Meet tram Kastamo | Co-Owner of Saiga Vietnamese Eatery

We had the good fortune of connecting with tram Kastamo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi tram, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“Businesses don’t fail, businesses only fail if the entrepreneur gives up”. Starting a business is tough and it is about pushing through. So when I have a setback (which is almost daily…), I think of this quote. It helps me keep going knowing that as long as I continue to work hard and make good changes, it will work itself out.

What should our readers know about your business?
We opened Saiga Vietnamese Eatery in 2020 with a one simple goal in mind – to be the community’s destination for authentic, delicious Vietnamese dishes. Our food is always made from scratch, fresh to order, and we aim to serve it as quickly as possible. Our motto is “Eat Good, Eat Fast”. Our menu is curated from traditional Vietnamese recipes influenced by Southern California flavors. In addition to well-known Vietnamese staples such as Pho and Banh Mi, we also introduce fusion items such as Kimchi Fried Rice and Garlic Noodles.

We started our business at the start of the pandemic in 2020 at a ghost kitchen. It was difficult in the first year when we did not have a lot of sales and were losing money. There were moments we thought this business wouldn’t work. But we decided to keep pursuing and giving it time. We learned what customers were looking for and we made changes to improve customer experience, ticket time and quality. We started investing in marketing strategies which helped bringing in customers. However, ultimately what helped us the most was being patient. Building a good business takes time and a lot of work. There is no “overnight” success. We are still a growing business and there is still a lot of work to be done. Also, being a family business helps because you have support from the people you love and trust.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take my friend to: 1. A beach (Laguna/Newport)
2. Disneyland
3. All-you-can-eat Korean BBQ
4. Green Cheek brewery
5. Downtown Los Angeles
6. Magnolia’s Bakery in Los Angeles

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to shout out to my husband Adam – He’s been my rock in this entire process. When I start to doubt myself, he lifts me up and reminds me of the progress I’ve made. When I need to work late or on the weekends, he has never complained. When I need advice, I can always count on him to give me his honest thoughts. He gives me the freedom to pursue what I love, which I am so grateful. Balancing running a business and family is hard, but he has been nothing but supportive and cheering me on.

Website: www.saigaeatery.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saiga.eatery/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/saiga-vietnamese-eatery-irvine