Today we’d like to introduce you to Punphika Galindo.
Hi Punphika, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up in northeastern Thailand and spending more than 20 years in Bangkok, I was honestly just an office girl who loved eating more than cooking. Cooking was never something I imagined turning into a career. But everything started to change after I met my husband. The first time he tried my food, he absolutely loved it, and that encouraged me to keep learning and improving.
Later, when I visited his family in Mexico, I cooked Thai food for them. They loved it so much that they told me my food tasted even better than the Thai restaurants they had tried. That moment really stayed with me. It was the first time I seriously thought, “Maybe this could become something.”
After moving to Austin, my husband took me to several Thai restaurants. Some were good, but many dishes didn’t taste like the Thai street food I grew up eating in Bangkok. That was when I realized that if we ever started our own business, we didn’t want to copy what already existed. We wanted to bring bold Thai street food flavors, the kind I missed from home, while also making it approachable and customizable, especially when it comes to spice levels.
I began testing my recipes with my husband’s friends because I honestly still lacked confidence in myself. I wanted real feedback, not just compliments from family. After trying the food, almost everyone told me the same thing: “You should sell this.”
Even then, I still didn’t fully believe in myself as a cook. I wanted to understand what it was really like to work in a professional kitchen and whether I could handle the pressure and volume. So I applied to work as a cook at a Thai restaurant in Austin that I really admired. It was an amazing experience. The owners were wonderful mentors, and I gained a whole new level of respect for people working in kitchens every day. Most customers only see the finished plate, but they don’t realize how physically demanding and intense the work behind the scenes really is.
The job was incredibly hard on my hands and body, and eventually I had to quit. But instead of discouraging me, the experience actually confirmed something important: this was what I truly wanted to do.
That’s when my husband and I decided to start small and create a Thai food trailer focused on Thai street food. We named it Pika Thai Bites, a concept inspired by the bold flavors, energy, and customization of Thai street food culture. Our goal is simple: serve big-flavor Thai street food and let people spice it their way.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Starting over in a new country already comes with a lot of uncertainty, and going into the food industry in America is very complicated with inspections, permits, zoning and bureaucracy compared to Mexico or Thailand and opening a food trailer taught me very quickly how many different roles you have to take on at the same time. I’m not just cooking,I also handle compliances, preping, inventory, social media, customer service, accounting, equipment problems, and sometimes even plumbing or electrical issues.
One of the biggest struggles for me personally was confidence. I didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a chef, so even after people loved my food, I still questioned myself a lot. Working in a restaurant kitchen helped me realize how physically and mentally demanding this industry really is. There were days my hands hurt so badly that I could barely move them.
Another challenge has been learning how unpredictable the food business can be, especially with a food trailer. Weather affects everything. Some days can be incredibly busy, and other days it rains and sales suddenly disappear. In the beginning, that was emotionally difficult because I put so much energy into every single day.
Building the trailer itself was also a long process with many small obstacles along the way. There were equipment delays, inspections, learning curves, and moments where everything felt overwhelming. But at the same time, every challenge taught us something important.
We searched for a long time for the best spot for our trailer and the stars aligned for us to be blessed with being located at Nomadic Outpost. The owners, managers and the whole staff are wonderful, these guys don’t brew and sell beer, they’re building a community and we’re proud to be at least adjacent to that.
I think the biggest lesson has been learning to trust myself more. Little by little, seeing customers return, reading kind reviews online, and hearing people say they can’t wait to come back has given me confidence that we are building something meaningful.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Pika Thai Bites is a Thai street food trailer based in Austin, Texas. We specialize in bold Thai street food inspired by the flavors I grew up eating in northeastern Thailand and Bangkok. Our concept is simple: big flavor Thai street food — spice it your way.
One thing that sets us apart is that we focus heavily on street-style flavors instead of trying to overly Americanize the food. We want people to experience the balance of sweet, salty, spicy, smoky, and savory flavors that make Thai street food so exciting and addictive. At the same time, we also make our dishes approachable for everyone by allowing customers to customize spice levels to their comfort.
We are also very focused on consistency and flavor. Almost everything is made from our own recipes and sauces that we spent a long time developing and testing. As a small owner-operated food trailer, every detail matters to us, from prep work and portioning to customer experience and presentation.
I think what I am most proud of brand-wise is that Pika Thai Bites feels very personal and genuine. This business was built from scratch with a lot of hard work, learning, and passion. We are still growing, but seeing customers return, leave kind reviews, and recommend us to their friends means a lot to us. We want people to know that Pika Thai Bites is not just about serving food, it is about sharing a piece of Thai culture in a flavorful way.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I honestly never had one specific mentor guiding me through everything. Most of what I learned came from experience, making mistakes, and putting myself into situations where I could learn firsthand.
For example, when I wanted to understand the reality of working in the food industry, I applied to work in the kitchen of a Thai restaurant because I knew I needed real experience, not just confidence in my recipes. That experience taught me a lot about speed, pressure, teamwork, and how much hard work happens behind the scenes.
I think one of the biggest lessons is that sometimes you have to put yourself out there and be willing to learn by doing, even when you feel uncomfortable or unsure of yourself.
The person who has supported me the most throughout this journey has been my husband. He constantly encourages me to believe in myself and pushes me to keep going when things get difficult. He taught me that sometimes you have to figure things out yourself and learn step-by-step along the way. When I feel overwhelmed, stressed, or exhausted, he is always there supporting me emotionally and reminding me why we started this journey in the first place.
My advice for networking or finding mentorship is to stay open, humble, and willing to learn from everyone around you. Sometimes support comes from unexpected places, and sometimes the people closest to you become your strongest mentors without even realizing it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pikathaibites.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pikathaibites/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pikathaibites
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pika-thai-bites-austin
