Luke Nguyen

At the age of 23, Luke fulfilled his dream by opening his very own restaurant – Red Lantern.  In 2012, he opened his second restaurant, Red Lantern on Riley. 

Today, Red Lantern is the most awarded Vietnamese restaurant in the world.  Luke is also the man behind Fat Noodle, an Asian Noodle Bar concept at The Star in Pyrmont Sydney and The Star Brisbane.

In 2017, Luke opened his first restaurant in Saigon, Vietnam House – a modern Vietnamese restaurant in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. Elevating Vietnamese cuisine to higher levels & taking the cuisine to the world stage.

For three consecutive years, Vietnam House has been Selected by The Michelin Guide and in 2023, was awarded for the Best Service in Vietnam.

In 2019, Luke opened the much-anticipated Botanic House in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney, serving Southeast Asian dishes cooked with Native Australian ingredients.

For three consecutive years, Botanic House has been awarded, the Best Modern Vietnamese Restaurant in Australia.

In March 2026, Luke opened his biggest project yet, a waterfront restaurant at the new Fish Market in Sydney. LUA by Luke Nguyen will Celebrate Vietnamese & Southeast Asian flavours, showcasing premium, sustainable seafood of Australia. 

Awarded One Chef’s Hat by The Good Food Guide NSW. In May 2026, Luke opened Tran Dynasty, the world’s very first Dynastic Vietnamese Restaurant, located at The Fairmont Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Luke Nguyen is the Author of Seven Bestselling and award-winning cookbooks, secrets of the Red Lantern, the Songs of Sapa, Indochine, Luke Nguyen’s Greater Mekong, Food of Vietnam, Luke’s Food of France & Street Food Asia.

Recently inducted into the Food Hall of Fame for his cooking and travel programs, Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam, Luke Nguyen’s Greater Mekong, Luke Nguyen’s France, Luke Nguyen’s U.K, Street Food Asia, Luke Nguyen’s Food Trails, Luke Nguyen’s Railway Vietnam, Luke Nguyen’s India and A Taste of Australia in Vietnam. Which are televised & aired in 160 countries worldwide.

Luke is the main judge and host of Master Chef Vietnam & TOP CHEF Vietnam and is a regular guest judge on Master Chef Australia. He has also filmed with Gordan Ramsay in Gordon Ramsay’s Great Escape.

Luke Nguyen recently received an Honorary Doctorate in Communications from RMIT University.