So 9
Written bySo 9 is Kim Tran’s homage to her parents and their journey as refugees from Vietnam. The number nine is a lucky/auspicious number in Vietnamese culture which resonates strongly with her family.
The restaurant stands as a tribute to their luck and success against all odds and was designed to challenge everyone’s idea of what a Vietnamese restaurant should be.
“I wanted to create a beautiful space where you can see and smell the food, and experience the theatre of preparing and cooking our traditional street food. So 9 restaurant reflects my journey of Vietnamese/Australian.” Kim said.
The main menu is comprised of traditional street food dishes from North and South Vietnam. Most of the recipes have been handed down through the family.
“Vietnamese food is fresh, flavoursome and light, so we try to source all our ingredients locally when possible.” Kim said.
Delighting loyal patrons with authentic Vietnamese dishes has not always been Kim’s career. Prior to to her venture into the food industry she spent 13 years working in fashion. With this experience it is no surprise that So 9 has a sleek and impressive design.
This year So 9 claimed the New York Hospitality Design Award for best designed casual restaurant as well as the Restaurant and Bar Design Award for best designed Australia & Pacific restaurant.
“Winning both awards has been such an honour as we were against so many amazing international and Australian entries.” Kim said.
The recent success of So 9 on UberEATS with street food such as banh mi, noodle soup, salads and rice paper rolls has proved that there is more to the restaurant than aesthetics.
“UberEats has been amazing. It has been great watching the expansion of UberEats into further locations because it has allowed us to deliver our food to people who would not usually have the chance.” Kim said.