Chef Gizela Ho Launches Good Morning 96, A New Culinary Venture

URGENT UPDATE: Chef Gizela Ho, the acclaimed chef de cuisine from Rich Table, is set to launch her own restaurant, Good Morning 96, in San Francisco. This exciting new project marks a significant moment in the city’s dining scene as it embraces smaller, chef-driven concepts.

Ho, who spent four transformative years at Rich Table, is on a mission to create a casual, produce-forward restaurant that reflects her diverse culinary influences—rooted in her childhood in Guam and family ties to Hong Kong. The restaurant will focus on shareable dishes, showcasing seasonal ingredients that tell her story and capture her culinary journey.

This move comes at a time when San Francisco’s restaurant landscape is shifting towards more intimate and personality-driven dining experiences. Ho’s path to this venture has been anything but conventional. Originally a biochemistry major at UC Davis, she made a bold pivot to the culinary arts at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa.

She first joined Rich Table as a stagiaire in 2014, honing her skills in Michelin-starred kitchens in Hong Kong before returning to San Francisco in 2017. During her time at Rich Table, she was credited with refining the restaurant’s market-driven, seasonal style, earning recognition from the Michelin Guide.

What can diners expect from Good Morning 96? Ho aims to deliver a menu that defies traditional culinary categories, featuring “snacky” sections alongside rotating entrees. Early highlights include a cold glass noodle salad dressed in spicy shiso vinaigrette, grilled Monterey squid, and a seasonal pizookie for dessert. The name “Good Morning 96” is a nod to a Hong Kong kitchen-towel brand, Guam’s motto, and the year her grandfather opened a storefront, intertwining personal history with culinary creativity.

As of now, Ho is actively searching for a brick-and-mortar location and has not yet announced an opening timeline. The excitement surrounding her new venture is palpable as it signals a growing trend of chefs leaving high-profile positions to realize their unique visions in the competitive San Francisco dining scene.

While details are still unfolding, the anticipated opening of Good Morning 96 is sure to be a focal point for food enthusiasts and industry insiders alike. With Ho’s rich background and commitment to seasonal ingredients, this restaurant promises to be a must-visit destination in the city.

Stay tuned for more updates as Chef Gizela Ho prepares to unveil Good Morning 96, a culinary venture that is already generating buzz and excitement across the San Francisco dining community.