For most, a gas station parking lot may not come to mind when looking for a bite to eat. But Vinny and Ruby La, the owners of Banh Mi & Bubble Tea, are trying to challenge that. They’ve operated their food truck out of the parking lot of a 76 since 2022, and they have no plans to move. By word-of-mouth alone, their food has become a Bellingham staple in the three years they’ve been open.
“I’m humble for everything,” Vinny La says. “It’s just the beginning of my career. I know it’s been three years, but it’s just like everything is new and I want to try more new things every day.”
Photograph by Aidan Hadley
While they might not be following the path of a traditional restaurant, Banh Mi & Bubble Tea is a standout thanks to La’s passion for innovating. La doesn’t worry about being different; he just wants the food he loves to speak for itself.
“The thing is, I just focus on the quality of the food and doing what we enjoy,” La says. “We want to spread what the culture of food is to us.”
Banh Mi & Bubble Tea’s menu is made up of dishes that La and his wife grew up eating, and that connection to the food is apparent in its quality. Whether you’re having their banh mi, pork buns, or vermicelli, you can taste the passion in each bite. 2604 Meridian St., Bellingham, 360.660.0444, banhmibubbletea.com
