Iconic Vietnamese restaurant in Sydney to close down after 23 years

Praised by the Sydney Morning Herald as ‘one of Australia’s most influential Vietnamese restaurants,’ Red Lantern was co-founded by Vietnamese-Australian celebrity chef Luke Nguyen, his sister Pauline Nguyen, and chef Mark Jensen.

It has received numerous awards including 2025 Good Food Guide Critics' Pick, 2024 Restaurant & Catering Association (R&CA) Best Vietnamese Restaurant (National), the 2024 R&CA Best Asian Restaurant (Sydney) and the 2023 R&CA Best Asian Restaurant (National).

“It is with extreme mixed emotions that today we announce that our beloved Red Lantern, the world’s most awarded Vietnamese restaurant and a cornerstone of Sydney’s dining scene, will conclude its 25-year chapter on 22nd November 2025, marking the end of a remarkable journey of food, family, and storytelling,” the restaurant announced on its website.

“As part of our farewell season, Red Lantern will host a series of special events and experiences designed to honour our history of cuisine, culture, and storytelling."

Set within a designer space reminiscent of the vibrant streets of Southeast Asia, Red Lanter’s menu and atmosphere have aimed to heighten diners' senses and transport them to the buzzing streets in Vietnam, according to its website.

Over the years, the restaurant’s menu has delighted diners with a wide range of dishes: from street food-inspired favorites like Vietnamese spring rolls and char-grilled wagyu beef skewers, to hearty mains such as crispy pork belly, pan-fried barramundi, and desserts including sesame dumplings and banana fritters.

“Together, we’ve shared the world’s most awarded Vietnamese cuisine, welcomed thousands of guests, and built a legacy rooted in flavour, hospitality, and heart,” Pauline Nguyen wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post announcing the closure.

“Its spirit and legacy will live on, captured in the pages of my award-winning book Secrets of the Red Lantern and in every memory shared by our incredible guests."