Calvin Eng
Bonnie’s | Brooklyn
february 2023
From a young age, Calvin Eng knew he wanted to one day own his own restaurant. Originally from Brooklyn, he grew up eating traditional Cantonese dishes, lovingly prepared by his mother at home, or at restaurants in Chinatown. With a clear vision for his career, Eng enrolled at Johnson and Wales following his high school graduation. In 2016, he took a position at acclaimed dim sum restaurant, Nom Wah Tea Parlor, where he was in charge of opening their first fast casual outpost in Nolita. It was a pivotal moment for Eng, who was brought back to his childhood—the days spent visiting his grandparents, wandering from vendor to vendor in Chinatown, and soaking up the sights, smells, and tastes.
In 2018, Eng joined the team at Rising Stars alum Trigg Brown’s Win Son. After three years there, he felt ready to fulfill his lifelong dream. Eng opened Bonnie’s in December 2021. Named after his mother, the Brooklyn restaurant serves Cantonese-American cuisine, heavily inspired by memories of his mom’s home cooking. He plates nostalgic bites with a market-driven philosophy, consciously sourcing ingredients from Chinatown vendors. Eng has quickly made Bonnie’s a staple of North Williamsburg, while supporting and uplifting the Chinatown community that is so near and dear to his heart.
