Discovering flavors

"We divide the menu into four sections to cater to different tastes and preferences," Hu told China Daily.

The menu is divided into traditional hometown dishes for older Chinese immigrants, popular spicy hot pot dishes for young people and international students, American Chinese cuisine like sesame chicken with a unique twist, and innovative creations such as lemon crispy shrimp.

"Eighty percent of our customers are Americans; many discover flavors to enjoy for a lifetime," Hu said.

Lao Sze Chuan's 16 branches across the US, with eight more in the planning stages, have become a destination dining experience in cities like Chicago, Washington, DC, and Houston and the states of Minnesota, Connecticut and Ohio.

"We offer over 20 brand-specific dishes and are continuously developing more," Hu added. "We welcome local partners to join us."

Lao Sze Chuan has received numerous accolades over the years, including being named the No 1 Chinese restaurant and top takeout restaurant by The Daily Meal, a food and drinks website. The restaurant has also been featured as one of the best Chinese restaurants on the Thrillist website and in Time Out magazine and has earned the Michelin Bib Gourmand Award seven times in a row.

By sharing the stories behind Chinese cuisine with local communities and universities, the chef and his restaurant have attracted significant mainstream media attention.

"Chinese restaurants need to learn to speak up — it's not enough to just do things well," said Duan. "Chinese cuisine has so many good ingredients and stories to tell. We are telling the story of the entire Asian community, not just food."