Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiet Duong.
Hi Kiet, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started Crawfish Cafe with my wife in 2013 with a simple idea: to bring bold, flavorful Viet-Cajun cuisine to Houston and share a taste of both our Vietnamese heritage and our love for Cajun flavors. It started with one location and a lot of passion for creating food that was fun, unique, and full of flavor. Over the years, we’ve expanded into multiple locations, but my focus has always remained the same – serving seafood dishes like boiled crawfish, chargrilled oysters, and crawfish étouffée that people can’t get enough of, while creating a welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels at home. That same passion is what drove me to grow with Ocean Palace and later Pho Prime, where I’ve been able to keep innovating while serving the community in new ways. Between Crawfish Cafe, Ocean Palace, and Pho Prime, we have locations in Chinatown, Heights, Cypress, Woodlands, and Pearland. Providing great hospitality and an exceptional experience across all our restaurants is at the forefront of our operations. It’s been incredible to see the community embrace what we’re doing, and every day I’m grateful we get to share our flavors, our culture, and our love for food with Houston.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of our biggest challenges has been scaling our business while maintaining the quality and consistency that define all of our locations. Without a traditional culinary background, learning how to build and replicate our systems across multiple locations was a significant hurdle. Ensuring that every plate served at each location meets our high standards required careful planning and innovation.
We’ve been impressed with Mamba Hospitality Group, which consists of Crawfish Cafe, Ocean Palace, and Pho Prime, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Crawfish Cafe, we’re all about taking familiar flavors and giving them a bold, unexpected twist. Our focus is on Viet-Cajun cuisine, blending the spices and techniques of Cajun cooking with the fresh, vibrant flavors of Vietnamese food. While at Ocean Palace, our dim sum is one of a kind, freshly made every morning, and served in an atmosphere that brings people together. At Pho Prime, we celebrate the heart of Vietnamese comfort food through rich broths, fresh ingredients, and authentic flavors that evoke a sense of home. Together, these concepts reflect our commitment to innovation, tradition, and creating spaces where food is more than just a meal– it’s an experience
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Running a restaurant is one of the hardest things you can do, so only dive in if you truly have a passion for food and cooking– it’s a full lifestyle change. One thing I wish I had known earlier is that scaling doesn’t start with opening more locations; it starts with building strong systems and the right team to support you. Good food alone isn’t enough; what really sets successful restaurants apart is investing in technology that tracks things like labor, food costs, and real-time data. Relying on lagging data will always keep you behind, but the right tools can give you an edge. My advice is to prioritize those systems early and even check out technology-focused trade shows, because that’s what separates a small business from a brand that’s able to grow.
Pricing:
- No matter your budget, there is something for everyone at one of our concepts.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mambahg.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crawfishcafe/ | https://www.instagram.com/oceanpalacehtx/ | https://www.instagram.com/pho.prime/
Image Credits
Pho Prime Photos- Credit Pho Prime
Ocean Palace Photos- Credit Ocean Palace
Crawfish Cafe Photos- Credit Crawfish Cafe
