11-Year-Old Boy Drives Family’s Kawaii Donut House Success.
Though Kawaii Donut House is officially under Tiffany Lin’s name, the creative force behind the family-run business in Yelm is her 11-year-old son, Brandon Pham.
Brandon named the business, designed the logo, and even helped create the unique flavors of flower-shaped mochi donuts that the shop is known for. He also takes part in selling and interacting with customers at farmers markets and events.
While Tiffany and her husband, Hung Pham, already run Red Lantern Asian Fusion in Yelm, Lin had always dreamed of starting a dessert shop. Their monthly trips to Edmonds for mochi donuts inspired her to launch Kawaii Donut House. In 2023, the business became a reality thanks to a grant from the Thurston Economic Development Council’s Target Zone Small Business Startup program, which Lin applied for and quickly received.
Currently, Kawaii Donut House does not have a storefront but operates out of Red Lantern on weekends and participates in events across Yelm, Olympia, and Lacey, including regular appearances at the Olympia Farmers Market. Many of their ingredients are locally sourced, further connecting the business with the community.
Although Lin had long envisioned this type of business, she now sees it as something special for her son, Brandon.
“Brandon helps out a lot, especially when we don’t have enough staff for events,” Lin said. “One time, I was telling him how nobody could work on a Friday night, and he said, ‘Mommy, don’t worry. I got you.’ This business is really for him.”
Brandon balances his time between helping with both Red Lantern and Kawaii Donut House, his schoolwork, taekwondo, and golf.
“My schedule is packed, but it’s really fun,” Brandon said. “I love working here, and I want to keep learning. You have to work hard to get what you want.”
Running two businesses isn’t easy for the family. The limited kitchen space at Red Lantern forces them to juggle both restaurant orders and preparing mochi donuts and boba tea.
“The kitchen is big, but with everything we need to do, it feels small,” Brandon said. “There’s less room to chop vegetables, and it can get cramped.”
Lin, who moved to the U.S. from Taiwan in 2000, hopes to find a storefront for Kawaii Donut House within the next year. The family, who lives in Olympia, is looking for the right spot in Yelm, Olympia, Lacey, or Tumwater.
“We’re searching for the perfect place to put our product, but we don’t want to move away from the community,” Lin said.
Despite the challenges of managing two businesses in a tight space, Lin remains committed to both her family and the Yelm community.
“I believe in balancing family and work,” Lin said. “I always say, when I die, I can sleep forever. For now, I want to see how much I can achieve. Running two businesses is hard work, but it’s not about the money—it’s about seeing how far you can go. I’ll sleep less if I have to. My son sees my passion, and that motivates him to work hard too.”
Lin expressed gratitude to the Yelm community for supporting both Red Lantern and Kawaii Donut House, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, which kept their main restaurant afloat.
“The people here are so supportive,” Lin said. “We make sure everything we serve is something we love ourselves. We won’t give customers anything we’re not proud to eat.”
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