Sara Wood shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Sara, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I feel called now to step into more visibility: sharing my work, my story, and my ideas more openly. In the past, I shied away from the spotlight and preferred to stay behind the scenes. But I’ve realized that leadership, impact, and especially connection and community often require us to be seen. It’s something that felt uncomfortable before, but now I see it as part of the work I’m meant to do. And in turn, it is encouraging me to take my vision and goals to an even bigger playing field. And now my business world is open to more ideas, inspirations, and markets than I would’ve ever thought of before!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Sure! My name is Sara Wood, and I’m the founder and operator of girlsgirlsgirls Burritos and Girls Chips. I first started the restaurant back in 2016 in a tiny little bar kitchen with takeout and a bike delivery service. What began as a simple, fun idea has grown into a full restaurant with a bar and a stage for live music. Our menu was such a hit that we still offer the original lineup, and those dishes are still some of the most-loved orders today.
Since then, my vision has expanded. We’ve added a food truck, a retail chip and dip brand, and really unique, artist-designed merchandise. Girls Chips came directly out of my restaurant’s growth. They started as the chips we served out of the kitchen from day one, and customers kept saying, ‘These are too good not to be in a bag.’ And so I took that feedback and ran with it.
Girls Chips are hand-cut from hearty, Kentucky white corn tortillas, prepared fresh, and seasoned with my house-made Girl Spice. They’re irresistible, crunchy, and definitely not your average bland tortilla chip. Right now, I’m focused on scaling the brand across Kentucky and beyond. It’s been an exciting journey — from bike deliveries to a restaurant and bar, to a food truck and now retail shelves — and at the heart of it all, my goal has always been the same: keep food fun, flavorful, and made with love and care. It’s exciting to share something that I started locally and see people connect with it in their homes, at parties, or with their favorite dip. At the end of the day, I love to make food that makes people say, ‘Wow, I needed that.’
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
That person is my Wendy, my sister-best-friend. She has always seen me clearly, even in times when I couldn’t see myself. Wendy operates in love and truth. Because of that, her food always tastes the best. She’s taught me how to be a strong biker, how to use my voice, and celebrated parts of me that I overlooked. She’s wildly capable, smart, resourceful, and fun.
In this industry, it’s so easy to get confused or to become unhappy, especially as women. But Wendy has always been a mirror for me — reflecting back authenticity, love, and the reminder not to lose sight of myself or the power we carry as women. She grounds me in what really matters: that we’re alive, and life is meant to be enjoyed. And for me, that joy is always amplified in those moments of making and sharing good food with great friends.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me patience and perspective in a way success never could. Success can feel loud, exciting, and validating, but suffering forces you to sit still with yourself, to listen more deeply, and to build resilience. It showed me how to find joy in small, ordinary moments: a good meal, a late night walk or bike ride, cuddles with my dogs, laughs with my friend Alex, a breath of relief at the end of a long day.
It also reminded me that community matters most. When you’re struggling, the people who show up for you become unforgettable. Success didn’t teach me that — suffering did. And that grounding has shaped how I approach everything I build now: with gratitude, humility, and a real appreciation for the process, not just the outcome.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Beyoncé. I admire her not just for her talent or success, but for her discipline, her generosity, and the way she carries herself. She does nothing without intention, she puts in the work behind the scenes on all aspects big and small of her business, and stays true to her artistry. What I respect most is her balance of strength and vulnerability. She shows that you can be powerful without losing authenticity, and that you can be excellent while still deeply human.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
I think of my businesses like planting a fruit tree — you don’t plant it expecting fruit tomorrow. It takes seven, sometimes ten years before it really produces. That’s how I see the work I’m doing now with my restaurant and Girls Chips. I’m planting, tending, and nurturing something that I believe will grow into a strong, lasting presence. The payoff won’t be immediate, but if I keep showing up with care, consistency, and patience, the roots will be deep enough to sustain the harvest when it finally comes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.girlsgirlsgirlsburritos.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsgirlsgirlsburritos
- Twitter: https://x.com/girlsBurritos
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eatgggirls/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/girlsgirlsgirls-burritos-lexington
- Other: https://www.eatgirlschips.com
Image Credits
girlsgirlsgirls Burritos
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