"Mama La" is the secret ingredient behind the Kim Son Restaurants. Born in Vietnam, Kim Su Tran La, her husband, and their seven children arrived in Houston in 1980 after fleeing from Communist rule in their homeland. Armed with only her extensive knowledge of Vietnamese cooking - she had memorized more than 250 recipes from her mother-in-law - with her family support, she opened the second restaurant in Houston's China Town in 1982 (The original Kim Son was located in Vinh Long and closed with the Communist takeover.)

Mama La's recipes have won her the following of thousands of loyal fans and the admiration of many of the country's top restaurant critics. Perennially voted "Best Vietnamese Restaurant" in Houston by the Houston Press, Kim Son has garnered praise in such prestigious magazines as Bon Appetit, Esquire, and Food & Wine. Today Mama La's talents in the kitchen have been responsible for the Kim Son restaurant group growing in the Houston area. We hope to meet - or exceed - your expectations in our new restaurant.