Wokker, a Texas-Asian fusion restaurant in Houston’s Heights, has experienced a series of burglaries and vandalism at both its main location and food truck. Owner Man Dao says the thefts have led to frequent replacement of stolen items and increased costs for ingredients and insurance. Dao adds that the financial impact comes at a difficult time, as the holiday season is typically slow for fast-casual restaurants.
As reported by Chron, Dao said the food truck parked at 1848 Airline Drive has been broken into four times since July, and the main restaurant has been burglarized twice over the past two years. He estimated the thefts and lost inventory now top $15,000. Dao shared details of the incidents in the Houston Heights Foodies Facebook group on Thursday.
Owner Pushes Catering Bookings
To steady cash flow, Wokker is leaning hard on catering and event bookings. The restaurant’s site touts food truck rentals and catering trays for pickup and private gatherings. The catering landing page spells out truck packages and tray options that can be reserved for parties and events, and it is the main channel the business is promoting to shore up revenue. Wokker's catering page lists booking options and contact information.
Hidden Meo Bar Brings Different Crowd
Meo is a small dining area inside Wokker that serves dim sum-style small plates and cocktails. It attracts a different group of customers than the fast-casual line outside. A Houston Chronicle profile described Meo as a hidden experience that helps the business reach a separate audience, but Dao says revenue from the bar is not enough to wipe out the sting of repeated thefts and rising operating costs.
Broader Pressures Complicate Recovery
Independent restaurants nationwide report very small profit margins, and rising food and labor costs mean losing even a few thousand dollars can have a major impact. The National Restaurant Association notes that input costs have surged in recent years and that many operators are working with only a slim buffer between breaking even and taking a loss, a backdrop that helps explain how a string of thefts can threaten a small restaurant’s survival.
Dao says his focus is on staying open and keeping his staff paid, but he is clear about the stakes: more bookings and orders will determine whether Wokker can ride out the season. Customers who want to help can book catering or place orders online through the restaurant’s site. Wokker is asking Heights locals to rally around the neighborhood spot as it works to recover.
