Mike and Tone Nget will be opening a new restaurant, Cambo Flare, on Nov. 13. The couple has been running a food truck of the same name for more than eight years. They will be serving a variety of Asian cuisine. The location of the new restaurant is off of Hwy. 10 and Marketplace Dr. in Big Lake, in the same location as the old A&W, attached to the gas station.
Out of the Truck
Owner Mike Nget said that, after more than eight years in the food truck, he and his wife felt it was time to open a permanent location. He said that there were a few reasons to drive them to make the change. Firstly, they wanted to be able to offer more food than they could make in a little truck. On the Cambo Flare website, Mike raves about his wife’s cooking. Under a photo highlighting her egg rolls, he writes “We have not had the chance to make these at any events. If there is a will, there is a way though! I’ve personally never tasted a better eggroll than what my wife can make. I challenge anyone who begs to differ. We will win.” A physical location allows the owners to offer new dishes to their customers. Secondly, Mike wanted to be able to control the atmosphere. Whenever they bring their truck to an event, they’re kind of stuck with the ambiance and experience that goes along with the event. In his own restaurant, Mike is free to control everything, from the furniture and decor, to the music.
Mike said they probably would retire their food truck, at least for the time being.
Unique Offerings
The Ngets will be serving beer and wine in the restaurant, and will be offering live music. In the future, they hope to offer drive through — something they feel well equipped to do considering their food truck background. Down the road, Mike would also like to provide customers with frozen dishes they can heat up at home.
Location, Location, Location
Mike said they decided on the Marketplace Dr. location because they liked the idea of people travelling through being able to stop in for a quick bite. They also liked the drive-through capability of the building. Finally, they wanted their first physical location to be in Big Lake. After offering services at Lupulin, and generally getting a feel for the community, the Ngets felt that Big Lake was the laid back, easy going city they could see themselves in for a long time.
Beginnings
Mike and Tone have been married for 10 years, and have been running the food truck for eight. Mike said they started the food truck when a friend of theirs brought some really delicious skewers to a BBQ. The couple, and the friend, decided that they definitely needed to sell the skewers. While that friend is no longer a part of the business, the Ngets have certainly stuck with it for the long haul, and the famous skewers, or steak-on-a-stick, is at the top of their menu.
Mike was born and raised in Minnesota, and Tone is from Cambodia.