CHEF UNO IMMANIVONG
A first-generation Asian American, Uno Immanivong was born in a refugee camp in Nong Khai, Thailand, run by the United Nations Organization (UNO), for which she was named. Her parents, having fled their native Laos, dreamed of giving her a better life. Their determination led them to America, where they settled in Houston and later moved to Keller, Texas. Working two and three jobs, they encouraged Uno to get an education and a profession. As a result, she flourished in a 16-year banking career. Yet her own dream — of nourishing people with food — always lingered.
Uno had learned to cook mostly from her mom, who kept an overgrown garden that provided plenty of vegetables for the family table, and who catered Thai and Lao weddings to make ends meet. In 2012, Uno auditioned for The Taste, a reality cooking show with Anthony Bourdain where he chose Uno to mentor on his team. This life-changing experience empowered her to follow her heart and pursue her passion. That year she left banking and opened her first restaurant, the hugely popular Chino Chinatown in Trinity Groves.
