GoKawiilKey Takeaways Laosrimongkol, a serial side hustler, found inspiration for her next business in her family’s factory.
After a false start with flavors that played it safe, she leaned into her Thai heritage.
Now, Bangkok Bites averages $5,000 a month and is on track for $100,000 revenue in 2026.
This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Chanya (Bella) Laosrimongkol, 34, who splits her time between Bangkok, Phuket and New York City. Laosrimongkol officially launched her side hustle Bangkok Bites, a line of Thai-inspired plant-based protein snacks, in October 2025. Her business is bringing in about $5,000 a month and is on track to hit $100,000 in revenue this year. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Image Credit: Bangkok Bites. Chanya (Bella) Laosrimongkol.
From a career in corporate to a serial entrepreneur
What was your day job or primary occupation when you started your side hustle?
I actually started out as a corporate girl before moving fully into entrepreneurship. But even back then, I was always building something on the side.
Bangkok Bites is technically my seventh business, so side hustling has always been part of how I work and think. I’ve done everything from running a fish and chips shop, organizing parties, running a hostel, opening a café, to building a homestay platform.
Before starting this, I had just exited my previous company, a vacation rental platform I built and ran for five years. At the same time, I was still actively working in hospitality and real estate, running a holiday rental in Phuket. Initially, Bangkok Bites was a side hustle while I focused 80% of my time on real estate. My time is still divided between my established holiday rental business in Thailand and Bangkok Bites, but I see such incredible growth and potential in the snack business that I’m moving toward a 50/50 split of my time.
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