Hi Adam,
You can credit me, Alisa Dodenhoff, Co-Owner & Vice President of Business Operations. I’d also like to include my business partner, Mike Wilson, Owner & CEO. What kinds of pictures would you like? The store? The leadership team? The food? Further direction
would be helpful, and I’ll be happy to send it over!
would be helpful, and I’ll be happy to send it over!
1. How did Blue Mint Thai get started, and what inspired the restaurant?
Blue Mint Thai was founded with a passion for bringing people together through authentic Thai cuisine, exceptional hospitality and meaningful community connections. Our recipes have been passed down through three generations, with roots in Bangkok and Chiang
Mai, Thailand. Our founding culinary partners, Kenny and Ooy Amaratana and Randy Ochajaroen, helped establish the traditions and flavors that make our food unique.
Mai, Thailand. Our founding culinary partners, Kenny and Ooy Amaratana and Randy Ochajaroen, helped establish the traditions and flavors that make our food unique.
Under the leadership of our CEO, Mike Wilson, we’ve transformed that foundation into a growing restaurant brand built around servant leadership, integrity and community involvement. Our mission is simple: "To Serve and Elevate Others." We’re not just building
restaurants. We’re creating opportunities for our employees, franchise partners and the communities we serve.
restaurants. We’re creating opportunities for our employees, franchise partners and the communities we serve.
2. What has been the hardest year or biggest challenge, and how did you get through it?
The past two years have been some of our most challenging and rewarding. Expanding our operations, opening our Midlothian restaurant, becoming an official partner of the Texas Rangers with a kiosk inside the stadium, and navigating construction challenges with
our new Arlington flagship have tested our leadership, patience and resilience.
our new Arlington flagship have tested our leadership, patience and resilience.
Mike and I both come from military backgrounds, so we’ve learned that adversity is an opportunity to grow stronger. We’ve had to make difficult decisions, restructure teams and improve our systems while continuing to move forward. Our core values of Integrity
First, Servant Leadership, Unconquerable Mindset and Extreme Accountability have guided us through those challenges. What I’m most proud of is that we haven’t allowed setbacks to define us. Instead, we’ve used those experiences to strengthen our company and
prepare for the next phase of growth.
First, Servant Leadership, Unconquerable Mindset and Extreme Accountability have guided us through those challenges. What I’m most proud of is that we haven’t allowed setbacks to define us. Instead, we’ve used those experiences to strengthen our company and
prepare for the next phase of growth.
3. What goes into your food and guest experience that customers might be surprised to learn?
I think many customers would be surprised to learn that almost everything we serve at Blue Mint Thai is handmade and prepared fresh. From our signature sauces and flavorful curries to our bestselling Crazy Drunken Noodles, we take tremendous pride in the care,
preparation and attention to detail that goes into every dish. We believe great food starts with quality ingredients, authentic flavors and a commitment to never cutting corners.
preparation and attention to detail that goes into every dish. We believe great food starts with quality ingredients, authentic flavors and a commitment to never cutting corners.
Beyond the food, we’re equally intentional about the guest experience. Our restaurants operate around the three pillars of quality, consistent food; exceptional service; and clean restaurants. We also place a strong emphasis on training and developing our team
members because we believe exceptional hospitality starts with great people. As we continue to expand, our goal is to preserve the handmade quality and personal touch that made Blue Mint Thai special while delivering the same exceptional experience at every
location.
members because we believe exceptional hospitality starts with great people. As we continue to expand, our goal is to preserve the handmade quality and personal touch that made Blue Mint Thai special while delivering the same exceptional experience at every
location.
4. What keeps regulars coming back? Is there a customer story that captures that?
I believe our customers return because of the combination of authentic food, consistent quality and genuine relationships. We’ve been fortunate to have loyal customers who have been coming back for nearly two decades, and we’ve become part of the lives of so
many families throughout Mansfield, Midlothian, Arlington and surrounding communities.
many families throughout Mansfield, Midlothian, Arlington and surrounding communities.
One of the most rewarding things is seeing longtime customers who first visited us years ago now bringing their children, friends and extended families to experience Blue Mint Thai. Some of our guests have supported us for so long that they truly feel like
part of our family. That kind of loyalty is something money can’t buy, and it means the world to us.
part of our family. That kind of loyalty is something money can’t buy, and it means the world to us.
