Red Diamond Restaurant in Edmonton will close after 50 years. Owner Tracy Luu stands in front with her son Robin Tran, while Mistie Sletten, Mark Tran, and Steven Tran appear behind her. Photo by Shaughn Butts. Edmonton Journal
For 50 years, Red Diamond House Restaurant has served familiar Chinese dishes to generations of diners in the Idylwylde area of east-central Edmonton. Later this month, once the last supplies run out, the restaurant will close for good.
Owner Tracy Luu grew emotional as she spoke about the decision.
“It’s like saying goodbye to an old friend,” she said, with her son Robin Tran and his brother Mark Tran helping translate.
A Family Effort Spanning Decades
Luu, now 79, has owned the restaurant for more than 37 years and worked there even longer. Over time, her four sons all stepped in to help, filling roles in the kitchen, dining room, and behind the scenes. The restaurant became more than a business. It became part of the family’s daily life.
While Luu has reached retirement age, rising costs also played a major role in the decision to close.
“It’s hard to say goodbye, Red Diamond House has become a home for so many,” Robin Tran said.
Starting Over in a New Country
Luu’s journey began far from Edmonton. She arrived in Canada in the late 1970s after fleeing Vietnam following the war.
“She kind of got exiled,” Tran said. “It was tough for her because she came here with nothing.”
She left Vietnam with two young sons and later gave birth to Robin in Macau. When he was just seven months old, she moved to Canada. A couple from a nearby Alberta town sponsored her. She settled into a small apartment close to the restaurant and walked there to apply for work as a dishwasher.
Tran recalled the stress his mother faced during those early years.
“She just needed to do what she needed to do to provide for us, to give us a better life.”
A Restaurant That Time Remembered
Luu worked her way up and eventually became the sole owner. Inside the restaurant, little changed over the years. While the buffet disappeared, the décor remained. Large painted vases, hand-carved wooden dividers from Taiwan, and a Buddha statue by the red double doors greeted guests.
Luu smiled as she explained a long-standing tradition. People rub the statue’s belly for good luck.
Fifty Years of Stories and Guests
Over the decades, Red Diamond House earned awards and a loyal following. Tran said the restaurant once buzzed every night, with diners moving between tables to greet friends. Prominent figures visited too, including members of the Edmonton Oilers during their dynasty years and former Alberta premier Ralph Klein.
When asked if she remembered serving Wayne Gretzky, Luu nodded.
“Yeah, a long time ago. 1980-something, but not now. They came here for dinner.”
Mondays held special meaning for the family. They gathered weekly to share a meal cooked by Luu’s brother.
Today, many guests return mainly to see Luu herself.
“They ask her to come out, just to see her and give her a hug,” Tran said.
“A lot of the younger people that have come here for a while, they refer to her as mom.”
Looking Ahead
When customers hear about the closure, many ask if the family plans to reopen elsewhere. Tran said the idea remains open.
“It’s in consideration for the future. If the timing is right.”
While Luu prepares to close this chapter, she plans to keep her recipes close. Her favourites include spicy almond chicken and Vietnamese spring rolls.
