Interviewers: Sherri Sheu and Andrew Gansky
Location: Kim Son Restaurant 2001 Jefferson St., Houston, Texas 77003
This interview for the Texas Iconic Restaurant Oral History project was produced in collaboration with the Department of American Studies at the University of Texas, Austin, and the Texas Restaurant Association. Field Notes by Andrew Gansky.
Born in Vietnam, Kim Su Tran La (Mama La), her husband, and their seven children, arrived in Houston in 1980 as refugees of the Vietnam War.
Armed with her extensive knowledge of Vietnamese cooking, which was passed down to her from her mother-in-law, Mama La managed to memorize over 250 recipes before opening the first KIM SON Restaurant in Vietnam. The original KIM SON was located in Vinh Long, before it was eventually closed due to the communist takeover in Vietnam. Today, Mama La’s talent in the kitchen has paved the way for the KIM SON Restaurant Group to grow to four full-service restaurants, three banquet facilities, and four food court outlets throughout the Houston area.
