04/26/2025
I came to the U.S. in November 2009—completely alone, with barely a few dollars in my pocket and a heart full of hope. My mom believed in me before I had anything. She stood by me, supported me, and even paid for my first semester at a small community college in Texas.
I didn’t speak English well back then. I remember sitting in classrooms, surrounded by people, yet feeling completely invisible. I started with English classes, then switched to business management. But after two semesters, the reality set in—I simply couldn’t afford to continue.
So I took a chance. I found work at a nail salon, trained hard, worked long hours, and saved every dollar. Eventually, I opened my own salon in Carpinteria. That experience taught me resilience—what it means to show up when no one’s clapping, to build something from nothing.
Still, my heart was somewhere else. I’ve always had a deep love for food and drink—the way it brings people together, the way it carries pieces of home. That’s how the dream of opening a boba shop began.
To this day, my favorite drink is our signature milk tea with boba. Every sip reminds me of where I came from, and how far I’ve come.
When I first moved here, Chick-fil-A was my comfort meal—spicy chicken sandwich, every time. But Vietnamese food? That was the real comfort. I missed everything—the flavors, the smells, the warmth… but most of all, I missed my mom.
Whenever I could, I sent gifts back home—Skittles, Hershey’s, Reese’s, Abercrombie shirts—little pieces of America to stay connected.
Now, it’s been 16 years. I still FaceTime my mom every day. It’s been two years since I last hugged my family.
These days, they call me Boba Daddy. It started as a joke but became a reminder of the risk, sacrifice, and heart it took to get here.
I’m lucky to have an incredible team beside me—and none of this would be possible without you.
Every drink we serve is more than just tea and tapioca—it’s a piece of my story, a piece of my family, and a piece of the dream I came chasing.
Thank you for supporting something small, sweet, and full of heart.
Thank you for believing in my American dream.
– Nick
