Nguyễn Thị Thanh (chef)Nguyễn Thị Thanh (1967 – 19 May 2025),[1] notably known as Lunch Lady, was a Vietnamese chef and restaurateur, and the founder of the Lunch Lady food stall in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.[2][3] Thanh's restaurant rose to prominence following a feature in Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations television show in 2008.[4][5] CareerBorn in Bình Trị Thiên, Thanh moved to Bến Tre after getting married before settling in Ho Chi Minh City in the 1990s.[6] She opened the stall that would later be known as the Lunch Lady in 1995, where it served a rotating lunch menu of noodle soups for local office workers.[7][8][9] Thanh partnered with Canadian Michael Tran to open the Lunch Lady Canada, with its first location in Vancouver.[9][10] A Toronto location opened in June 2025.[11] Thanh died on May 19, 2025 shortly after arriving at Toronto-Pearson International Airport prior to the opening of the Lunch Lady Toronto.[12][13]
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