We had the good fortune of connecting with Phi Nguyen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Phi, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I was unemployed, broke, 29 years old and needed to find a path in life. It was either go to school, find a regular job or follow my passion. I always dreamed of opening a restaurant but was financially unable to. Food Trucks were the new hot thing in California so I thought that this would be a great way to get my start. I maxed out all my credit cards, found an old truck on craigslist and had someone build my first truck in their backyard on a very small budget.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am most proud of how far The Waffle Bus has come. From one food truck to four food trucks at one point. Today we have 2 food trucks and 2 restaurants. I am excited about what the future holds for us as we keep growing. It definitely has not been easy to get where we are today. Food truck is a grueling business and everything that can go wrong actually does. From engine failures, to equipment malfunctions, to grueling weather conditions. It took a lot of hard work and dedication to get where I am today. The pandemic definitely did not help with rising costs, it would be easy to fail with a new restaurant but we were able to work hard and flourish. This brand started from nothing so I am very proud of how far we have come.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am Vietnamese so we frequent Bellaire quite often and enjoy dishes such as pho, dim sum, shabu, and milk tea drinks. For finer dining, I enjoy Steak 48, Marmo, and Kata Robata. I enjoy riding the bike trails in the heights that lead to downtown and buffalo bayou park.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My story would not be complete without the help of my parents. They have helped me a lot in every step of The Waffle Bus growing. It would not be what it is today without them

Website: www.thewafflebus.com

Instagram: @thewafflebus

Twitter: @thewafflebus

Facebook: www.thewafflebus.com/thewafflebus

Yelp: The Waffle Bus

Other: tiktok @thewafflebus

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.