When the 2020 economic recession set in, owner of M & M Takeaway and Delights Mika Tupuola had to adapt, so he sold all his rental cars and used the money to open a new restaurant and ice cream shop. 

The thinking behind his new business idea is quite simple: everyone has to eat.

The transition from running Fridam Rentals has taken some adjusting. 

With the help of his four children, Mr. Tupuola, 55, has moved into the food business with new takes on inexpensive local favourites.

From a brightly coloured eatery, he sells fish and chips, chicken and chips and sausage and chips for $5 and $10. 

“This is my first time [running a restaurant]. It’s not easy but it’s also not hard,” he told the Samoa Observer with a laugh.

He has been in business all his life.

The two M’s in his business name stand for Mike and his wife Mouaana Tupuola.

“The only way is to sell, to diversify is to sell something new, so we sold all our 10 rental cars and …the only option that came to mind is that everybody eats and that is how I came up with the idea of opening a takeaway and ice cream shop,” said Mr. Tupuola. 

“We opened in August last year and well the competition is tough. I observed around and I have seen that lots of people are competing with lower priced foods. That’s what people are looking for so price-wise you have to compete. It’s tough but it’s the only way. That’s how I do it.” 

They’ve recently added a few new items to their menu: loaded chicken fries, loaded fish fries, nachos and fruit ice cream.

Their hottest selling items are the loaded fries with chicken or fish and their sweets.

“Most people who come here they really love our fruit ice cream flavours, same with our smoothies. We have our traditional oka, banana pancakes which we have every morning, koko Samoa, banoffee pies and coleslaw. We are going to keep on changing our menu. What most people prefer, we are going to go with that,” said Mr. Tupuola. 

Their range of ice cream flavours include: Oreo, banana, strawberry, mixed berry, blueberry, mango and passion fruit.

“The most popular for the kids are the Oreo ice cream and the banana…the older ones prefer the strawberry and the passion fruit,” said Mr. Tupuola. 

“With the smoothie, we’ve have got the banana, passion fruit, mixed berry and tropical. The people who are coming in prefer the loaded chicken fries and loaded fish fries as well as the nachos and the club sandwich.” 

Opening hours on Monday through Friday is 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, they are open at 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

Deliveries in the town area are free of charge and customers are encouraged to place phone orders for pick-up.

M & M Takeaway and Delights is located in Togafu’afu’a in front of Fridam Rentals.