My name is Kim; I’m a mother of three and a restaurateur. My journey began when I was 12 years old, helping my brother cook in the kitchen. I’ve been working in all types of restaurants in various roles since I was 15 years old. I’ve been a waitress, a bartender, a kitchen hand, an assistant manager and eventually a manager. Working in restaurants gave me not only a love for food but a love for people.

After completing my double degree I worked as a real estate agent then moved into property management. During this time, my love for food grew—I would always find a reason to cook, even if I was working six, sometimes even seven, days a week. When I was 29, I had my first child and decided to become a stay-at-home mum. I liked to cook different cuisines for my family. The kitchen made me calm. This is when my dream of opening a café or restaurant came about.

On May 20, 2017, I joined My Kitchen Rules (MKR) and fought my way to the finals. My time on MKR taught me that reality TV is not what it seems on TV. I learned how to compromise, how to cook under competition pressure, under harsh time constraints, and in different types of conditions. I learned problem-solving, how to present food professionally and what running a restaurant would be like. Along the way I met so many wonderful people who were part of my MKR journey and are still a part of my life now. They’ve been very supportive of my becoming a restaurateur. If you ask me what I gained most being on MKR, I’d say it was the confidence to open Ms Kim.

At Ms Kim we begin by acquiring the freshest ingredients available based on the season, and the highest quality cut of meat from our trusted suppliers. We want our food to be clean, fresh, healthy and full of Vietnamese cuisine flavours.

We believe that to truly enjoy your meal, you need to enjoy it with all your senses. This includes the way the food smells, looks, tastes, and the atmosphere around you when you eat it. All your senses must be satisfied in order to enjoy your meal. It’s not just dining. It’s an experience.

When we cook we do so with love and passion. We put our heart into the meal we’re cooking—that’s what makes the food taste extra special. We thrive in making the food well-balanced with herbs and spices, sweet, sour and salty. We want our meals to be amazing in flavour and pack a punch in every bite, till the very last one.