Sheffield’s growing food scene has welcomed a new addition, and this one comes with a story that spans continents. Da Lat Corner is a homemade Vietnamese food business started by Thu Nguyen, who moved to the city from Vietnam just four months ago. Now based in Abbeydale, Thu is bringing the flavours of her hometown to South Yorkshire, one dish at a time.
Thu arrived in Sheffield in February with her husband, Joe Buckley, and their two-year-old identical twin daughters, Quynh and Vy. The couple had been living together in Saigon and Da Lat for several years before deciding to relocate to the UK to be closer to Joe’s family. For Thu, the move marked a new beginning, not just for her family but for her business journey. With Da Lat Corner, she is introducing locals to the comforting, vibrant food she grew up with.
The business offers a range of traditional Vietnamese dishes made entirely from scratch in Thu’s home kitchen. Her menu includes favourites such as crispy fried spring rolls, fresh summer rolls, noodle bowls and rice dishes. Everything is prepared using fresh, high-quality ingredients and traditional Vietnamese techniques. Customers can currently order for local delivery, and Thu plans to expand soon by appearing at food festivals, pop-up events, and local office spaces, offering lunchtime service.
The name Da Lat Corner is a tribute to the place where Thu was born and raised. Da Lat, a mountain town in Vietnam known for its cool climate, beautiful scenery and local produce, played a big role in shaping her love of food. She first learned to cook there as a child under her mother’s guidance, Nhung. Thu recalls that in Da Lat, food is everywhere – on every street and in every home – and that connection to daily cooking left a lasting impression.
“In Da Lat, food is everywhere, on every street corner and in every home. My mother is a wonderful cook, and she started teaching me when I was just 10,” she says. “Cooking has always been part of my life, and when we moved to the UK, I really missed the food and the culture. Starting this business is a way to bring a little piece of home to Sheffield, and to share our beautiful cuisine with others.”
Since settling in Abbeydale, Thu has continued cooking not only for her family but now also for a growing number of local customers. Her dishes are helping introduce Sheffield residents to the tastes of Vietnam and giving her a chance to stay connected to her roots. Joe, originally from Sheffield, is proud to see his wife’s cooking reach new people.
“When we lived in Vietnam, I was spoiled by the food,” he says. “Thu’s cooking is just on another level. Now that we’re here, it makes perfect sense to share that with others. There’s something really special about homemade food that comes from the heart. This business is more than just meals, it’s a story, a culture, a connection to where Thu comes from.”
Thu and Joe met while Joe was working in Vietnam. After getting married, they lived in both Saigon and Da Lat before choosing to raise their family in the UK. Now, as a new mother in a new country, Thu’s cooking has taken on even more meaning. It’s a way to ease homesickness, pass on traditions to her daughters and create a sense of continuity between past and present.
“Quynh and Vy have the biggest appetites and the most adventurous palates of any toddlers I know,” Thu laughs. “They love the food I grew up with, and now, hopefully, other people here will too.”
In the months ahead, Da Lat Corner will begin catering at local events and hosting pop-up food stalls. Thu also hopes to take her food on the road in a food truck, serving Vietnamese lunches to workplaces, markets and festivals across the region.
To find out more or to place an order, visit www.DaLatCorner.co.uk or follow @DaLatCorner.UK on Instagram.
