Born from the meeting of two cultures and the warmth of family cooking, LuLi’s Kitchen is more than a restaurant. It is the story of a French restaurateur and his Vietnamese wife who transformed their family kitchen into a place where tradition, love, and authentic Vietnamese flavours are shared with the city.
Some restaurants are created from business plans. Others begin with something far more intimate, a story shaped by love. LuLi’s Kitchen was born from the meeting of French restaurateur Timothée Rousselin and his Vietnamese wife Nhung, whose shared life in Ho Chi Minh City gradually evolved into a vision that blends cultures, family traditions, and a deep appreciation for Vietnamese cuisine.
Timothée first arrived in Vietnam several years ago, drawn by the country’s vibrant rhythm and culinary depth. After more than a decade in the hospitality industry in France, he found in Saigon a city that felt both energetic and deeply human, a place where food is not merely consumed, but lived and shared.
It was here that he met Nhung. Their relationship soon became the foundation of a multicultural household where French sensibility meets Vietnamese tradition, shaping a way of life defined by warmth, generosity, and an instinctive connection to food.
Like many meaningful culinary journeys, the idea for the restaurant did not begin in a professional kitchen. It began at home. When their first child was born, Nhung’s mother came to live with them, bringing with her not only care and devotion, but also a remarkable culinary intuition. Her cooking carried the essence of Vietnamese family life, dishes prepared not for display, but for comfort, nourishment, and togetherness.
During the quiet hours when their daughter slept, the kitchen gradually became a place of quiet creation. Nhung and her mother began preparing a handful of dishes to share with neighbours and friends. What started as a modest takeaway from their apartment soon found a loyal following.
Two dishes, in particular, resonated deeply. A fragrant Vietnamese chicken curry, rich with coconut milk and gently layered spices, and bò kho, a slow braised beef stew infused with star anise, cinnamon, and herbs. These recipes, rooted in memory and tradition, would later become the soul of LuLi’s Kitchen.
Encouraged by the response, the family decided to take a decisive step forward. When a space became available on Pasteur Street in District 1, they embraced the opportunity to transform their home kitchen into a restaurant.
The transformation was completed in just two weeks, not by a large team, but by the family themselves. Timothée shaped the space with a sense of understated warmth, Nhung oversaw operations with quiet precision, while her mother remained at the centre of it all, anchoring the kitchen with authenticity and care.
When the restaurant opened in November 2024, it carried a name that reflects the heart of their world, LuLi, a combination of the names of their children, Louis and Lilas. What emerged was not simply a dining venue, but a space imbued with a sense of home. Guests were drawn not only to the food, but to the atmosphere, one that feels personal, unpretentious, and deeply sincere.
Following the success of the original location, the story naturally continued with LuLi’s Skyview, a second address overlooking the vibrant stretch of Nguyen Hue. Situated on the sixth floor and accessed via Ngo Duc Ke Street, the new space introduces a different perspective, where the energy of the city meets the quiet intimacy of family cooking.
The menu remains faithful to its origins. Signature dishes such as the comforting chicken curry and the richly aromatic bò kho continue to define the kitchen. Alongside them, a repertoire of Vietnamese classics unfolds, from crisp bánh xèo and delicate noodle soups to clay pot fish and braised pork, each prepared with a sense of patience and respect for tradition.
Yet beyond the dishes lies something more enduring. In Vietnamese culture, a meal is never just a meal. It is a moment of gathering, a space where stories are shared, relationships are nurtured, and time slows, if only briefly.
At LuLi’s Skyview, that spirit remains unchanged. From a small apartment kitchen to a restaurant overlooking the lights of Nguyen Hue, LuLi’s continues to be guided by a simple, enduring idea. Food, in its most honest form, is an expression of love.