Houston – The story of Tai Nguyen and his son, Lucky, starts with Tai in 1979, following the Vietnam War. Now 46 years later, the father-son duo has created a healthy twist on a traditional family recipe: chili oil.
As many people know, chili oil is a staple in Asian cooking, often found on the tables of favorite restaurants. However, when Tai’s wife, Ha Tran, began experiencing health concerns, he knew he had to find a way to tweak the recipe to make it healthier, without risking flavor. This led to the creation of Mr. Tai Chili Garlic Flakes.
After fleeing Vietnam in 1979, Mr. Tai and his brother were driven to the Cambodian border and then took the dangerous trip to Thailand on bicycles where he stayed in UNICEF housing before arriving in Houston in 1981. Despite facing challenges relating to language, finances and no transportation, Tai quickly found a job working overnight at a north Houston convenience store—a role that marked the beginning of his long career in the industry.
“One thing you have to be strong, you have to work hard,” Tai shared during the interview. “No matter how good your education is, or how rich you are, if you don’t work hard, you’re not going to succeed.” Tai’s determination to succeed, combined with his passion for cooking, helped inspire the creation of Mr. Tai Chili Garlic Flakes. a spicy, garlicky, and tasty seasoning or topper without the oil. Tai’s love for cooking and sharing meals with others led him to transform his family’s Vietnamese satay chili oil recipe and, eventually, to introduce it to the public through social media like TikTok where he shares videos of him eating his chili garlic flakes at Houston favorites like Pho Binh in Bellaire.
“I remember the first time I made it. I carried it every morning and asked people, ‘Do you like spicy food?’”
Mr. Tai told Houston Life’s Tessa Barrera his enthusiasm for sharing their family’s product grew as people began to try it and spread the word, reflecting on the excitement of seeing their chili garlic flakes being embraced by others, especially his convenience store customers.
The goal for this family business is simple: share the bold and unique flavors of Vietnam with households everywhere. “I love all the convenience stores to carry my Mr. Tai Chili Garlic Flakes because they supported me for 43 years in business,” Tai added. His family’s long journey has shaped the mission of Mr. Tai’s brand to bring Vietnamese flavors into the kitchens of all types of families.
Lucky, Tai’s youngest son, explained, that their venture was built on the experiences of home cooks sharing their love of food and the turning point in their business came when his mom, Ha Tran, experienced a reduction in pain and inflammation after consuming the modified chili oil. The health benefits, coupled with its rich flavor, made them realize that their product could bring joy to many others. They began experimenting with it in a variety of dishes, not just the typical soups and rice.
“We were eating it on tacos, eggs, and even mixing it into ketchup, tahini sauce, and mayo,”
Soon, their customers at Tai’s convenience store began suggesting new ways to enjoy the chili flakes, adding to the family’s excitement about the product’s potential.
Mr. Tai Chili Garlic Flakes is the product of the so-called American Dream. From hardship comes new opportunities where you dictate how your journey will pan out. Mr. Tai has gone from sleeping in the convenience stores to selling his product at those same places with his family by his side.
Whether it’s served with traditional Asian dishes or with more unexpected meals like avocado toast, Mr. Tai Chili Garlic Flakes (which comes in a mild and spicy version) is a perfect blend of health-conscious innovation and family tradition.
To get in on the action, Mr. Tai Chili Garlic Flakes are available at Local Foods in Rice Village and Texaco Marts in Humble and Atascocita, and on their website.
As Tai says, “If you work hard, stay honest, and do something good, people will love it.” It’s clear that they’re on the right path.