Lam discovered Japanese crepes during a postgraduate trip to Japan, where he was drawn to their portability in paper cones and variety of flavors, setting them apart from their French counterparts.
When Lam got back to Austin, he decided to pivot careers from electronic assembly and semiconductors to go into the food business. A scroll through pictures of his travels brought him back to the Japanese crepes, which gave him the idea to start a Japanese creperie.
Completely self-taught using his background in nutrition, Lam experimented with many different recipes until he settled on one that he liked, favoring a sturdier crepe that would be able to hold all of its ingredients.
“Back when I was working in semiconductors, I would go home and test batters and practice how to make the crepes,” he said.
Lam said it took him many months to master the art of making crepes.
With no background in the food industry, Lam decided to lease the space next to the Oasis due to its neighborhood feel and steady flow of tourists and locals alike.
“Since I was new to the food business, it was hard to find a good location for someone like me without a background in food,” he said. “I came out to the Oasis, and it didn’t feel like it was in Austin; it felt like a good place for me.”
Crêpeful’s menu offers 20 different sweet and savory crepe options as well as an extensive list of beverages, such as teas; “milksicles,” a creamy drink that tastes like a creamsicle; and Vietnamese coffee, a nod to his heritage. There is also the option to create your own custom crepe.
To date, the most popular flavors are tiramisu and strawberry cheesecake, though he said he would like to introduce something more unconventional: a Philly cheesesteak crepe.
“I like to travel, so when I try a dish I like, I try to recreate it as a crepe,” he said.
In the future, Lam said he hopes to expand the business by offering a franchise option. He also said he plans to continue to focus on the research and development side as well as creating more flavors and products. Numerous crepe options
Numerous crepe options
Crêpeful’s range of 20 sweet and savory crepe options offers something for everyone.
- Strawberry cheesecake crepe: Fresh strawberries with fluffy cheesecake filling finished with a strawberry drizzle and whipped cream ($8.75)
- Tiramisu crepe: tiramisu cake with chocolate powder and a chocolate drizzle topped with whipped cream ($9.25)
Although both versions of crepes can be sweet or savory, there are a few major differences.
Flour
- Japanese crepes are made with rice flour.
- French crepes are made with wheat flour.
- Japanese crepes are rolled into a convenient cone shape.
- French crepes, on the other hand, lay flat.
6550 Comanche Trail, Ste. 117, Austin
512-575-3595
www.crepeful.com
Hours: Fri. 2-8 p.m., Sat. noon-8 p.m., Sun. noon-7 p.m., closed Mon.-Thu.
