Misa Chien ’08

After graduating from UCLA in 2008 with a double major in global studies and French, Misa Chien ’08 decided to take an unconventional route. In August 2009, Chien founded the Nom Nom Truck in Los Angeles, with the goal of offering delicious Asian fusion food that would make Southern Californians say “nom.” “Nom nom” is defined by Chien as an onomatopoetic phrase based on the sound that is emitted when someone is eating something delicious.

Within the first few months of its launch, Nom Nom gained a strong following – with more than 5,000 followers on Twitter and features in prominent publications such as Saveur, Sunset Magazine and the LA Times. In 2010, Nom Nom Truck hit the national spotlight when it competed on the Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Race. Chien and Nom Nom Truck won every round of the race until the very last challenge.

Since the show, Chien has been featured in Forbes as an “Inspiring Young Female Entrepreneur to Follow” and Inc. Magazine’s “30 Under 30” entrepreneurs list. Nom Nom Truck has received prominent highlights in New York Times Magazine for best Vietnamese sandwich in America, Bloomberg Businessweek for best food truck in America and Shape Magazine for healthiest food truck in America.

Although UCLA does not offer a major in food truck business, Chien attributes much of her success to UCLA. The friends, mentors and skills that she acquired at her alma mater have enabled her to steer, lead and bring Nom Nom to where it is today.