Fried quail is not on the menu at Mecha Noodle Bar. But maybe it should be; it was the dish that co-owners Tony Pham and Rich Reyes were enjoying at a birthday party when they met in the second grade.
Both children of immigrants, Pham and Reyes formed a fast friendship that has now lasted decades — and which has evolved into being co-owners of Mecha Noodle Bar, a full-service concept that Pham first opened in Fairfield, Conn., in 2013.
While fried quail is not on the menu, Mecha does boast a range of items that the business calls “Asian soul food,” including pho, ramen, and bao. The company has expanded to 10 locations in four states and Washington, D.C., with eyes on further expansion.
NRN recently named Mecha Noodle Bar one of six Hot Concepts for 2024, and Pham and Reyes joined the latest episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches to share how their friendship has been key to their success and why giving back to their communities has boosted their recruitment and retention.
(For more on this year’s Hot Concepts winners, click here.)
In this conversation, you’ll learn more about why:
- A successful business needs a little intellect and a little instinct
- No matter your product or concept, consumers appreciate a great experience
- Some restaurants come together like magic
- You should make sure you have a restaurant before you have a business
- It pays to invest in people who invest in themselves
- The best way to give back is if you build it into your business model
Want to hear more about the Mecha Noodle Bar story? Join us in Nashville this Oct. 9-11 for CREATE: The Event for Emerging Restaurateurs, where Reyes will join Oches on stage as part of the Hot Concepts panel. Register for CREATE for free by clicking here.
Contact Sam Oches at [email protected].