Being voted Best Asian Restaurant in South DFW for five consecutive years, along with receiving the 2026 Best Lunch Spot award, is a testament to those relationships and the trust we’ve built within our community. We never take that loyalty for granted, and
it’s something we’re committed to preserving as we continue to grow.
it’s something we’re committed to preserving as we continue to grow.
5. What’s next for Blue Mint Thai, and what do you want to preserve as the business grows?
We’re entering an exciting phase of expansion. With our Arlington flagship under development and growing franchise interest across Texas, our vision is to establish Blue Mint Thai as a nationally recognized restaurant brand. Our long-term goal is to reach 100
locations while creating meaningful opportunities for entrepreneurs and future leaders.
locations while creating meaningful opportunities for entrepreneurs and future leaders.
Mike and I are especially passionate about leadership development, supporting veterans and giving back to our communities. We’ve been incredibly humbled by recent military and congressional recognition, invitations to the Texas Capitol and Washington, D.C.,
and opportunities to represent our business community at the state level.
and opportunities to represent our business community at the state level.
As we grow, our commitment to authentic recipes, exceptional hospitality and our core values will never change. We want every Blue Mint Thai restaurant to maintain the same family atmosphere and dedication to service that built our foundation. Ultimately, our
success won’t just be measured by the number of restaurants we open, but by the people we elevate and the communities we positively impact along the way.
success won’t just be measured by the number of restaurants we open, but by the people we elevate and the communities we positively impact along the way.
Alisa Dodenhoff
Co-Owner & VP of Business Operations
From: Adam <torkad@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2026 2:24 PM
To: Alisa Dodenhoff <Alisa@bluemintthai.com>
Subject: Re: Featuring Blue Mint Thai on Thrive Insider?
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2026 2:24 PM
To: Alisa Dodenhoff <Alisa@bluemintthai.com>
Subject: Re: Featuring Blue Mint Thai on Thrive Insider?
Hi Alisa,
There’s no cost for this feature.
Here are the five questions. A few sentences for each is great:
- How did Blue Mint Thai get started, and what inspired the restaurant?
- What has been the hardest year or biggest challenge, and how did you get through it?
- What goes into your food and guest experience that customers might be surprised to learn?
- What keeps regulars coming back? Is there a customer story that captures that?
- What’s next for Blue Mint Thai, and what do you want to preserve as the business grows?
You can reply with your answers here. Please include the name and title to credit, your website, and a high-resolution photo we have permission to publish, with any required photo credit.
Thanks!
Adam Torkildson
Founder, Thrive Insider
On Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:10:34 +0000, Alisa Dodenhoff <Alisa@bluemintthai.com> wrote:
I am interested. Yes. What is the cost associated with this feature? Alisa Dodenhoff Co-Owner & VP of Business Operations [https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4xCTw7ktH3lg-i5BT4QJ3R4FTkq19exX0RnzZU5m1nGJXt1lnU6lfNTqi8M72xlcP6kMq8bat-Hd8dQ]
[Image result for texas rangers logo][https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4wUQkIW_GJ7K_a40oZ-lZVt68HYctLa5jsuwxZd8w_tfMbKG1jt0_OLj6GoIC8f2sYPcm26Xn6tOG8z][cid:71864818-66dd-43bf-93c4-682571368c86]
________________________________ From: Adam Torkildson | Thrive Insider <admin@thriveinsider.com> Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2026 9:01 AM To: Alisa
Dodenhoff <Alisa@bluemintthai.com> Subject: Featuring Blue Mint Thai on Thrive Insider? Hi Alisa, I run Thrive Insider, where we profile the founders
and teams behind independent restaurants. I’d like to consider Blue Mint Thai for a feature. No pitch needed, just the real story: how it started, the hardest year, and what keeps regulars coming back. Interested? Reply "yes" and I’ll send five short questions.
Adam Torkildson Founder, Thrive Insider 114 N 900 E, American Fork, UT 84003 Not a fit? Reply "no thanks" and I won’t follow up. Unsubscribe from Thrive Insider editorial emails<https://publishing.torkmedia.com/api/email/thrive/unsubscribe?token=YWxpc2FAYmx1ZW1pbnR0aGFpLmNvbQ.tc2U0Gc0vGpPwz4kJOhvEpeQfNZlRt0MWk8kqvN1qD4>
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