Dung “Junior” Vo

Executive Chef & Partner

As Executive Chef/Partner, Dung “Junior” Vo is collaborative by nature, whether he is working on menu creation or spearheading staff education at Noko, an Asian-inspired wood-fired restaurant located in the eclectic East Nashville neighborhood. Born in Vietnam, Vo grew up in the coastal city of Nha Trang before moving to Atlanta in 2006 at age 12. He joined the Indigo Road Hospitality team as a sushi chef while attending the Art Institute of Atlanta, and upon graduation, Vo headed to Charleston to join the O-Ku Charleston team where he would ultimately become Executive Chef. 

In 2022, Vo made the move to Music City to follow his dreams of opening a restaurant with his two partners, Jon Murray and Wilson Brannock, both of whom he met while working at Indigo Road concepts. With an affinity for “pouring into others’ cups” through food, Vo utilizes inspiration from his Vietnamese heritage and subsequential travels throughout Asia as the driving forces for creating Noko’s wood-fired menu. 

Beyond the flavorful yet familiar cuisine, Vo runs the Noko kitchen with respect at the forefront of operations. Alongside his partners, Vo aims to maintain a safe and inspiring atmosphere for both employees and guests. In his own words, “Noko is a class in the university of life, and I’m a student. The journey of learning gives me purpose. It inspires me to do what I do.” 

When he’s not in the Noko kitchen, Vo enjoys taking lessons and traveling to competitions for ballroom dancing – yet another outlet for him to cultivate connection and meet people from all walks of life.