Today we’d like to introduce you to Tuan Nguyen.
Hi Tuan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started working in restaurant kitchens back in college as a helper and dishwasher. Along the way, I was lucky to learn real cooking skills from passionate chefs in both Vietnam and the United States.
Over time, I fell deeply in love with cooking, its flavors, its cultures, its stories and I kept pushing myself to learn more. Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai and Indian. From my experience, you need to learn their culture in order to learn their cuisine.
After more than a decade of practicing and dreaming, I finally opened my very first business: a humble food trailer. The community showed me so much love and support that the trailer quickly grew into a storefront here in Hutto.
As the restaurant continues to grow, the support from the people around me grows even stronger. With a little more hard work and a lot more gratitude, I hope to open a second location in 2027.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all. Cooking and running a business are two very different worlds. Since starting my own place, I’ve learned so much about what it truly means to take care of people-the ones who keep showing up, supporting me, and believing in what I’m building.
Introducing uncommon dishes hasn’t always been easy. There were moments on this journey when I almost gave up. But I didn’t. Because of my loyal customers, my friends, my family, and especially my amazing wife, Helen, who stood beside me through the toughest days, even working 14-hour shifts without hesitation.
As you know, we’re big fans of Chopsticks Asian Street Food & Drinks. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
CHOPSTICKS has brought a truly unique flavor to the area-Asian street food with its own personality. I noticed that many Asian restaurants offer similar menus, which means you often end up eating the same dishes no matter where you go. At CHOPSTICKS, we focus on serving food you won’t find anywhere else.
You need to try our Mango Beef and our Pull It Off Bao. They’re the dishes people fall in love with and the reason they keep coming back.
CHOPSTICKS has even been featured on local stations like Fox7 News, Austin PBS, and The Daytripper, which still feels surreal to me.
My hope is that readers of Voyage Austin will believe in themselves, keep chasing their dreams, and achieve everything they’ve worked so hard for.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
In my opinion, you win either way when you start your own business. If you reach your goal, that’s an incredible achievement. And if you don’t, you still walk away with so much knowledge and experience that you’re even more prepared to try again. Stronger, wiser, and more ready than before.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chopsticksinaustin.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/chopsticksinaustin
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chopsticksATX
