Chef Hung Van Dinh is the new buffet chef at the Dragon Wok & Noodle at The Buffet at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort.

Celebrating 27 years with We-Ko-Pa, Dinh is a Vietnamese native who arrived in the U.S. from Saigon in 1975 with just the clothes on his back supplied by the Red Cross.

A self-taught chef (“everything I learned is from working in kitchens”) since 1980, Hung started his career as a busboy and then server at Mountain Shadows Resort in Paradise Valley.

Hung joined the family-owned Szechuan Inn in Phoenix where he spent time with the chef to learn as much as he could about cooking.

In 1983, Hung opened his first restaurant - Plum Tree in Tempe, named for the plum tree in his backyard. Soon after, he opened a second location in Chandler.

In 1997, Hung joined the then-Fort McDowell Casino as a sous chef which he did for eight years and then executive chef for 15 years.

He has been a buffet chef for The Buffet since the restaurant opened at the new We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort in October 2020.

“Cooking is an art,” says Hung. “I constantly tap into my creativity and enthusiasm to formulate new dishes as well as perfect, or put a new spin on, ones I’ve carried with me throughout my 40-year career. I strive for freshness in every way possible, and never sacrifice quality over quantity.

“At the Dragon Wok & Noodle, all food is done the traditional way, with all sauces and marinades hand-prepared to ensure the food is done with care,” adds Hung. “You’re coming to the right place to experience authentic food that we take pride in and enjoy ourselves.”

A fan of Chinese and Vietnamese cuisines, Hung’s favorite dishes are pho, items on the wok, braised pork belly with coconut water and duck egg and noodle dishes.

The craziest food he’s ever eaten is “To Make You a Man” in Vietnam, a drink that consists of Chinese medicine and braised horse head broth.

In his spare time, Hung enjoys spending time with his wife and four children, singing karaoke, playing Pai Gow, walking, visiting his favorite spots in Arizona and traveling out of state to experience new foods.

Dragon Wok and Noodle offers authentic Asian specialty items including an authentic pho station, wonton soup, Hunan beef, sweet and sour chicken, Tako salad, assorted daily sushi and chow mein.

The Buffet is open Thursdays from 3 to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 3 to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is closed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

For more information, visit wekopacasinoresort.com/dining/the-buffet-at-wekopa-casino.