For Tuan Le, owner of Lime & Basil, his restaurant is a place of culture and togetherness where he wants to welcome everyone in Chapel Hill, from students and residents to visitors from out-of-town.

“In my mind, I was thinking we needed a Vietnamese restaurant,” Le said. “… It’s a mixture, not North or South or whatever. It’s whatever I like, based on my taste.”

Le’s passion for Vietnamese food led him to take over the restaurant, which originally opened in 2004. A 2004 graduate of UNC, Le said he always wanted Vietnamese food in Chapel Hill, but couldn’t get it anywhere nearby.

A 2004 graduate of UNC and part of Asian fraternity Pi Alpha Phi, Le would cook for his fraternity brothers. He would cook pho — a type of Vietnamese soup typically made from beef stock, spices, and rice noodles — in the house, and invite his friends over.

In 2004, Lime & Basil opened its doors, and Le worked there part-time as a student, helping with management of the store when he could. But his role in the restaurant changed significantly just two years later.

“They approached me and offered to sell,” said Le.. “I asked my parents for some money and in 2006, I purchased the restaurant.”

14 years later, Le is still serving a variety of Vietnamese food to patrons of Lime & Basil using recipes he learned from his mother as a child, but also his own spin on Vietnamese hoome cooking.

Students and locals come to Lime & Basil for a hot bowl of pho, or plate of barbecue pork chops. Le said Vietnamese food is very light, with lots of fresh ingredients and herbs, such as lemongrass and coriander.

Le trains other employees to cook, but he considers himself the head chef — and as head chef and owner, Le is always looking toward the future. Lime & Basil could potentially expand beyond Chapel Hill, given enough time and continued success — and after 14 years under Le’s leadership, that future is closer than ever. 

Lime and Basil remains open through the coronavirus pandemic, serving delivery and takeout. Call them at (919) 967-5055 to place an order.

Reporting via Alice Lim

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