Today we’d like to introduce you to Tim Vimonnimit.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My wife and co-owner and I started Soi Number 9 as a food truck in the Fall of 2017. It has been a wild ride ever since! I was trained as a professional chef in Bangkok and I’ve been in the hospitality business for the past 20+ years. I’ve always loved cooking – especially cooking for other people.
Mai and I decided to start a food truck after we realized that the capital behind starting a stand-alone restaurant was a little too far beyond our reach. We were extremely fortunate during our first few years we were featured on Food Network’s new primetime series “Big Food Truck Tip with Andrew Zimmern.” We took home the grand prize of $10,000.
Two years later, after launching with much delight and success, we were offered the opportunity by Dr. Ken Brown (Executive Vice Chancellor/COO for UT Health Science Center) to open up a brick-and-mortar space on the campus of UT Health Science Center.
Our UT space has been an absolute godsend since we are able to do all of our prep work in a larger facility and serve our guests Monday through Friday, 11:00 am -1:30 pm. We still take the truck out fairly regularly, but with a brick-and-mortar location, we’re not always so weather-dependent.
Our success has been absolutely due to the welcoming and loyal people of Memphis. It is truly through their support – from when we first started to throughout the entire pandemic – that we have been successful. Our Soi Number 9 family has been so fortunate to benefit from Memphians’ hunger for Soi Number 9 and their caring and kind nature. We appreciate the community tremendously.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The pandemic, of course! What a terrible challenge to undertake. When we first started with the food truck, we were worried about advertising and getting the word out about the truck. It was truly a blessing that word of mouth was so strong in Memphis! We would post on Facebook and Instagram where we would be and people would just show up and order until we were sold out. It was great!
However, when the pandemic hit, we were left pretty clueless about how to operate and if it was even safe to operate. Luckily, we were able to be flexible with the rules and regulations and began to offer family meal deals at a pop-up/drop-off location through our friends at The Cove. Memphians really came together during this effort and Memphians really showed up to support us and our local friends, too.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Soi Number 9?
Making Thai street food more available, accessible, and affordable to folks in Memphis and beyond, Soi Number 9 is an authentic take on Thai cuisine. The Soi Number 9 crew thoughtfully prepares our dishes from recipes shared across multiple generations. Whether on our food truck or at our on-campus location at UT Health Science Center, we offer the best quality proteins and vegetables that we can source, as well as seasonal specials.
Thailand is a food lover’s paradise where the absolute best culinary experience is found at roadside street vendors. From sizzling satays in Southern Thailand to chewy rice noodles in Chiang Mai, Thai street food is enjoyed by all. Soi Number 9 is delighted to bring these foods to you to experience.
Our most popular dish for the past five years has been, hands down, the Soi Number 9 Thai Basil Chicken. It is a fan favorite and the most ordered and requested dish on the menu. In fact, it is our most popular catering item, as well.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
They can always email us at soinumber9@gmail.com or reach out to us via Facebook or Instagram (@soinumber9).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.soinumber9.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soinumber9
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soinumber9
Image Credits
Food Network
