Today we’d like to introduce you to AMPHAYVANH SINGTHIN.
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?
From Passion to Purpose: The Story of Chef Mia Singthin
Founder & Owner of Sakhuu Thai, Thai in Town & Mun Gai Thai Street Food
For Chef Mia Singthin, food has always been more than a business. It is a connection to family, culture, memories, and the flavors of home.
Long before becoming a restaurant owner in North Texas, Mia discovered her passion for food through her family. Inspired by the cooking and traditions she grew up around, she developed a deep appreciation for the flavors of Thailand and Laos — flavors that would eventually become the foundation of her restaurant journey.
Her professional culinary journey began on the East Coast, where she gained valuable experience working in Thai restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area. In 2017, Mia made a life-changing decision to move to Dallas, Texas, determined to build something of her own.
Building Sakhuu Thai
Mia’s journey in North Texas grew through Sakhuu Thai, where she continued developing her identity as both a chef and an entrepreneur.
Sakhuu Thai reflects Mia’s appreciation for traditional Thai flavors while incorporating influences from the Lao and Isan food she knows and loves. Her goal has always been to create food that feels authentic and comforting while presenting it in a fresh, welcoming environment.
As the brand expanded, Sakhuu Thai allowed Mia to introduce more North Texas diners to the dishes, ingredients, and hospitality that shaped her life.
Her journey eventually included Sakhuu Thai Flower Mound, continuing her vision of creating restaurants that feel modern and approachable while remaining connected to Southeast Asian culinary traditions.
Thai in Town: Bringing Thailand Closer to Texas
With more experience and an even bigger vision, Mia continued her entrepreneurial journey with Thai in Town.
The concept gave her an opportunity to showcase a broader range of Thai cuisine and introduce guests to flavors inspired by different regions of Thailand.
From the aromatic dishes of Northern Thailand and the bold, spicy flavors of Isan in the Northeast to Central Thai favorites and Southern specialties, Thai in Town was created to give guests a deeper experience of Thai food and culture.
For Mia, the restaurant is not simply a place to eat. She wants guests to feel welcomed, discover something new, and experience a little piece of Thailand without leaving Texas.
Mun Gai Thai Street Food: A New Chapter
Mia’s newest restaurant, Mun Gai Thai Street Food, represents another evolution in her culinary journey.
Located in Carrollton, Texas, Mun Gai Thai Street Food takes inspiration from one of Thailand’s most beloved everyday dining experiences: street food.
At the heart of the concept is Khao Man Gai — Thai-style chicken and rice.
It is a dish that appears simple but depends on attention to every detail. Fragrant rice, tender chicken, flavorful broth, and a distinctive dipping sauce must come together in just the right balance.
Mia wanted Mun Gai Thai Street Food to capture the feeling of discovering a favorite neighborhood food stall in Thailand — approachable, flavorful, comforting, and made for everyday eating.
But Mun Gai is more than one signature dish.
The restaurant gives Mia another platform to share the foods she personally loves, including Thai street-food favorites, noodles, Isan-inspired dishes, refreshing traditional drinks, and other familiar flavors from Thailand and Southeast Asia.
Compared with her other concepts, Mun Gai has a more casual and energetic personality. It reflects the lively spirit of Thai street-food culture while remaining accessible to the diverse community of Carrollton and the greater Dallas–Fort Worth area.
For Mia, opening Mun Gai was also about going back to something fundamental: great food does not have to be complicated.
Sometimes the most memorable meal is a simple plate of chicken and rice prepared with care.
More Than Restaurants
Behind the growth of Sakhuu Thai, Thai in Town, and Mun Gai Thai Street Food is a story that extends far beyond opening restaurants.
Mia’s journey has required years of hard work, long days, difficult decisions, and the willingness to start again whenever a new opportunity appeared.
Being a chef and restaurant owner means moving constantly between creativity and responsibility. One moment may be spent developing a new dish; the next may involve training employees, checking food quality, solving an operational problem, meeting vendors, reviewing costs, or simply making sure guests are happy.
Yet through every stage of growth, Mia has remained connected to the reason she started: food brings people together.
