We were lucky to catch up with Lex Reyes recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lex, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

When Sam and I first started Lumpia City, we wanted to be inclusive and eclectic. I grew up with a Filipino family that loved to cook and eat all different kinds of foods of different cultures. Growing up in San Diego, there was traditional Filipino food available all around me, so I wanted to offer something completely different—that’s where the fusion flavors came about. When I think of a city, I think of a melting pot of diversity. Hence the name—Lumpia City!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Early on in our relationship, Sam and I were both working jobs that were unfulfilling. One night over a homemade dinner, we talked about how we both always dreamed of running our own business, particularly food-related. “What if we started something together??” Sam had never heard of lumpia before, so I told her about it and how my family liked to have fun with different flavors in their rolls. Sam, being from Wisconsin, asked if we’d ever made one with mac and cheese, and that was how it all started.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

It was Halloween night in 2014, and I was driving around town in my pizza costume delivering for Postmates, when Sam hit me up on Tinder. After just a few minutes of talking, I found out that she’d only been in town for the past 15 hours, that she had taken a completely spontaneous road trip all the way from Wisconsin. I had to hear more of this impetuous story, so I asked if she wanted to meet up at a 24 hour coffee shop. We ended up sitting and talking for 5 hours, and she left for home the next morning. We talked every day after that, until Sam made the decision to move to California!

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I don’t know where I’d be without the House of Herby podcast. It’s hosted by a power couple that I’ve been a fan of since they first came out with their YouTube channel as a band called Karmin. Seeing their journey as a couple and business partners has been extremely inspiring and relatable. The podcast touches on subjects like spirituality and ways to manage stress; these are all things that can sometimes be put on the back burner for entrepreneurs, but self care is essential in leadership.

Contact Info:

• Website: Lumpiacity.com
• Instagram: @lumpiacity
• Facebook: Lumpia city