China City, On the Road to Success

China City, On the Road to Success

Interviewed by Cuiyin Zhang   Written by Pam McElroy

China City opened its doors in Oak Park, Michigan in 2008 and has even since been climbing the ladder of success. The casual take-out and dine-in restaurant is settled in a bustling, high traffic area near three hospitals. While there definitely isn’t a shortage of hungry people to serve, there is strong competition; with ten Chinese restaurants and a variety of restaurants serving other cuisines nearby, it’s up to owner, Shu Yan, to make his restaurant stand out from the rest. Yan’s secret is to constantly move forward. “I earn money, I spend money,” explains Yan. He never regrets investing his profits in this restaurant. He’s able to research new and trendy ideas and bring them back home for his customers.

Classic Décor

One of the first step Yan took when he took over China City was redecorating the 3,500 square foot restaurant. He decided to create a cozy ambiance, rather than a luxurious one, because he feels that customers enjoy themselves more when they feel at home. The dining room is filled with simple yet timeless wooden furniture and the floor was finished with soothing brown ceramic tiles. Yan also wanted his restaurant to be a place for families to enjoy time together, so he created a quiet environment with no music.

Fresh and Delicious

China City’s menu consists mostly of Americanized Chinese food to satisfy the local residents. The main cooking method used is stir-frying, however, the kitchen will boil dishes upon request if a customer is looking for a healthier option.

The most highly recommended dishes are the Almond Boneless Chicken, Triple Delight, Sesame Chicken, and Bourbon Chicken. They’re also the most commonly ordered dishes. According to Yan, the recipes are written with the perfect combination of ingredients to create a delicious and balanced flavor.

Yan also recommends China City’s homemade soup base, which is prepared using the bones of high quality chicken, celery, ginger, and spinach. A lot of the menu items are cooking in this soup base providing healthy and delectable flavor. However, each dish on the menu is prepared for the health conscious eater; little salt, sugar, and oil are used.

Another reason why residents of Oak Park choose China City over the competition is because of quality of the meals. None of the ingredients come from a can, everything is fresh. The ingredients are purchased twice each week from the largest restaurant supplier in the area and the kitchen staff checks each order to confirm everything is extraordinarily fresh.

Competitive Service

One of the services China City offers that no other Chinese restaurant in the area offers is delivery. Orders are guaranteed to arrive within twenty-five minutes. There are six drivers on staff and they are all very familiar with navigating around the city. To satisfy customers even more, China City’s take-out containers are microwave friendly and recyclable

China City also stands out from the crowd because of the enviable team mentality that exists within the staff, from the kitchen to the dining room. When everyone works together, it’s much easier to meet the customers’ demands. And if there’s ever a challenge during a shift, everyone on the staff works together to remedy the problem and make sure the customers are happy.

According to Yan, when the staff acts as a team, they are much more approachable to the customers. A happy staff helps the customers to relax and enjoy themselves. Yan awards bonuses to staff members and encourages friendly relationships between them.

In culmination, Yan attributes his restaurant’s success to the fact that he and his staff are putting forth continuous efforts; the friendly, courteous service; and the philosophy they follow, which is that the customer is always right.

All About Yan

At the eager age of 20, Yan immigrated to the United States in 1990. He began working in Chinese restaurants in New York City as a busboy and later moved to Michigan where he worked in the kitchen. After ten years of hard work, Yan was able to open his own restaurant—and over the next eight years he opened five more restaurants. Yan surely knows how to open and operate a successful restaurant.

However, the journey was not as easy as it may seem. Yan married, and the couple was short on funds and knowledge of the English language. He and his wife had to completely devote themselves to learning how to make a restaurant successful in the United States. “I love my job,” says Yan. “And I do it with my very best.”

According to Yan, however, his success is due to the competitive side of his personality. “I am a venturous man and I thrive in competitive environments,” he explains. 

As for future plans, Yan does not have anything lined up in the immediate future. However, he is not opposed to opening more restaurants. “If there is a better location, I will continue to investigate new restaurants,” he says.

Yan’s Closing Words

“Believe in yourself, plan for the long term, and be confident. Excel to be the best in your field and if you’re putting forth effort, you’re sure to get something back in return.


China City