Meet Melody Lee | Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melody Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melody, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was to create something that would make people happy. I wanted to develop a product that reflected who I am and what I love. When I came up with the idea of noodles for pets, I was really excited—because I love my dog, and I love eating noodles. Making noodles for pets also reflects my background; growing up in Hong Kong, noodles were a staple in our meals.

At the same time, I wanted more ownership over my time and energy. Starting my own business felt like the right way to combine my creativity and problem-solving skills in a way that aligned with my goals. I wanted to build something on my own that I could truly be proud of.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Doodle Treats began with a simple, heartfelt moment—watching my dog Brobee eye my noodles with longing. Like any devoted dog mom, I couldn’t resist sharing, but I knew human noodles weren’t healthy for him. That inspired me to create a pet-friendly version so we could enjoy them together. Starting with chicken-based noodles, I experimented with different flavors that Brobee loved, and just like that, Doodle Treats was born.

Since launching our Cup Doodles in July 2024 at Southern California pop-up markets, we’ve been thrilled by the enthusiastic response. Our Asian-inspired flavors like Beef Pho, Salmon Udon (with bonito flakes and kelp), and Cheese Curry Chicken offer pets a taste of the noodle soups humans love. Along the way, we’ve faced challenges—from scorching summer markets to the tricky dehydration of beef tendon noodles—but each hurdle has helped us grow. At our core, we’re passionate about sharing the joy of Asian comfort food with our furry friends and are always dreaming up new flavors to delight them.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m absolutely in love with chicken and waffles for brunch, so I would bring my friends to Bruxie’s in Costa Mesa or Poached Kitchen in Irvine because both places serve delicious waffles. The waffles are light and fluffy, and I think they’re a must-try.
My favorite lunch spots are Hironori Craft Ramen in Irvine for their rich tonkotsu ramen, Oki Doki by Meiji in Tustin for their spicy beef udon, and Manaao in Tustin for their amazing Khao Soi. For dinner, I would take them to Pho Flavor in Westminster for a comforting bowl of northern beef pho or to Chicken Maison in Costa Mesa for the juiciest lemon pepper garlic roast chicken.
For sightseeing, I would take them to Disneyland, the Aquarium of the Pacific, and the Griffith Observatory so they can experience some of the most famous spots in Southern California.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a shoutout to my husband, Steven! He’s been there for me every step of the way—always supportive of what I want to do and always there when I need help.

When I was debating whether to start Doodle Treats, it was tough deciding if I should leave my stable full-time job to work for myself. He encouraged me to at least try and explore the idea of owning my own business.

I’m so grateful that he gave me the confidence I needed to start Doodle Treats. Being a small business owner isn’t easy, but having a partner in this journey makes it a little less scary!

Website: https://www.doodletreats.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doodletreats.co

Image Credits
@la.pet.photo