The Frying Irishman will soon be wandering.
The local Irish chipper and Emerald Isle expat favourite is growing again, this time with a new food truck: The Wandering Fryer.
Established in 2021 in a commissary kitchen for takeaway, the business has found success in Vancouver over the past three years and is continuing its growth, says co-owner Stephen O'Brien, who opened the Frying Irishman with Alheli Aracely Jimenez Villanueva.
"We received fantastic support from the Irish community in Vancouver," says O'Brien. "And luckily, things have remained good for us."
He notes that while it's unfortunate to see other food service businesses shutting down, they've found success.
"To be a business that's thriving is exciting at the moment," says O'Brien.
He chalks it up, in part, to sticking with the Irish chipper, the Irish style of fries and battered fish.
"Our mission is really to transport you back to the traditional Irish chipper experience," he says, noting the business tagline is "cheaper than getting a flight home to Ireland."
The plan is for the truck to launch in the spring; right now it's with a local fabricator getting refit to hold six deep fryers (or maybe seven). At the same time, The Frying Irishman will be moving to a bigger kitchen.
O'Brien believes their new vehicle will be the first Irish chipper food truck in Canada.
"Its nickname is going to be The Wandering Fryer," he says, noting the truck will be wrapped in green, white, and orange, like the Irish flag.
Given the success of the Frying Irishman so far, O'Brien is hopeful it'll continue to grow beyond Vancouver.
"Our plan is to expand across Canada," he says.
Toronto is part of that plan, and they've even begun to look at international markets like New York or Chicago, where there are large Irish populations.
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