La Petite Mangue

A career in finance is what Dylida Mao had in mind when she left Cambodia to settle in Canada. She completed her degree, but after working as a financial analyst for two years, she was convinced an office job wasn't for her. She’d always dreamed of opening her own restaurant, and since she liked to be on her feet and loved to cook, she figured now was as good a time as ever. With a very conservative budget, La Petite Mangue opened its doors in 2013 with the aim of letting Montrealers experience the delights of authentic Cambodian cuisine.

It was a bold move since most who launch Asian restaurants choose a variety that’s sure to be a hit. Dylida knew she couldn’t go wrong by serving Thai, Vietnamese or Chinese, but she wanted to be different. People told her it wasn’t a good idea, but in the end her own instincts prevailed. "I didn't know if it would work but I knew I wanted to share the food from my country," says Dylida.

When the Montreal Gazette sung its praises in a write-up, La Petite Mangue saw traffic start pouring in. CTV was next with an on-air spot, and other media outlets soon followed suit. Dylida's bold little idea quickly became a big success with Montreal diners.