Portrait of Sam Aisbett
i. Biography
The Climb
Founding Whitegrass in Singapore gave Sam Aisbett a platform to define a cooking style with a clear point of view. From 2015–2018, the restaurant was his field for shaping menu direction and kitchen identity as both founder and chef. Akuna Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City became the next fixed point in 2023, where Sam Aisbett took on the chef role and has served as executive chef. The work is anchored in one restaurant, one city, and a stated aim to show what Saigon’s dining scene can hold.
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Today
At Akuna Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, Sam Aisbett has held the chef role since 2023, with executive chef also listed against the position. The remit is specific: one kitchen, one city, and a brief centered on reading Vietnam’s scale and complexity through food.
Signature
Mud Crab Salad and Crab Salad sit among Sam Aisbett’s named signatures, giving a narrow read on the kind of cooking attached to his work.
In Their Words “Vietnam is both magical and manic. With Akuna, I want the world to see the culinary possibilities amidst the beautiful chaos of Saigon, where I now call home.”
FAQ
Asked of Sam
Where did Sam Aisbett work before?
Sam Aisbett's earlier career included Whitegrass.
What recognition has Sam Aisbett received?
1 Knife (2024).
The Sunday email
Read about chefs like Sam Aisbett in the Sunday email.
Every Sunday we send a lead story and up to four more about the chefs, winemakers, sommeliers and hoteliers behind the restaurants, bars, wineries and hotels we cover.
Recent stories
Free. One email a week, and you can unsubscribe from any issue.