Ronicca Whaley: From Family Of Chefs To Food Network Star & Shiso Crispy!

Ashlynn Johns DDS 21 May 2025

Is it possible to build a culinary empire from family recipes and a food truck? Ronicca Whaley is proving that with her unique brand of Asian fusion, a relentless work ethic, and a lineage of female chef entrepreneurs, the answer is a resounding yes.

Whaley's journey began in a home filled with the aromas of American home cooking, honed from a young age. Her family's culinary legacy runs deep: a grandmother who launched a food service business, an aunt who operated two restaurants, and a mother who helmed a catering company. Even her grandfather found success with a food truck in Naples, Florida. This rich heritage provided the foundation for Whaley's own culinary ambitions. She is now the owner and operator of Shiso Crispy, a Tampa Bay area phenomenon, and is preparing to expand her reach even further, but before she became a local celebrity, she had already gained the attention of a certain celebrity chef, Guy Fieri.

The story of Ronicca Whaley is not just one of individual success; it is a testament to the power of family, resilience, and the pursuit of a culinary dream. From a young age, Ronicca learned the intricacies of American home cooking. However, she would soon blend those foundations with the vibrant flavors of Asian cuisine. Ronicca Whaley's Shiso Crispy concept, which features dumplings, bao buns, and rice dishes, among other items, has gained traction, and it's already being compared to others in the industry. Her restaurant has been voted as the number one food truck in Tampa Bay by the Tampa Bay Times. Now she is expanding into a new, larger space. She is also planning to begin wholesaling her sauces and dumplings, which is a big leap for her business. The journey for Ronicca Whaley has included hard work, and it has also been exciting for her family.

Category	Details
Full Name	Ronicca Whaley
Date of Birth	May 15, 1986 (Age 38 as of November 2024)
Birthplace	Not specified in the provided text.
Current Residence	St. Petersburg, Florida
Family Background	Comes from a long line of female chef entrepreneurs. Grandmother launched a food service business, aunt operated two restaurants, and mother owned a catering company.
Culinary Education	Has three culinary degrees.
Career Highlights	Owner and operator of Shiso Crispy, an Asian fusion food truck and restaurant. Featured on Food Network's "Guy's Grocery Games". Shiso Crispy voted #1 food truck in Tampa Bay.
Cuisine Style	Asian fusion, including dumplings, bao buns, and dirty rice dishes.
Business Ventures	Shiso Crispy (multiple locations and expansion plans, including wholesaling).
Awards and Recognition	Voted #1 food truck in Tampa Bay (2021 Best of the Best Awards).
Social Media Presence	Active on Facebook (Profiles can be found by searching her name).
Noteworthy Facts	Was never professionally trained to prepare Japanese dishes. Her famous shiso crispy dumplings have gained attention from Guy Fieri.
Reference	Ronicca Whaley's Facebook Profile

The roots of her culinary passion run deep. Ronicca's family history is steeped in food service, with her grandmother, aunt, and mother each owning their own ventures. Even her grandfather, proving that culinary entrepreneurship runs in the family, ran a food truck in Naples, Florida. This upbringing instilled in her a love for cooking and a strong work ethic that would serve her well. Its no surprise then, that she was trained in the arts of American home cooking. She has a family of chefs and is also a chef.

After starting her culinary journey in downtown Tampa, Ronicca Whaley brought the taste of handmade Asian food to the streets. She found excitement in getting out of the kitchen and into the food truck space. According to Whaley, it was fun getting into a new industry. After developing her skills in the kitchen and her business acumen, she decided it was time to expand and her next move would be to add a restaurant location.

The expansion of Shiso Crispy, from a beloved food truck to a multi-faceted business, is a testament to Whaleys vision and drive. She isn't just opening a restaurant; she is creating a hub for her culinary creations, including the production of sauces and dumplings for wholesale distribution. She mentioned that she would be able to use it as a restaurant, as a place to pump out all of the food for the trucks, and that she is gearing up to start wholesaling sauces and dumplings. This strategic move indicates a keen understanding of market trends and a desire to broaden her brand's reach.

Her signature dish, the shiso crispy dumplings, has become a sensation, even catching the eye of celebrity chef Guy Fieri. Earning her a spot on the Food Network show, "Guy's Grocery Games". Ronicca has competed on this popular show multiple times, a testament to her talent and culinary skills. Whaley's success in this demanding environment further solidified her reputation and introduced her unique flavors to a wider audience. She has had the opportunity to bring her passion to the public by putting her work out on the streets with her food truck.

Roniccas journey is also marked by a deep appreciation for the communities she serves. Her decision to establish her new restaurant in St. Petersburg reflects her positive outlook on the city's growth and potential. She has been quoted as saying, isn't this the number one city to move to right now? She sees an opportunity for her business to thrive and contribute to the local food scene. Whaley also mentioned it's just going to bring a lot to the table for the industry, in addition to the fact that its a lot of fun. She has already made an impact and has gained several awards.

Her business has flourished in a short period of time. The food truck was voted number one in Tampa Bay, and she earned the title before she had her new restaurant. The new restaurant, located at 924 58th street north in the Tyrone Gardens Shopping Center in West St. Pete, is a big step for her business. She is planning to make it a place to build her food truck business and wholesale her products, which is a way for her to grow her brand. Shiso Crispy has become a favorite throughout the area since debuting its first truck, even being voted as Tampa Bays #1 food truck less than a year ago. This expansion is going to be another opportunity for her.

Whaley's success is an inspiration, demonstrating that with talent, determination, and a supportive family, it's possible to create a thriving business in the competitive culinary world. Ronicca Whaley has brought handmade Asian food to the streets of Tampa, Florida, in addition to several other locations. She is planning a new restaurant, and she has a food truck. She has competed on Guy's Grocery Games. She has earned awards and she is growing her business. She has a clear plan for the future. The story of Ronicca Whaley continues to be written, and it is one that is sure to inspire aspiring chefs and entrepreneurs for years to come. She left her food truck out front and came into the kitchen to talk about her new restaurant and shared her famous asian fusion dirty rice.