Meet Olasunkanmi Thanni-Wright | Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Olasunkanmi Thanni-Wright and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi olasunkanmi, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My wife had the idea to start our restaurant, OlaTee African Mart (Groceries Store)/ Cafe. Before we opened our cafe in August 2020 during COVID-19, we started by catering out of our backyard in 2015. The rest of the story, as they say, is history.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
OlaTee is more than just a food business—it’s a celebration of Nigerian culture and flavors, bringing the rich, authentic taste of Africa straight to the streets of Texas. With OlaTee Mobile Eats and OlaTee African Cafe, we are dedicated to sharing the bold, mouthwatering street food of Nigeria, from Jollof Rice, Egusi, Efo, Pounded Yam, suya and grilled fish to puff puff and akara with bread.

What Sets OlaTee Apart?

We stand out because of our authenticity and commitment to quality. Nigerian cuisine is full of deep, complex flavors, and we take pride in preparing each dish with the same traditional recipes and passion you’d find in the streets of Lagos. Our goal is not just to serve food but to create an experience—one that reminds Nigerians of home and introduces others to the richness of West African flavors.

What We Are Most Proud Of

We’re proud of the community we’ve built and the way people have embraced our food. Seeing the joy on a customer’s face when they take a bite of suya or puff puff for the first time—that’s what fuels our passion. Opening our first Grocery/cafe in Spring was a huge milestone, and we’re excited to keep growing, reaching more people, and expanding our menu to bring even more African delicacies to Texas.

The Journey: Was It Easy?

Absolutely not! Starting a food truck, and then expanding into a brick-and-mortar cafe, has been a journey filled with challenges—from navigating permits and logistics to educating people about Nigerian food. One of the biggest hurdles was getting people to try something new. But by staying consistent and listening to our customers, we’ve been able to adjust and improve.

Overcoming Challenges

We tackled challenges by:

Listening to our customers – Their feedback has helped us refine our menu and service.
Staying consistent – Quality and authenticity have always been our priorities.
Building a strong brand – Through social media and word-of-mouth, we’ve spread awareness about Nigerian cuisine.
Perseverance – No matter the obstacles, we never gave up.

Lessons Learned
Customer feedback is gold – Listen, adapt, and improve.
Authenticity wins – Stay true to your roots, and people will appreciate it.
Quality matters – Always serve food you’d be proud to eat yourself.
Passion drives success – If you love what you do, it will reflect in your work.

Our Mission
We want the world to know about OlaTee because we bring authentic Nigerian cuisine from Africa to your table. Whether it’s through our food truck, cafe, or future expansions, we are committed to keeping the spirit of Nigerian street food alive in Texas and beyond.

We invite everyone to experience the bold flavors of Nigeria with OlaTee—because great food has no borders

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This shoutout is to my wife because she is the brain behind the company. Also, we would like to thank the entire community of Huntsville, Conroe, The Woodlands, and Spring for your support and encouragement for us to do more. Your encouragement helped us to open a food truck because it was a necessity for the community.

Website: https://www.olateeafricancafe.com

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