Family of entrepreneurs join Bend business landscape with Teriyaki Madness

Published 9:31 am Friday, April 18, 2025

By Suzanne Roig

1 of 7

Esther Mendoza cooks orange spicy chicken at Teriyaki Madness in Bend. 04/14/25 (Dean Guernsey/The Bulletin)

Orange spicy chicken at Teriyaki Madness in Bend. 04/14/25 (Dean Guernsey/The Bulletin)

Signage at Teriyaki Madness in Bend. 04/14/25 (Dean Guernsey/The Bulletin)

Esther Mendoza plates fried rice at Teriyaki Madness in Bend. 04/14/25 (Dean Guernsey/The Bulletin)

Esther Mendoza chops chicken at Teriyaki Madness in Bend. 04/14/25 (Dean Guernsey/The Bulletin)

Esther Mendoza plates a meal as Katie Mock takes an order at Teriyaki Madness in Bend. 04/14/25 (Dean Guernsey/The Bulletin)

Katie Mock takes an order from Alissa Cowan at Teriyaki Madness in Bend. 04/14/25 (Dean Guernsey/The Bulletin)

Serial entrepreneurs Rajni and Munish Dua have purchased the Teriyaki Madness franchise in Bend and are training the next generation of family entrepreneurs by handing over the reins to their son Vansh Dua.

Vansh Dua, 20, a student at California State East Bay and will travel between the Bay Area and Bend overseeing the business at The Forum Shopping Center off U.S. Highway 20.

It was a bold move for the family that operates four Del Tacos in California, but the opportunity came up to purchase the Bend franchise location and the family snapped it up.

“It was a good opportunity for us,” Vansh Dua said. “It’s relatively close for us to get to from where we are already. My parents have always been franchisees for other companies, so when this opportunity came up they took advantage of that and offered it to me. I’ve been helping them with their restaurants for years. This is my first restaurant.”

For a fee, an entrepreneur can buy a franchise business that enables the owner to run the business independently, but have access to proprietary information and recipes, tap into an established brand recognition and reduce a bit of the risk, according to the Oregon Small Business Development Center website.

“Franchising can combine the opportunity for an entrepreneur to plug into something proven with the independence of running their own business,” said Georell Bracelin, chairwoman of Opportunity Knocks, a Bend-based nonprofit that supports business start ups with mentorship. “Entrepreneurs also often see franchises with a nationally known brand as an opportunity to establish a local business, create jobs and economic opportunities where they live.”

The Teriyaki Madness franchise offers a scalable concept and training and support, according to its corporate website. Its main focus is offering cooked-to-order ingredients, Vansh Dua said. The family also has strong belief in the employees at the restaurant, he said.

“Teriyaki Madness was chosen because they have a very strong taste for fresh fast food,” Dua said. “It’s not a drive thru, it’s a fast casual concept. The food is made to order and it’s good for someone who wants to be healthy especially after workout. The flavors are delicious. The sauces work together. “

The family liked the concept so much that it plans to snap up franchises in California in the future, Dua said.

Those are advantages for buying into an established brand, but entrepreneurs have to check the fine print in the contract for upfront fees, said Jennifer Gould, director of the Small Business Development Center at the Central Oregon Community College. The center offers free advice to entrepreneurs on these kinds of things, Gould said.

“The advantage to buying a franchise is that you are purchasing a proven business model,” Gould said. “The marketing and brand reputation are already established. Some possible disadvantages include that the royalty fees are taken right off the top, so your margins can be affected substantially if changes happen to your supply chain, staffing or the market conditions. It is important to read through the contract carefully and fully understand various what-if scenarios.

“This is where having an adviser can help tremendously.”

About Suzanne Roig

Suzanne Roig has been a reporter with The Bulletin since 2018 covering business and health in the region. When she's not working she enjoys taking her dog, Pono, out on hikes. She can be reached at 541-633-2117, suzanne.roig@bendbulletin.com.