Today we’d like to introduce you to Moss Pakhapoca
Hi Moss, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The heart of our operation is a mother and son dynamic duo, Lin and Moss. With twenty years in the food industry, Lin worked primarily in Japanese and Thai restaurants. Lin grew up cooking with her grandmother in Bangkok, Thailand; specifically our dumplings and spring rolls are made with the traditional cooking styles passed down to her. Another key member of ThaiQ is Nick Insuwanno, Lin’s husband and sous-chef, who assists Lin in recipe creation and food preparation in the kitchen.
Lin’s passion for creating delicious Thai favorites started within her community. Lin has built her family on the belief that when you are provided the opportunity, you should always give what you have to support others. Lin raised her son Moss on this principle within the Buddhist community. Lin has crafted countless meals for the Buddhist monks and her local Thai community, carrying this intention within her heart. Through this, Lin felt called to be a chef. When she creates meals by hand, she witnesses how her food is always quickly devoured.
Outside of being a chef and dutiful mother, Lin’s loved ones know that she also holds stock in following her dreams, literally. Lin dreamt about her son Moss gaining a job opportunity and moving to Austin, which he did in 2018. Fortuitously, Lin recently had a dream that someone would be approaching her about selling a food truck. A few weeks later her clairvoyant dream lead to the purchase of this very truck and the motivation to take a risk on the Austin-area Food Truck scene.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We opened our food truck in October. Our authentic Thai cuisine has received great reviews online, some customers even claiming that we are the best Thai food they have tasted in the area. We are very encouraged by our returning customers; however, with competition within the Austin and Buda Food Truck communities, it has been strenuous. There is an exhaustive list of other delicious food trucks in the area, and we are building our customer base slowly. Being new to the industry, we are doing the best to build our reputation, but it is hard to establish our presence within the community. We acknowledge that most new food trucks go under in the first few years of opening. We are struggling with making our presence known online and by word of mouth so that we can integrate ourselves into the Buda community. We desire to be known for bringing a taste of Bangkok to Buda (as well as South Austin). We are currently the only food truck at our location of the Outskirts Eatery, We are doing what we can to attract new customers to come to enjoy the outdoor space, but this has been difficult. We know that once our food is enjoyed, people will want to become regulars at ThaiQ.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At ThaiQ we are a food truck that specializes in authentic Thai cuisine bringing Bangkok style street food to Buda, Tx (as well as South Austin). Our strongest specialities are our homemade dumplings (shumai) and papaya salad (som tum).
What sets us apart from the others? Our food is handcrafted; there is no pre-made food served to our customers. We want Texans to get a true taste of Thailand street food. The passion of Lin’s cooking and family-recipes make our meals distinctly delicious, everything is made from the heart.
What are you most proud of brand wise? The “Q” in the name ThaiQ stands for Quality. We want to make sure that our customers enjoy a delicious homemade meal. We want to provide comfort food for those who already enjoy Thai food; while at the same time, creating new converts to Thai cuisine.
What do you want our readers to know about your brand, etc.? We want your readers to know that we are a family run business who holds the belief that if you want to have success, you have to give back to your community. By supporting ThaiQ you are also supporting the local Buddhist community. Additionally, we are “dreamers” at ThaiQ (see previous response), and are always prepared for whatever new dream comes Lin’s way.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
At ThaiQ we are thankful for the good luck that has come our way. I am happy that I have a stable job to provide my mom a safety net to pursue her dream of opening a restaurant. I see how much joy this venture has brought to her. When we first started looking for a truck, we had the opportunity to buy one from someone within the North Austin Buddhist Community. Also we have been fortunate enough to have the guidance of another Thai business in North Austin, Chokdee Thai Restaurant. They have been helpful in navigating the ins and outs of setting up a food truck. We feel blessed to have the overwhelming support of our family and friends, and are hoping to pay our good luck forward to others within our community when the time is right.
Pricing:
- Entrees range from $10.95 – $13.95
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thaiq.store/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/thaiq.atx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Thai-Q/61565838209572/
Image Credits
All image rights are reserved to Moss Pakhapoca.
