Luke Nguyen

🇻🇳 Vietnam · Vietnamese cuisine · b. 1978

Australia's most prominent Vietnamese chef and television presenter.

Biography

Luke Nguyen is an Australian-Vietnamese chef, restaurateur and TV presenter. Born in a Thai refugee camp to Vietnamese parents who fled the war, he grew up in Sydney and opened Red Lantern in 2002, which became one of Sydney's most acclaimed Vietnamese restaurants and the longest-running Vietnamese restaurant in the city.

His SBS travel-cookery series — 'Luke Nguyen's Vietnam,' 'Luke Nguyen's Greater Mekong,' 'Luke Nguyen's France' and 'Luke Nguyen's Food Trail' — have won multiple awards and brought Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian and Thai cuisines to mainstream Australian audiences. He has also been a recurring judge on MasterChef Vietnam.

His cooking style is rooted in southern Vietnamese tradition (his family is from the Mekong Delta) but engages broadly with Mekong region cuisines — the food of the rivers, herbs and rice paddies that connect Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.

Cooking Philosophy

Mekong cuisine as a single tradition. Nguyen argues that the cuisines of the lower Mekong — Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, parts of Thailand — share more than they differ: rice, river fish, fresh herbs, the same fish sauces, the same tropical fruits. His travel series trace those connections.

Restaurants

Red Lantern
Sydney
His flagship — opened 2002, longest-running Vietnamese restaurant in Sydney.
Fat Noodle
Brisbane / Queensland
Casual Asian noodle bar at The Star casinos.
Vietnam House
Ho Chi Minh City
Modern Vietnamese fine dining in District 1.

Awards & Recognition

AACTA Logie nominations
Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide chef hat
Vietnamese Government Gold Medal for Cuisine

Iconic Dishes

PhởCrispy pancakes (bánh xèo)Family-style Vietnamese feastsCambodian and Laotian regional dishes

Cookbooks

The Songs of Sapa: Stories and Recipes from Vietnam
Indochine: Baguettes and Banh Mi
My Vietnam

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Signature Recipes Inspired by Luke

Original recipes we created as homages to Luke's cooking style and signature dishes. Not direct reproductions of any copyrighted material — these are our interpretations of the traditionsLuke has worked with throughout their career.

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Vietnamese Crispy Pancakes (Bánh Xèo) — Luke Nguyen-Inspired

Thin turmeric-rice batter sizzled crispy with prawns, pork and bean sprouts — wrapped in lettuce with herbs and dipping sauce.

25m prep · 30m cook · ⭐ 4.8

Recipes in Luke's Style

These recipes from our database reflect the vietnamese cooking tradition that Luke works in. They are not direct reproductions of Luke's copyrighted recipes, but traditional dishes inspired by the same culinary heritage.

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Authentic Vietnamese Pho Bo

30 prep · 210 cook · ⭐ 4.9

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Vietnamese Bánh Mì Sandwich

30 prep · 15 cook · ⭐ 4.8

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Vietnamese Bún Chả – Grilled Pork Patties with Vermicelli and Dipping Broth

30 prep · 20 cook · ⭐ 4.8

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Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls – Gỏi Cuốn with Peanut Dipping Sauce

30 prep · 10 cook · ⭐ 4.7

Frequently Asked Questions about Luke Nguyen

Where is Red Lantern?

Red Lantern is Luke Nguyen's flagship restaurant in Surry Hills, Sydney. Opened in 2002, it is the longest-running Vietnamese restaurant in Sydney and helped establish modern Vietnamese cuisine in Australia.