Dashi Diner: Food and Purpose
In 2022, Thu Thuy Pham and Phuong Thao Westphal, two friends of Vietnamese-German backgrounds, opened the doors to their Berlin diner DASHI. Within a short time, the diner has established itself as a popular destination for Berlin foodies and has now grown a reputation that goes far beyond the German capital.
Opening up a restaurant seemed like a natural next step for the pair, as both Thuy and Thao were raised by parents who themselves run restaurants. While common family stories might have motivated the pair to embark on their journey as restauranteurs, it is the fulfillment and desire to make meaningful impacts on others with food that has since fueled them.
Starting a business is never easy. It comes with many responsibilities, from team management to business operations, to creating new concepts. During the founding process of DASHI, there was near-constant trial-and-error. But this hasn’t demotivated Thuy and Thao from pursuing their dream. Despite the frustrating moments, every inch of progress motivates them to persevere and brings them a resounding sense of satisfaction. When asked if they could ever imagine returning to a 9-to-5 job, both agreed that was totally out of the picture, despite running a business requiring 24/7 responsibility.