Khanh Nguyen, Zalat Pizza’s founder & CEO, came to the United States as a refugee in 1975 after the fall of Vietnam. Raised in Texas and a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, Nguyen transitioned from over a decade in corporate law to a successful serial entrepreneur, initially in tech startups and then in the culinary sector. His first Dallas-based restaurant, DaLat (2012), blends his Vietnamese heritage with American flavors, offering a distinct take on traditional Vietnamese comfort food. Following DaLat’s success, Nguyen opened the first Zalat Pizza in 2015. It quickly became a cult favorite, celebrated for its exceptional pizza quality and its commitment to serving until 4 a.m. The brand is distinguished by its use of 100% all-beef pepperoni and a diverse, eclectic menu that includes standout creations like the Pho Shizzle, Elote and Pineapple Express pizzas. Zalat’s rapid expansion, now encompassing 31 locations across Dallas, Houston and Austin, is a testament to its popularity. Nguyen was featured on PMQ Pizza’s March 2022 cover. The brand’s other accolades are numerous, including a spot in the Dallas Observer’s Top 100 Restaurants, QSR magazine’s Top 40/40 Concepts, and the prestigious Nation’s Restaurant News’ Hot Concepts Award for 2021, recognizing Zalat as a brand predicted to become a household name.