Emigrating from Hong Kong in 1978, Danny and Suzanna Wong began their life long career in Cantonese cuisine in the bustling city of San Francisco. After gaining significant experience in restaurant management and ownership, the couple embarked on a journey north to Apple Valley, Minnesota, bringing with them a small wicker suitcase and dreams of establishing their own culinary haven in the land of 10,000 lakes.

 

In 1982, Lai Wah Restaurant opened for business in the Apple Valley Time Square Mall. The restaurant was rather innovative; it offered great family dining. It even sold hamburgers and fries to please its younger customers. By 1990, business was booming. The hamburgers and fries were thrown out of the window, and in came a quaint restaurant specializing in delicious, traditional Chinese food.

 

In hopes of expanding its business, Lai Wah ventured to the sunny state of California. Danny and Suzanna Wong sold the Apple Valley Time Square Restaurant to their close friends, whom retained Lai Wah’s tradition of great Chinese food. Of course, there was no place like home for Lai Wah. In 1997, Danny and Suzanna returned to the beautiful state of Minnesota. The Apple Valley Time Square Restaurant they had left was still open. Thus, they decided to make Little Wok in Apple Valley’s East Valley Plaza. By the end of the year 2000, though, the Apple Valley Time Square Restaurant had closed down. In hopes of attracting the familiar faces of Lai Wah customers, Danny and Suzanna changed the name of the restaurant from Little Wok back to Lai Wah.

 

In August 2013, Danny and Suzanna Wong decided to retire and passed Lai Wah Restaurant to their reliable long time employee, Eason Chen, whom had been a chef cooking alongside with Danny for many years. Emigrating from Guangzhou, the Food Capital of China, in 2002, Eason’s vast knowledge and experience pertaining to high quality, authentic Chinese cuisine is unquestionable. He is committed to providing our customers with the very best service possible and would continually dedicate to making Lai Wah Restaurant the most enjoyable place to eat. Whether you are a long time customer who has been ordering the Lai Wah chow mein since 1980’s or a brand new customer who recently discovered our sesame chicken at a neighborhood open house, we look forward to your patronage all the same.

 

 

What does Lai Wah mean?

“Lai” and “Wah” are the middle names of the original owners of Lai Wah Restaurant, Suzanna and Danny Wong. They are traditional names in Cantonese and don’t have any meaning in English.

 

Do you use MSG in your food?

We do use a little bit of MSG in some of our food but we are happy to take special requests for MSG free, low sodium, or any other dietary requests if time is available.