Today we’d like to introduce you to Nader Armoush.
Hi Nader, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Starting Nad’s Falafel was an exciting adventure that for me took a lot of courage and planning. I come from an electrical engineering background so my attention to detail bordered on obsessive when it came to starting a business for the first time. It brings me joy to innovate, create, and build upon ideas that I find new and interesting.
Since high school I’ve always wanted to start a business, and since then I’ve always kept this Google Doc that I just wrote any (and I mean any) idea I’ve had down in case I wanted to build upon it later. These spanned from inventions, to jokes, to skits, films, businesses, you name it. I would be in my lectures in college and have a huge urge to write down something like “The movie Yesterday, but it’s a scrawny white dude figuring out he’s the only one who knew Waka Flocka Flame”. Fast forward to late 2023: I’m unhappy at my corporate job. I’m good at it but it doesn’t excite me. One day I just decided to finally quit (I had been wanting to for 4 years ever since I started). No plans, no safety net, just my own drive and ambition. I started volunteering at hospitals, working out, and planning my next move. My Google Doc was in fact my saving grace and safety net. Every day I set aside time to brainstorm and look through my already written down ideas to see if anything had potential.
Eventually I reignited my ongoing interest in the culinary field and some ideas were either dish or restaurant ideas. I had always been into cooking and learned most of my techniques from the cooking side of Youtube (shout out Chef John from Foodwishes). Also, being Lebanese I of course was well versed in many of the authentic dishes I grew up with, including of course falafel. Growing up our family hosted falafel parties with all of our friends which were a huge hit among all. One day my dad gave me the recipe and I just started making falafel for myself and my friends. I also realized that there were obviously good Mediterranean restaurants, but not any spectacular falafel focused spots. I had a vision of a falafel focused spot that not only perfected the execution of the food – always freshly made with attention to detail, but also innovated on the concept of chickpea as a base. I had ideas for red curry falafel, falafel banh mis, Chorizo inspired falafel, black garlic soy falafel, and many more radical dishes. Immediately I organized tasting after tasting with all of my friends to see how these concepts played out. Using this data I started planning how to bring this to the public. First thought was to start a Food Truck – I just loved the freedom and mobile aspect. Before making the purchase of my mobile food unit I decided to work for a food truck and catering company. For 4-5 months I learned the ins and outs of commercial food prep as I refined my business plan. Finally I bought the food truck and the rest is history! On a weekly basis we do many corporate caterings, private parties, food deliveries, Vegan fests, Halal fests, family & friend centric events, and more. Seeing my concept come to fruition has given me much joy and satisfaction and I’m always looking forward to the next step for my business. In our current state I’d like to evolve into the retail scene and start selling my products on shelves and in the freezer section of grocery stores!
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 hasn’t been smooth at all! But if it was it would be a lot more boring, right? I had to learn to be very picky with the events I choose for the food truck, as well as any opportunities that go my way. Sometimes the application fee absolutely is not worth it, other times weather is a factor and next to nobody shows up for the event! Additionally, you just never know when something will go wrong with equipment, whether it’s a cooking appliance, generator, AC, you always need a backup plan. I have lived according to Murphy’s Law, that way when these things happen it’s not a surprise, and I can keep my cool while pursuing solutions. On top of all of this, I’ve had to work my business brain out on budgeting, inventory, finances, training for my employees, and my marketing strategies. I seem to wear a different hat every minute! But I’ve learned to take steps back to avoid burnout, and a large part of my success I owe to my family, employees, and friends for always being there as a supportive force. Mindset is the most important thing to maintain when owning a business or pursuing any dream.
As you know, we’re big fans of Nad’s Falafel. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am the owner of Nad’s Falafel, a DFW-based kitchen, food truck, and catering service offering the world’s best falafel! At Nad’s, we reinvent falafel and Mediterranean cuisine by blending traditional techniques with bold, global flavors. Rooted in quality and freshness, we use locally sourced produce whenever possible. On top of ordinary falafel, we also reinvent the chickpea by curating signature bites such as our red curry lemongrass falafel, ancho guajillo falafel, spicy original falafel, and more! Nad’s is proud to specialize in these unique concepts while also having something for everyone at whatever event or catering we take on. We put major emphasis on curating a menu specifically for the event we are a part of to ensure the utmost satisfaction as well as a streamlined process of serving from our kitchen, pop-up, or food truck. I’d like everyone to know that we are looking into the retail space to start selling our signature falafel, unique globally flavored falafel, as well as our fan favorite Spicy Guajillo Sauce on the shelves of your nearest grocery store!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Starting a business, creative endeavor, or any type of project from scratch may seem like an insurmountable challenge at times, but it’s also one of the most rewarding paths you can take. Creation speaks to me, and to create is to live whether it is for monetary reward or simply for the sake of doing it. I want to stress to whoever is reading this that it will be hard! But that’s no reason to quit. Anyone who’s done anything didn’t find the process to be a walk in the park. For anyone looking to pursue an idea or passion I’d recommend reading about other creators and owners’ experiences. The podcast How I Built This with Guy Raz is a great start for that. Keep writing down ideas, keep dreaming, keep living!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nadsfalafel.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadsfalafel
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Nads-Falafel/61561328228125/
