Dung "Junior" Vo

Executive Chef/Partner

As Executive Chef and Partner, Junior Vo approaches hospitality with deep reverence—for food, for people, and for the stories that shape both. At Kase by Noko, the intimate 14-seat omakase concept in East Nashville, Vo blends technical precision with soulful storytelling, drawing inspiration from his upbringing in the coastal city of Nha Trang, Vietnam.

Junior moved to Atlanta, GA, in 2006 at age 12 and began his culinary career while studying at the Art Institute of Atlanta. He joined Indigo Road Hospitality Group as a sushi chef and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming Sous Chef at O-Ku Atlanta, where he met his now-business partners, Jon Murray and Wilson Brannock. He shortly after became Executive Chef at O-Ku Charleston and in 2022, the trio moved to Nashville to pursue their shared dream of opening restaurants that honor heritage and hospitality.

Alongside Jon and Wilson, Junior opened Noko, an Asian-inspired, wood-fired restaurant known for its innovative menu and “people over profit” ethos. Together, these sister restaurants—Noko and Kase—represent a commitment to thoughtful, elevated dining experiences rooted in culture and care.

With Kase by Noko, Junior returns to his roots—highlighting the simplicity of fresh-caught seafood and honoring the flavors of his heritage with quiet confidence. For Junior, the omakase experience is less about extravagance and more about intentionality: an intimate, soulful exchange between chef and guest.

When he’s not at Kase or Noko, Junior is likely traveling to ballroom dance competitions or practicing for the next one—another way he finds connection through rhythm, movement, and care.