A chef manages to open a restaurant following her success on TikTok

TikTok sometimes reveals unexpected hidden talents, as in the case of Tue Nguyeng, a young American of Vietnamese origin. Initially known for her mukbangs, videos in which they sample dishes, the young woman went on to make a name for herself with her family recipes. Today, it's no longer behind a screen that she delights her subscribers, but within the confines of her Los Angeles restaurant.

"I wanted people who watch my videos to be able to come and taste my cooking in the real world"

Although the Covid-19 pandemic was a collective ordeal, it also saw the rise of some previously unknown figures. Such is the case of Tue Nguyen who, confined to her home, took advantage of this period to publish videos of mukbangs, then recipes. A graduate of a cooking school, the young woman offers Vietnamese dishes on her Tiktok (@TwayDaBae), the country she left as a child to move to the United States. Simple entertainment at first, her publications gradually enabled her to make a name for herself and share the culture of her childhood. "I didn't really learn to cook until (...) I really looked at what I'd grown up with. And that's the taste of my mom's cooking," she confides to AFP.

Although the confinements have ended, Tue Nguyen has continued her videos. Today, her first recipe, in which she shows how to preparefried rice, has accumulated 7.9 million views! Her success can be seen in the comments, which urge her to open her own establishment. Her wish came true in 2022, when she opened her first two-day ephemeral restaurant on La Cienega Boulevard in Los Angeles. "I wanted people who watch my videos to be able to come and taste my food in the real world," she explains.

@twaydabae We've officially been open for a whole week!!! Shoutout to those who travelled far for this, I've met people that came from New York, Portland & Canada 🤯 I'm so thankful for the support & beyond ecstatic that those that visited loves the food. Beside from the support from the community, I'm so thankful for the support from my team that makes @Didi ♬ original sound - twaydabae

In fact, it was on the premises of her first pop-up that she launched her restaurant last July. At ĐI ĐI, which translates as "let's go" in Vietnamese, Tue Nguyen offers some of the star recipes of her social networks, "but here, it's more polished", she stresses. On the menu: beef carpaccio, honey-glazed shrimp and the famous fried rice.

With thousands of subscribers, culinary training and family heritage, the young chef hopes to make her mark on the Los Angeles culinary scene. "My cooking has always been the story of my immigrant experience. This restaurant captures the essence of both the cuisine and the vibrant culture. Vietnam is constantly evolving and it's time to bring modern Vietnam to Hollywood," she declared. A success story that is sure to inspire the younger generation.