Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary & Tenzin Slater
Hi Mary & Tenzin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Tenzin and I have been in the restaurant industry for about 16 years starting off as servers, different management roles, to now owning and operating our own restaurants. Asian Duck originally started in Plymouth MN back in 2017. It started off as a partnership with different investors and eventually in June 2017 my family bought the business and began serving Thai cuisines. In 2021 we decided to expand and opened our 2nd location in Blaine MN inside the Northtown Mall! This was more of a food hall concept and was such a great experience as our menu transitioned from a Thai-American Restaurant to full on authentic Laotion Restaurant. In the beginning of 2024 we began scouting for a smaller cafe style concept with our focus shifting more towards being directly in residential neighborhoods so we could provide affordable quality meals ! In May 2024 we signed an agreement for our current location in Minneapolis on E 46th and Minnehaha directly under the MN 46TH Apartment complex. We opened our doors to Asian Duck Cafe on July 2024 and let me tell you, this city, this neighborhood has been absolutely amazing. The sense of genuinely feeling welcomed has never been felt the way that this city has welcomed us. Our focus is to share our take on what Lao-American cuisines mean to us through our focal point.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Each restaurant had its highs and lows. To say we did indeed struggle is an understatement. Every one struggles with many different things, its a matter of how you choose to respond to the struggle. We’ve encountered scenarios where we couldn’t get health inspection to pass us to open, we were unable to afford employees, we were raising our kids in the restaurant, we struggled with alcohol addiction. So many things that happened along the way, only to make us stronger and give us the strength to be where we are today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Asian Duck Cafe?
Tenzin and I have been in the restaurant industry for about 16 years starting off as servers, different management roles, to now owning and operating our own restaurants. Asian Duck originally started in Plymouth MN back in 2017. It started off as a partnership with different investors and eventually in June 2017 my family bought the business and began serving Thai cuisines. In 2021 we decided to expand and opened our 2nd location in Blaine MN inside the Northtown Mall! This was more of a food hall concept and was such a great experience as our menu transitioned from a Thai-American Restaurant to full on authentic Laotion Restaurant. In the beginning of 2024 we began scouting for a smaller cafe style concept with our focus shifting more towards being directly in residential neighborhoods so we could provide affordable quality meals ! In May 2024 we signed an agreement for our current location in Minneapolis on E 46th and Minnehaha directly under the MN 46TH Apartment complex. We opened our doors to Asian Duck Cafe on July 2024 and let me tell you, this city, this neighborhood has been absolutely amazing. The sense of genuinely feeling welcomed has never been felt the way that this city has welcomed us. Our focus is to share our take on what Lao-American cuisines mean to us through our focal point. We look at food as a stepping stone to many great bonding moments for everyone who walks through our doors. Its more than the food, its about the experiance you feel after eating our meals. Whether its our succulent Lao sausage fried rice, our sweet&satisfying cranberry cream cheese wontons, to our vibrant, genuine customer service. Our goal during that brief visit is to leave a memorable moment, one that will keep you coming back !
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Asian Duck would not be Asian Duck today without the support of our family. When times were really dark and low, where we didn’t see a light at the end of the tunnel, we always had the support of both sides of our parents. Our biggest “WHY” was our children. The reason why we continued pushing despite all those times we wanted to give up. This kind of love and support is beyond us and we are so blessed.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://asianduck.site
- Instagram: asianduckcafe
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/asianduckcafe
