Chinatown has recently welcomed two new restaurants as local entrepreneurs choose to stay in the neighborhood when launching new ventures, writes Heather J. Chin for Billy Penn at WHYY.
Ting Ting’s Cafe and Lion Sports Bar both opened under owners who have several other businesses in the neighborhood and across the city. And for both, the new establishments are a way to bridge cultures.
For Ting Ting’s owner, Dan Tsao, who also runs EMei, the new restaurant re-creates “the charm and nostalgia of Hong Kong cha chaan tengs,” which are best known for their affordable combination of Hong Kong and Western cuisine. Meanwhile, Lion Sports Bar combines Philadelphia’s sports culture with a unique Asian American fusion menu.
“A lot of young professionals want to try different cultures,” said Jack Chen, one of four partners in Lion Sports Bar, who also owns A La Mousse and Bai Wei. “We have customers who are Chinese American, Korean American, Black Americans — it’s a melting pot and a lot of cultural exchange.”
He added that Chinatown needs to “promote ourselves more — to show people throughout the city that we have not just great food, but are a big part of American life.”
Read more about Chinatown and its businesses in Billy Penn at WHYY.
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