Joonhyuk Chi learned to cook by watching his mother. Years later, after leaving electronic engineering for culinary school in Osaka, his cooking finds its way back to her kitchen.
In Hanoi, he opened Labri, a bistro that isn't classic French—Korean and Vietnamese essence, shaped by years lived in Japan, Canada, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Then came Onvit, where he cooks Korean food with local Vietnamese ingredients. The name means "warm light"—the warmth of his mother's cooking.
Korean, trained in Japan, speaking Japanese with his Vietnamese wife and English in the kitchen, he wasn't always sure which one he was. At Labri, a new menu starts in books and research. At Onvit, it starts with his eyes closed and a childhood memory.
"Sharing my love, sharing my experience, is my main reason."
