Tan My (Vietnamese)
The Tran family opened Tan My in 1996 after they noticed a lack of Vietnamese food options in the neighborhood. It was an opportunity to (1) spread the Vietnamese culture via food; (2) feed a local Vietnamese immigrant community; and (3) try to make a better life for their family. Owners Hue and Vinh Tran are husband and wife, and are parents to David and Amy Tran, who share in the operation of the restaurant.
The restaurant was first called “Tan Tan,” which meant “new and fresh.” But the family was given a warning to change the name because the name Tan Tan was already trademarked. So, they chose “Tan My” because it means “new and beautiful.”
Tan My is a Vietnamese noodle restaurant serving mainly noodle soups. It also serves vermicelli bowls, stir-fried noodles, and other Vietnamese dishes. The restaurant has been around for almost 30 years. It’s hard to find a restaurant in Austin that has been around that many years. It is a true “mom and pop” business. Its customer base is made up of 85%-90% return customers. Customers really feel at home when they are inside the restaurant.
One of the owners’ favorite memories comes from families who have been coming in to eat since 1996. They also watched their son David and daughter Amy do their homework over in a corner of the restaurant and play games to pass the time while waiting to go home. Now their son and daughter have their own families, and the owners are getting to watch their grandchildren eat and play in the restaurant, just like David and Amy used to. These grandchildren are a beautiful sign that Hue and Vinh have become integrated into the lives of their children and grandchildren.
The restaurant hasn’t changed much over the last 30 years. What has changed is that the residents of Austin have been much more willing to eat at a Vietnamese restaurant, say Hue and Vinh.
“It’s been a joy to see our community grow,” they say.
The Trans hope to serve the neighborhood for many years to come.