Sonder
A listening bar in downtown Santa Ana with a zero-waste approach joins ZFP as a business member.
A Family Affair
An appreciation for both music and the lives of others come together in Sonder, new ZFP Business Member and the brainchild of siblings Lamson and Diane Nguyen. Diane and Lamson opened Sonder with the belief that “every person around you is living a life as rich and complex as your own”, a principle that informs their approach to hospitality.
As a listening bar, music quite literally takes centerstage. Sonder’s DJ booth serves as both a workspace and centerpiece. The energy changes throughout the week, ranging from relaxed weekday vinyl spins and more energetic weekend events, to “Bring Your Own Vinyl” Thursday nights where guests spin their own records.
“We create a space where people come together over bold dishes that blend Southeast Asian traditions with global influences, paired with intentionally crafted cocktails. It's where food, drinks, and music create something greater than the sum of their parts,” Diane describes.
“Joining Zero Foodprint made sense for us.”
- Diane Nguyen
Taking the Next Step in Sustainability
This fall, they made the decision to become Zero Foodprint Members, donating a portion of sales from one of their drinks to ZFP’s Restore grant.
“Joining Zero Foodprint made sense for us,” says Diane. “We already focus on reducing waste in everything we do. We turn kitchen scraps into cocktail ingredients, serve food on thrifted plates, and source locally when possible. Supporting farmers who are transitioning to regenerative practices is a logical next step.”
When it comes to their decision to support regenerative agriculture, Diane explains that “These farmers are working to restore soil health, which benefits everyone in the long run. It's an extension of the sustainability practices we've built into our daily operations.”
About Sonder
“Sonder is an audio bar and restaurant that shifts between two moods, both of them worth catching. Weeknights are intimate. Music sets the tone while conversations stretch over Southeast Asian flavors and craft cocktails. By the weekend, the energy builds. Local DJs bring their own sound, turning late evenings into something funky and familiar. It’s creating space for creativity beyond the kitchen.”
Zero Foodprint (ZFP) is a nonprofit organization restoring the climate, one acre at a time. We believe that by regenerating soil, local food economies can play a critical role in reversing the global climate crisis. We work with food and beverage businesses, philanthropy, and government to bring the next dollar to implement the next regenerative practice on the next acre. This regenerative economy benefits every person who grows food, every person who sells food, and every person on this planet who eats food.
