Meet Irene of Lumpia Queen of AZ

Today we’d like to introduce you to Irene.

Hi Irene, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I moved from California to Arizona in 2012, and quickly noticed something missing – Filipino food was hard to find, especially near my new home. Growing up in the Philippines, and later raising my family in California, I was surrounded by our rich food traditions. Cooking for my family and for others has always been a passion. During the holidays, I made it a point to prepare traditional Filipino dishes to give my family and friends a taste of home. People loved it! Soon, friends (and their friends) were hooked on everything, from favorites like Lumpia and Pancit to lesser-known treats like Kalamay, a sweet delicacy. That’s when I began thinking, what if I turned this into a business? With encouragement from friends and family and a lot of prayers from my local church community, I decided to take a leap of faith. In October 2023, I left my job to focus on building my business, and by December, we were officially up and running.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like most new businesses, our biggest challenge in the beginning was simply getting the word out. Without much exposure, things started off a little slow. But thanks to the loyalty of our first customers and the power of word of mouth, we began to build momentum. Through it all, I trusted that God would bless my efforts, and that as long as I stayed faithful and worked hard, He would provide in His perfect timing. We’re incredibly grateful to our friends and family who have supported us from day one, and to every customer who has taken a chance on us and shared our food with others.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Our business was born from a love of Filipino home-cooking and a dream to share it with our local community. What started as a family kitchen tradition is now a food truck rolling through Arizona, bringing the comfort and joy of the dishes we grew up with – from crispy, golden lumpia to soul-warming Filipino classics.

What truly sets us apart are our Queen-sized portions and our heart of generosity. Our lumpia are some of the biggest you’ll find in Arizona, and we make sure every to-go box is packed full of hearty, flavorful main courses. More than just serving food, we want every meal to feel like it’s coming from a friend’s kitchen – abundant, delicious, and made with love.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I learned early on the importance of responsibility and caring for others. That shaped a strong bond with my family, and even as an adult I’ve carried that forward. One of my greatest joys has been being able to give back, like helping many of my nieces and nephews go to school. My upbringing also taught me to find joy in work. I genuinely enjoyed doing chores like cooking and cleaning because I knew I was helping out, and that mindset never really left me. To this day, I still find happiness in serving others, whether that’s through family, community, or the food I make.

At the end of the day, I’m just grateful – for family, faith, and the chance to share our food with others. My hope is that our story reminds people that when you love what you do and trust God with the rest, beautiful things can happen.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lumpiaqueenofaz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lumpiaqueenofaz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lumpiaqueenofaz
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lumpia-queen-of-az-fountain-hills