Planet Berlin: Southeast Asian fusion cuisine

Nam Cao Hoai (l.) and Chi Cao Hanh emigrated with their mother to the former GDR in the 1980s. After reunification, their mother, Dang Thi Tuyen, opened her own restaurant in Berlin, however it didn't survive. But when the siblings came of age, they followed in their mother's footsteps and with Dudu made a new start in Berlin-Mitte.

Every member of the Dudu family business injects their own culinary experiences and interests. The menu is therefore not purely Vietnamese, but skillfully combines Japanese, Indo-Chinese and Peruvian recipes. Some are featured in the family's own published cookbook, "Dudu Kitchen: Asialicious!" By the way, Dudu, Vietnamese for papaya, was Nam Cao Hoai's nickname as a child.

It's never really empty in Dudu. It can happen that students dine alongside Hollywood stars. Hilary Swank, George Clooney and Tom Hanks are said to have been guests. Despite the chic, minimalist decor and celebrity appeal, Dudu is not an upscale eatery but rather a crowded Asian restaurant offering quality flavors at relatively affordable prices.

In the meantime, the siblings ventured to open an offshoot of their successful restaurant, opening Dudu31 in Charlottenburg. Focused on sushi, it feels more exclusive but remains a down-to-earth family business. Incidentally, sibling Chi Cao Hanh also creates her own Japanese raku ceramics for the restaurants.