Kim Son (restaurant)

Kim Sơn audio|Kim Son.ogg|pronunciation is a family owned chain of restaurants in Houston, Texas, that serves both Vietnamese cuisine and Chinese cuisine.

Kim Sơn was originally founded in Vinh Long, Vietnam, by the family matriarch Kim Su Tran La. When the Communists came to South Vietnam, Kim and her family fled Vietnam in 1979 to Malaysia. In 1980, the family received approval to join relatives already in the United States. The family re-established the restaurant in Houston's Downtown Chinatown in 1982. Kim and her husband Son oversee all the restaurants with their sons Tan, Tri, Tony, Tao, and daughter Tina.

The restaurant has an extensive menu of Chinese and Vietnamese dishes, serves weekend Dim Sum and quickly became a success. In 1993, the La family opened a new $2 million, 22,000 square foot restaurant and banquet facility that was built catty-corner to the original location. At the time it was the largest Chinese restaurant in the State of Texas. A location formerly existed at 7531 Westheimer at Hillcroft, but it closed.

The success of the restaurant has led to the opening of two additional full service restaurants. One in Stafford, Texas, and the new 35,000 square foot restaurant and ballroom at Bellaire and Wilcrest Boulevards in Houston. Both new locations are located in southwest suburbs that have thriving Asian communities. The company has also opened as several smaller outlets in Houston with limited menus called "Little Kim Sơn."

The chain has become one of the best known restaurants in the State of Texas and has received accolades from such prestigious magazines as Bon Appetit, Esquire magazine, and Food & Wine.

In 2005, the La family opened Asia in conjunction with the new L’Auberge du Lac Hotel & Casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Locations

Kim Sơn
* 2001 Jefferson Street Downtown Houston (Houston, Flagship) Opened 1993
* 12750 U.S. Route 59 (Southwest Freeway) (Stafford) Opened 1999
* 10603 Bellaire Boulevard (Houston) Opened 2006

Little Kim Sơn
* University of Houston
* American General
* Union Square Food Court (Downtown Tunnel)
* Texas Medical Center Commons
* BP Building (Westlake)
* Cullen Building (Downtown Houston)

Former Kim Sơn Locations
* 7531 Westheimer

Former little Kim Sơn locations
* First Colony Mall (Sugar Land)

External links

* [http://www.kimson.com Kim Sơn web site]