Her restaurants also represent an opportunity to preserve and share culture. Through Thai and Lao flavors, ingredients, recipes, and hospitality, she hopes guests can experience a small part of the cultures that shaped her.
The Next Chapter
Today, Chef Mia Singthin continues to build her restaurant story across North Texas through three distinctive concepts: Sakhuu Thai, Thai in Town, and Mun Gai Thai Street Food.
Each restaurant has its own identity.
Sakhuu Thai represents the foundation and evolution of her journey.
Thai in Town celebrates the diversity and regional character of Thai cuisine.
And Mun Gai Thai Street Food brings the energy, simplicity, and comforting flavors of Thailand’s street-food culture to Carrollton.
Together, they tell a larger story about a woman who transformed her passion for food into an entrepreneurial journey — while staying connected to family, culture, and the flavors that first inspired her.
For Mia, success is not measured simply by the number of restaurants she opens. It is found in the guests who return, the employees who grow alongside the business, and every opportunity she has to introduce someone to a dish they may never have experienced before.
Her journey is still being written, and Mun Gai Thai Street Food is not the ending.
It is simply the newest chapter.
“Every restaurant represents a different part of my journey. Sakhuu Thai, Thai in Town, and Mun Gai each have their own personality, but they all come from the same place — my love for food, family, culture, and bringing people together. I want people to taste our food and feel a little piece of Thailand and Laos here in Texas
— Chef Mia Singthin
Founder & Owner
Sakhuu Thai | Thai in Town | Mun Gai Thai Street Food
It’s very long but you can check it out how that look good or not I copy this on my menu. I was put that on website also. Thank you so much
Mia Singthin
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?
Yes it’s smooth
As you know, we’re big fans of Sakhuu Thai, Thai in Town & Mun Gai Thai Street Food. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am the founder and owner of Sakhuu Thai, Thai in Town, and Mun Gai Thai Street Food, three restaurant concepts built from my passion for Thai and Lao cuisine, culture, and hospitality. Each brand has its own personality and story. Sakhuu Thai combines authentic Thai flavors with modern presentation, while Thai in Town celebrates the diversity of Thai cuisine, including the bold and vibrant flavors of Isan. My newest concept, Mun Gai Thai Street Food in Carrollton, Texas, focuses on the food I grew up loving—simple, comforting Thai street food, especially Khao Man Gai, our signature Thai-style chicken and rice.
What sets our restaurants apart is that we don’t simply serve food; we share our culture and our story through every dish. I believe authentic food can still be creative, approachable, and exciting without losing its roots. From recipes and menu development to restaurant design and guest experience, I am personally involved in bringing each concept to life.
What I am most proud of is building these brands from passion, hard work, and perseverance. As a woman entrepreneur and chef, my journey has taught me that success is not only about how many restaurants you open—it is about creating opportunities for your team, building relationships with your community, and creating a place where guests feel welcomed.
Through Sakhuu Thai, Thai in Town, and now Mun Gai Thai Street Food, my goal is to continue introducing North Texas to the flavors, warmth, and hospitality of Thailand and Laos while creating restaurant concepts that each tell their own unique story.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I want readers to know that my journey has never been only about opening restaurants. It has been about having the courage to keep going, learning from every challenge, and creating opportunities for the people around me.
As a woman, a chef, and an entrepreneur, I am proud that I have been able to turn my love for Thai and Lao food into businesses that allow me to share my culture with the communities of North Texas. Every restaurant I have built represents a different chapter of my life, and every challenge has made me stronger and more determined.
My newest concept, Mun Gai Thai Street Food, is especially meaningful to me because it brings me back to the simple food and flavors I grew up loving. It reminds me that sometimes the simplest food carries the biggest memories.
I hope my story encourages other women and aspiring entrepreneurs to believe in themselves, work hard, and not be afraid to start again or try something new. Success does not happen overnight. For me, it has been built one dish, one restaurant, one team, and one dream at a time.
I am grateful to my family, my team, and every guest who has supported us throughout this journey. There is still much more I want to create, and I believe this is only the beginning.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thaiintown-dfw.com
- Instagram: Thaiintown_southlake
- Facebook: Thai in Town Southlake
