Leong Tak Meng, born in 1989 in Macao, comes from a family with deep roots in the restaurant business. His wife is from Zhongshan's Shaxi town, and years of traveling between the two cities gave Leong a taste of Zhongshan's inclusive business environment and relaxed pace of life — enough to convince him to put down roots and launch his own venture here.

In 2022, Leong opened a Southeast Asian cuisine restaurant in the old part of downtown Zhongshan. Over four years' time, the restaurant has continued to expand its size.

Retaining customers comes down to consistent quality. Fresh ingredients and generous portions come first, said Leong, adding that he hopes his food can offer a small comfort to people caught up in the daily grind.

Leong said that renovation plans for the restaurant have been finalized, with the aim of further refining its overall operations.