Kafe Yen is an unusual Asian restaurant. While most Asian restaurants focus on a certain country's cuisine, Kafe Yen's menu takes a decidedly different approach. The menu features dishes from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, and Vietnam. An ambitious plan to be sure, but if properly executed, it could bring a wealth of Asian delicacies to my back porch, right here in Pacific Beach. It turns out Yen is a tightly knit operation, run by the Thamphan family. Daughter Pasara Thamphan and husband Jamin Barnes are the proprietors. Pasara's brother, Off Thamphan, is Chef de Cuisine. Their mother, Chaisri Thamphan, is a long time Chicago restaurateur, who provides the traditional recipes, and consults on classic Asian cooking techniques.