Akuna

Akuna, contemporary cuisine by Chef Sam Aisbett in Ho Chi Minh City

Akuna is a fine dining restaurant located in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), driven by Chef Sam Aisbett. Its offering is defined as the chef's most personal cuisine, inspired by the flavours he has gathered on his culinary travels across Vietnam. Aisbett himself describes the country as a "magical and manic" place and notes that with Akuna he wants to show the culinary possibilities amidst the beautiful chaos of Saigon, the city he now considers his home.

Chef Sam Aisbett's career

Sam Aisbett made his debut in Asia in 2016 with the restaurant Whitegrass in Singapore. Under his direction, that establishment rose to prominence by appearing on the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list and earning three consecutive Michelin Stars. He arrived in Vietnam in 2018 and, as he recounts, was immediately invigorated by the abundance of novel ingredients and flavours. Akuna was born from that experience. Today, the chef travels across Vietnam visiting farm lands and street kitchens in search of rare and everyday ingredients, which he transforms into dishes that, according to the restaurant's own presentation, surprise even the most seasoned gourmets.

Front-of-house and kitchen team

Akuna's team combines international experience and knowledge of the Vietnamese market.

• Enrico Gross, chef: part of the founding team that led Akuna to win its first Michelin Star. Born in Dresden (Germany), he has worked with Japanese, Australian, French, German and Mexican cuisines.
• Remi Mourey, pastry chef: responsible for desserts and pastry, he has lived in Saigon for seven years and works to elevate Vietnamese ingredients in his creations.
• Des Bevilacqua, restaurant manager: brings close to three decades of experience in the United Kingdom, Singapore and Vietnam, and focuses on developing front-of-house teams and personalised dining experiences for guests.
• Travis Nguyen, head sommelier: has more than a decade of experience in restaurants with distinctions and Michelin Stars in Australia and Vietnam. His wine list spans New World and Old World labels.

Recognition and style

Akuna earned a Michelin Star with its founding team. The restaurant's cuisine is built on exploring Vietnam's territory and reinterpreting its ingredients to fine dining standards.

Location and service

The restaurant operates from a single location, at the address listed on its website, and offers a reservations service. Its opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 6:00PM to 10:00PM; last seating is at 8:30PM and last order at 8:45PM.

Location and contact

Level 9, 3C Ton Duc Thang, Sai Gon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam · Phone: (84) 911 735 800 · Email: info@akunarestaurant.com