Red Lantern Asian Fusion opened in June 2018 in Yelm, Washington, founded by Tiffany Lin and Hung Pham, who brought their Taiwanese and Vietnamese culinary traditions to Thurston County. After three months of renovation, the couple transformed a small space on Creek Street into a warm, welcoming restaurant centered around fresh, made-to-order Asian fusion dishes. The name “Red Lantern” was chosen for its meaning in many Asian cultures: warmth, prosperity, and welcome.
From its earliest days, Red Lantern earned a reputation for combining authentic flavors from Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, and China with modern, approachable presentations. Customer favorites such as phở, pad thai, stir-fried noodles, fried rice, and bubble tea helped establish the restaurant as a local favorite.
Beyond food, Red Lantern quickly became known for its community involvement. Tiffany and Hung supported local schools, participated in multicultural events, and offered cooking and bubble tea classes—building strong ties with families, students, teachers, and military members in the Yelm area.Over the years, the restaurant continued to grow, strengthening its operations and expanding its team. In 2025, Red Lantern reached an important new chapter when family members officially joined the business, contributing to both daily operations and the long-term vision for expansion. Their involvement brought new energy, stronger teamwork, and deeper family roots to the business—helping to support the brand’s continued growth.
With increasing community support and a solid team behind them, the owners announced plans to open a second location in downtown Olympia, designed with an efficient kitchen layout and expanded take-out and delivery capacity to meet demand.Today, after seven successful years, Red Lantern Asian Fusion remains a family-run, community-centered restaurant built on hard work, cultural pride, and the belief that food brings people together. The addition of family members in 2025 marks a new era of unity and growth—ensuring the Red Lantern spirit continues to shine even brighter.
