Kat Lieu

Kat Lieu is a Canadian-American cookbook author and the founder of Facebook group Subtle Asian Baking.

Early life and education Lieu is of Vietnamese and Chinese (Cantonese) descent. Growing up, she spent the school year in Brooklyn with her parents, but would spend summers in Montreal with her grandparents; her grandmother loved to bake and cook, and taught Lieu those skills.

Lieu decided to become a physical therapist in high school. She graduated from college in 2008 with a degree in physiotherapy, and worked as a doctor of physical therapy for more than 13 years. In 2023, she decided not to renew her physical therapy license, as part of a full shift to a culinary career. In May 2020, she founded Subtle Asian Baking, a Facebook group to share Asian-inspired recipes. The group quickly gained traction, with 67,000 members by the end of the year; by 2024, the group had around 160,000 members. The group often runs fundraisers for different organizations.

Lieu has written three cookbooks: Modern Asian Baking at Home (2022), Modern Asian Kitchen (2024),

Lieu's online food content has drawn racist remarks, and she has spoken out about how these comments are an example of the racism faced by Asian-Americans.

Recognition Lieu was recognized by 425 Magazine on their 2023 40 Under 40 and 2024 Women to Watch lists. In 2024, she was awarded the Toni Tipton-Martin Award from the IACP.

Personal life Lieu has lived in Renton, a suburb of Seattle, since 2017.

108 Asian Cookies: Not-Too-Sweet Treats from a Third-Culture Kitchen. October 2025.