Do312 Presents: Moving Parts — Nate Hoops of Phodega
Nate Hoops has been building toward Phodega his whole life — he just didn't know it yet.
Interview by Chris Mariano
Photos by Tony Menias
Meet Nate Hoops. Co-owner of Phodega, that noodle, sandwich, and rice spot on Division in Wicker Park that hits like a bodega, looks like the homie's spot, and sounds like whoever's on the aux — which on any given weekend, is an actual DJ. Asian snacks on the shelves, art on the walls, and an aesthetic so specific it could only come from one person.
Before this, he helped run Chicago Lunchbox for nearly a decade, had a clothing brand, and got his eye right working at one of Chicago's go-to sneaker spots. Years of living with his now business partner Anthony handled the rest. Phodega wasn't so much built as it was inevitable. He doesn't call it a business anyway — he calls it his biggest art project. One that's never really finished.
MOVING PARTS is our new interview series spotlighting the people shaping Chicago through food, music, art, nightlife, and culture.
The builders, creators, operators, and personalities behind the city's best spots.
— THE Q&A —
Chris, Do312 Moving Parts: Chicago Lunchbox, Royal Mindset, Akin — you had a lot going before this. What actually led to Phodega?
Nate Hoops, Phodega: Running Chicago Lunchbox for almost 10 years was probably the biggest thing that led up to Bodega. John Nguyen's food truck — you went to school with John. That experience prepared me for all of this. You're the electrician, the mechanic, the driver, fixing things on the road. It taught me how much we could actually pull off on our own.
Chris: All those years — the brand, the store, the truck — how does that show up in here?
Nate: Everything I learned along the way just shows up here. The graphic design, the artwork, the whole vibe. We always wanted a place that was cool to hang out at, aesthetically pleasing, with good food. It's always been that simple. I mean, you always came to the crib — you saw how we rolled.
“Instead of going to the party, we just brought the party to us.”
Chris: Anthony runs the kitchen. But this whole thing really starts with his family's restaurant, right?
Nate: That's the reason this exists. Anthony's family's restaurant, Pho Ha, was a legendary spot out in Glendale Heights. Shout out to Pho Ha — they're still out there, they're the OGs. That was the first place I ever had pho, and it ruined every other pho spot after that.
His parents put their heart and soul into that place. Anthony and I always talked about opening a restaurant, even back when we were roommates.
Chris: Anthony runs the kitchen, Kenny holds it down on the floor — so what's your lane?
Nate: I do a little bit of everything else. What's important to me is that people are getting good food, great service, treated well, and that the vibe is right.
Everything from the music to the art, the decor, the snacks, the merch — all the creative stuff is what I do.
“This is my biggest art project. An everlasting, ongoing project. There's always something to do, something to change.”
Chris: How much of your own background is in this place?
Nate: The whole place, really. The menu is food Anthony and I both grew up with. My mom's from Singapore, so we do the chicken rice.
Growing up Asian American, all the snacks and drinks we loved as kids — they're here. And I'm a mix too [Chinese/Korean/Dutch], so this place is kind of a hodgepodge of things. Just like me.
Chris: The menu's super easy to navigate — low barrier on purpose?
Nate: Yeah, totally intentional. The menu's easy to understand — basic Asian dishes, but our favorites. No language barrier, nothing intimidating.
We've had a lot of people have their very first bowl of pho here, which means a lot. Low barrier to entry. That's just what we do here.
Chris: Last one — what do you want people to walk out of here feeling?
Nate: I want people to leave better than they showed up. Whether you came in sick, stressed, or just hungry — leave happy and take something to go.
Buy a hoodie. Buy some merch. Maybe buy something to go too.
“I want people to leave better than they showed up.”
— RAPID FIRE —
Phodega in one sentence?
A comfortable spot with food that's easy to love.
The food truck era taught you what?
How much we can actually pull off on our own.
Most Chicago thing about this spot?
Cool place, good food, no pretension. That's it.
DO Division weekend — what's the move?
DJs Friday through Sunday, 2 to 6. Marky Boy on Friday, Franco De Leon and Chicago Tribe on Saturday, Trilogy & fam on Sunday. Pull up.
What do people not realize about running a place like this?
There's always something to do. Something to change.
— WHILE YOU'RE THERE —
Mister Tiger x Phodega Collab May 25-29
FREE SANDWICH. FOR REAL.
Phodega and Mister Tiger are doing a collab sandwich this week only, May 25–29, and it's exactly as good as it sounds. Do312 will set up a table on their patio Friday, May 29th from 4–6pm — and if you sign up for Do312 More on the spot, we're buying your sandwich, while supplies last. Do312 More is Do312's monthly subscription that gets you two free tickets every month to shows and events across the city.
Sign up at the table, we hand you a sandwich. That's the deal.
Phodega is at 1924 W. Division in Wicker Park.
Do Division weekend runs Friday through Sunday with live DJs on the Phodega patio from 2 to 6 each day.
Follow @phodega and order at orderphodega.com — with a PH.
"Don't try it. You won't like it."
