Connection, family and community are what bring people together. These are also the ingredients brought together to create Henry’s Lumpia, the authentic Filipino food truck found in downtown Moscow.
Originating in Lewiston, the family-owned business expanded into the Moscow farmer’s market in the spring of 2024, eventually finding their home on wheels to finish out the year.
Henry’s Lumpia is open Wednesday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. as well as Saturdays from 11:00 a.m, to 7:30 p.m., located on 625 S. Jackson Street.
The owner, Marissa Carpenter, runs the business with the help of her husband. Originally from the Philippines, Carpenter explains what it means to serve authentic Filipino food here in Moscow.
Carpenter said, “It’s so personal, like you get to share a bit of yourself. People who had experience with the [Filipino] culture and wanted to experience it again could do it through a little plate of food. It’s so heartwarming.”
Henry’s Lumpia allows Carpenter to start conversations, share her culture and provide a space of familiarity with the people of Moscow.
Carpenter said, “For those who don’t know about Filipino cuisine, I hope that it will open the door for them to learn more and explore it…It’s a good bridge to use food for those kinds of conversations.”
While chopping ingredients and manning the grill are a huge part of their booming new business, it’s more than just serving great food.
Carpenter said, “We try to remember our customers. It’s not just somebody who buys something from you; they’re buying an experience. And so, you make sure that the Filipino hospitality shines through in each little interaction.”
Although she spends plenty of time cooking now, it wasn’t always the case. As a child growing up in the Philippines, Carpenter was never interested in recipes or cookbooks. Her dad was a great cook, leaving her with no need to learn. It wasn’t until she was a young adult living away from home that cooking really clicked.
Carpenter said, “I first learned to cook because I wanted to budget and eat healthy. I learned to cook the meals that I really remember liking as a child and that’s where it all started.”
She took the time and dedicated herself to learning each recipe correctly, providing others with the opportunity to enjoy authentic Filipino cuisine.
Carpenter said, “It’s just that, what if I’m too tired to cook? Sometimes I want to go out and eat something that’s familiar to me.”
Carpenter realized that when cooking her own meals, she had the ability to make her favorite dishes without the shortcuts. As Henry’s Lumpia expands, this mindset has stayed the same.
Henry’s Lumpia would not be complete without its family-centric roots and this goes down to the establishment’s own name. The Carpenters explain how their eldest son, Henry, became the namesake for their restaurant on wheels.
At three years old, Henry finished half of a plate of lumpia on his own while the adults were turned around. He was lovingly giving lumpia the name of “Loompy-Loomps” while accidentally giving his parents the name of their new family business.
Moscow’s latest food truck proves that connection is central to the community atmosphere and that Carpenter’s favorite way to connect is through a fresh plate of lumpia.
Sophia Robertson can be reached at arg-life@uidaho.edu