Barya Kitchen Resilience: A South Bay couple is facing a challenging setback as their livelihood, a Filipino American food truck named Barya Kitchen, was heavily damaged after being sideswiped by another stolen food truck. The incident occurred on Nov. 26, in a shared lot where their truck was parked. Selena Wong, the operations manager, described the situation, stating that the stolen truck crashed into theirs and continued without stopping.
Compounding the issue, the timing couldn’t have been worse as it coincided with the slow season of wintertime. To add to their difficulties, their insurance coverage was terminated on Nov. 8, with the insurance company no longer providing renewals for commercial automobiles. This leaves them responsible for the repairs at a time when their business is already stalled, with at least six canceled gigs and other commitments.
Rod Reyes, the founder of Barya Kitchen, established the business in 2017 in memory of his mother and her Filipino cooking. The truck serves as a platform to share their story as first-generation Asian American Filipino Americans, representing an underrepresented segment in the culinary world. Reyes emphasized the significance of the business, stating that it pays for their rent, bills, and serves as a way to make their parents proud.
Despite the setbacks, the couple has received personal donations and launched a GoFundMe campaign to facilitate repairs and resume their business operations. Wong expressed the overwhelming nature of the situation but affirmed their determination to overcome the challenges. Reyes, reflecting on their journey, shared that despite the unexpected hurdles, they are committed to proving that they can succeed and make their parents proud through their food truck venture.
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