Member Spotlight: How the Mak Family’s Spicy Staple Spread Across Sacramento

When your family’s signature spicy hot sauce has already entertained the taste buds of friends and family, naturally, the next step is to share it with the broader community — and that’s exactly what the team behind Mak and Grille has done. As first-generation cooks raised in Sacramento, brothers Hong, Minh, and Brian of the Mak family have shown that with deep-rooted passion and strong community support, even a small dream can grow beyond the family table and into the heart of the city.

From Scratch to Success 

The Mak family shared their made-from-scratch hot sauce by introducing it through trusted family dishes that celebrate lu Mien, Chinese, Vietnamese, and American fusion cuisine. After mastering a preservative-free recipe using fresh, locally sourced ingredients, Mak and Grille found their niche, but needed a supportive network to continue growing and thriving. In 2020, the team formed a partnership with the SacAsian Chamber, finding the stability and support they needed to grow their brand sustainably.

The Chamber’s Helping Hand

With the success of their hot sauce satisfying the community’s appreciation for a “nice little kick” for all kinds of foods, the Mak family’s next challenges were to expand their products due to demand and reach more individuals and partners interested in sharing their products. “We were able to connect with other professionals who supported our vision, and connected us to share our product with distributors outside of the local market,” said Co-Owner Hong Mak. The Chamber currently has a member network of [100+] business professionals from 24 different industries eager to strengthen and build on the success of one another’s businesses.

Sitting at The Same Tables 

To reach the people of the Greater Sacramento community through culinary extravagance, brothers Hong, Minh, and Brian of the Mak family extended their trust to the Chamber and formed a steady, give and take partnership. “The Chamber provides you an opportunity, and an awareness that there are others who share the same positive outlook in growing a brand or product,” said Hong. Their greatest resource from the SacAsian Chamber has been the connections to like-minded businesses who have shared their expertise and guidance to help them expand their reach, and more importantly, “to always have a group of folks who will encourage your success.” 

Looking to Wow Your Next Dinner Party? Visit Mak & Grille to add their hot sauces with a savory depth and a bright, tangy acidity, made with the finest and cleanest ingredients to your cart today!