Today we’d like to introduce you to Anh Vo.
Hi Anh, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My husband Hong and I came to the U.S. from Vietnam back in 1979. We left everything behind — our families, our home — and got on a small refugee boat with our baby who was only 19 days old. We were robbed by pirates several times and spent months in a refugee camp before finally making it to Dallas. We didn’t speak English, had no education or special skills, so we just focused on surviving and working hard.
I started out sewing clothes from home while taking care of our kids, and Hong worked as an assembler at Xerox. Eventually, we saved enough to open a small meat market and deli in Dallas. That’s where I learned how to cook American food — hamburgers, chicken fried steak, brisket sandwiches — with help from people who worked with me. Later, I took over a small diner called BJ’s and learned even more Southern dishes like chicken and dumplings, biscuits, and cobblers.
In 1989, I had the opportunity to take over a restaurant called Cindy’s Deli & Pancake House that had just closed. I changed the “y” to an “i” to mark new ownership, kept the same New York–style Jewish deli concept, and hired back many of the old employees. It wasn’t easy, but I loved the food and the people. Today, Cindi’s has multiple locations across Dallas–Fort Worth, and we’re still doing what we started with — making great food with love and heart.
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?
It definitely hasn’t been smooth! There were language barriers, financial struggles, and plenty of times when people didn’t believe in me. Some people wondered what an Asian woman with an accent knew about running a Jewish deli — but I never let that stop me. I just kept learning, working hard, and focusing on what I could control.
In the early years, road construction shut off access to our first Cindi’s location, so I packed up food myself and delivered to nearby offices to keep the business going. During COVID, we faced another huge challenge — we had to close one location and deal with staffing shortages. But our customers really showed up for us. They ordered takeout, bought meals for police and hospital workers, and helped keep us afloat.
Every tough moment has taught me something — mainly that you have to stay humble, keep learning, and never give up.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Cindi’s is a New York–style deli that serves classic Jewish-American food, but with Southern warmth. We’ve got everything from matzo ball soup and corned beef on rye to pancakes. It’s a mix of deli favorites and comfort food — and we bake our bagels and pastries fresh every morning right in-house.
What makes us special, I think, is that we really care. We listen to our customers, we keep improving our recipes, and we try to make everyone feel at home. You don’t have to be Jewish to love Jewish food — everyone is welcome at Cindi’s. Over the years, we’ve become part of so many families’ lives — their birthdays, holidays, and celebrations — and that’s something I’m really proud of.
Our brand has always been about love, diversity, and belonging. We want both our employees and customers to feel comfortable being themselves when they walk through our doors. That’s what makes us who we are.
How do you think about happiness?
Honestly, seeing people enjoy our food makes me happy. When I see someone take that first bite of a bagel or our chicken and dumplings and smile — that’s everything. I love when longtime customers bring their kids or grandkids in and say, “I used to come here when I was little.” That means a lot to me.
I’m also happy when I see my team grow and succeed. My father-in-law once told me, “You have to love people first.” That’s stuck with me. I try to live that way in business and in life. When you love people first — your customers, your employees, your community — they love you back. That’s what keeps me going.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cindisnydeli.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindisdeli/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CindisDeli
