Hometown Flavor
Mama Tan grew up in Cambodia and learned how to cook on a budget. Our food is authentic Chinese, Thai, & Southeastern Asian dishes
Can Mama Tan Cook?
Growing up, Mama Tan (my mom) was exposed to so many Southeast Asian cultures and cooking including Chinese, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malaysian, and even Singapore because that is where my dad’s from.
Mama Tan opened her first restaurant in 1978 in a small town in North Carolina. She had picked up her cooking recipes and skills growing up in Cambodia back in the 1940’s, traveling through China for school (4 years), Hong Kong (5 years), Singapore, and Thailand.
With only $2,000 borrowed from some very close friends, Mama Tan took the risk and opened up the restaurant. We were the first and only Chinese Restaurant for over a decade. Business was good. It was really good!
Mama Tan owned that restaurant in North Carolina for more than 34 years. Every meal is different and the layers of flavor from such simple herbs make all the difference.
Chicken or Vegan Thai Red Curry is just a taste of what will be to come. Enjoy the journey as am I and stay tuned for more items we may offer!
Lastly, go spend time with your parents or those that matter most. Time is all we have to give another. Even if it is a phone call.
Who is Mama Tan?
Mama Tan was the oldest of 12, 100% Chinese born, and raised in Cambodia. Born in 1940’s, she loved to cook, sing, dance, and was talented enough to be asked to go to school in China.
With 7 sisters and 5 brothers, cooking was always very challenging and innovative.Her family never had refrigeration so every meal was made with fresh ingredients back then.
At age of 16, she went off to school in China. It took Mama Tan 10 years to get back to Cambodia. By that time Pol Pot was beginning to take over Cambodia. Mama Tan left her family and escaped with her husband and one son, with another son on the way.
When we legally immigrated to the United States in 1975 as Cambodian Refugees, we ended up in a small little town in the middle of North Carolina.
Once the restaurant opened in 1978, Mama Tan was able to save enough money and have the rest of her surviving family found in Cambodia.
But that’s an entirely different story that we will explore later.
My Tribute to Mama Tan
When I moved my mom to Florida from North Carolina in July of 2019, I had to come up with something that she could do with all this spare time she had. What I missed most about my mom was her cooking.
I had left home since high school and never came back. The rare times I did come home, she would cook me my old time favorites I remembered eating when I was a kid.
I had already been cooking for some friends and invited some for a dinner party. Only this time, my mom was cooking!
It was my mom’s first dinner party at the new house in Florida. My mom made the initial Vegan Thai Red Curry . And from that point on it solidified the love and passion we both have for cooking and food.
I have the privilege of having my mom as my personal executive chef. I have 2-4 dishes for lunch and dinner.
What’s Next?
Mama Tan’s Asian Soul Food
If you have any issues or concerns, please email us at [email protected].