Sze also founded Enough is Enough, an initiative to spread awareness about anti-Asian racism in the United States.[10] It hosted virtual cooking events and fundraised on behalf of Black, Brown, and Asian shelters.[6]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Meet Eric Sze Chef & Owner of 886 & Wenwen". Complex. 2022-06-21. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
- ↑ Plass, Ellie (2024-05-06). "Wenwen's Eric Sze Shares His Favorite Comfort Foods in NYC". Resy | Right This Way. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
- ↑ "886 - 886". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
- ↑ Lee, Daphne K. (2022-05-04). "In New York, Taiwanese Chefs Are Attempting To Define Their Cuisine". VICE. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
- ↑ HuffPost, Garin PirniaOn Assignment For (2020-07-15). "The Biggest Misconceptions About Chinese American Food". HuffPost. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Zhang, Jenny G. (2021-05-04). "NYC Chef Eric Sze Knows There's Always More to Do". Eater. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
- ↑ Rosini-Gentile, Jennifer (2022-04-08). "Behind the Toque: An Interview with Chef Eric Sze of Wenwen". Greenpointers. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
- ↑ Ting, Deanna (2022-03-16). "At Wenwen in Brooklyn, Eric Sze Channels the Tastes of Home". Resy | Right This Way. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
- ↑ Orlow, Emma (2023-01-18). "Taiwanese Restaurant 886 Is Hosting a Pop-Up With Dominique Ansel in Manhattan". Eater NY. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
- ↑ Carter, Morgan (2025-02-24). "Wenwen". Time Out.