Wayne Tinkler has attracted a sea of patrons with The Codfather, a new food truck serving fresh fish and chips throughout the valley.  

Though they’ve only been open for three weeks, Tinkler’s food truck is pretty recognizable. A blue fish resembling Vito Corleone with the catchy name The Codfather is emblazoned across the black trailer.  

Like many good ideas, it came to him after sharing a few beers with some buddies.  

“We were just sitting around talking and throwing names out. Someone threw that one out there and everyone was like ‘There it is! That’s the one!,’” Tinkler said.  

The menu is basic, but fresh: a fish and chips basket, clam chowder and beverages. 

Though Tinkler is getting used to his new moniker as the “Codfather,” he’s loved to cook his entire life.  

“I love to fish. I was a commercial fisherman up in Alaska. But I grew up in a restaurant. So, it all just kind of falls hand in hand,” Tinkler said.  

He grew up working in his family’s Long Beach, California, restaurant, which will soon be celebrating 60 years in business. Chuck’s Coffee Shop is a stone’s throw from the Pacific Ocean, serving up classic American diner food that Tinkler learned to cook alongside his family.  

Tinkler moved to the Flathead Valley 35 years ago. Most recently, he owned Ironside Excavation and worked as a diesel mechanic.  

Someone doing excavation work with him opened up a food truck, which inspired him to think about doing the same.  

“I was just tired of excavation and mechanics and wanted something different,” Tinkler said. “And my friend was like, ‘I'm having more fun.’ So, I started thinking about it and did some research.” 

He reached out to a company that specializes in building food trucks, and soon, Tinkler was back in the kitchen.  

He’s always had a reliable batter for fish but had to dabble in a little recipe testing to get it up to what he was envisioning for the truck.  

He runs the truck alongside his girlfriend, Beth Lowe, and his brother Ryan Price.  

“We were just making batches of fish and chips, tasting them and then throwing them out the back door to the dogs. None of them were bad, but we're looking for something different,” he said.  

The work paid off — Tinkler is busy with customers throughout the day at The Codfather. In addition to the freshly fried fish, they also make clam chowder every morning.  

“We wake up at 6 a.m. to start the clam chowder and make our batter. We basically do it all, aside from the fries. We are getting speedier every day, though,” he said.  

Though Tinkler works long hours, he’s satisfied with his change in career. It’s fun to operate the food truck alongside loved ones, but he’s sleeping well at night.  

The Codfather is parked at the North Valley Eagles lodge in Columbia Falls on Wednesdays and Fridays, and the U.S. Foods Chef Store in Evergreen on Thursdays and Saturdays. It opens around 11:30 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m.  

Reporter Taylor Inman can be reached at 406-758-4440 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.

    Fish and chips from The Codfather food truck on Wednesday, April 1. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Wayne Tinkler fills a ladle full of clam chowder at The Codfather food truck on Wednesday, April 1. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Wayne Tinkler fries some cod at The Codfather food truck on Wednesday, April 1. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider