A Focus on Greatness

A Focus on Greatness

Even if you have nothing, as long as you believe in yourself, you have a chance of doing great things. This is a story of not only cooking authentic Chinese cuisine, but also focusing on the service, paying attention to detail, and building trust with customers allowing one restaurant owner to differentiate his restaurant from his competitors.

The Journey Begins…

There’s an old saying, ‘Many things grow in the garden that were never sown there.’ Sometimes, unexpected growth can be the most fruitful of all. Benli Qiu immigrated to the United States of America in 1989 and settled down in Fremont, California. He then he got a job with a local construction firm nearby New Yong Kang Seafood Restaurant, where he dined at. Later he befriended the owner. Even after years of eating at New Yong Kang, he never once ordered a dish that he didn’t end up enjoying.

Four years ago, Benli Qiu was informed that the owner was thinking about selling the restaurant. No one had ever thought that Qiu was interested in the restaurant industry. He surprised all of his colleagues and friends around when he decided to buy New Yong Kang from the previous owner. Running a restaurant seems simple, yet it is surprisingly complex. Everyone thought it would be impossible for him, a person without any practical restaurant management background and cooking experience, to successfully run the business. However, he felt that he had the courage and tenacity to do so. He used his own respective skills to run the restaurant, building on his existing skill set as time went on and learning how to better manage his restaurant and workers.

Qiu then redecorated the interior and, HIS New Yong Kang Seafood Restaurant was reopened one week later to the public with a brand new look. Stepping into the restaurant, you will first notice the coziness of the dining room. With an elegantly remodeled dining area, customers stepping in will experience a feeling of calm wash over them followed by the fragrant aromas of delicious dishes cooking in the kitchen.

The restaurant is a 3,200 square foot dine-in and take-out establishment with a capacity of 110, including a room separate from the main dining area that can accommodate 28. Regulars often select New Yong Kang as the place to hold special parties or gatherings because of the great food and pleasant atmosphere.

Milder Spices

New Yong Kang is the epitome of a family restaurant and is just the place to take your friends, colleagues, date, spouse, and children for a tasty meal at affordable prices. Besides the lengthy menu, the owner is very proud to recommend his restaurant’s special money-saving set courses—for $18 customers can enjoy three entrées and the soup of the day. For years, New Yong Kang is already well-known and praised by the Bay Area locals for offering palatable Chinese food with large portion but in valuable price.

Under currently circumstances, Qiu believes a restaurant should price the menu fairly so that customers will always feel they have received a great restaurant value. “Remember you will lose a little profit when offering quality food in a low price, however, you win customers’ heart, which is a long-term achievement for a restaurant,” he says. Thus, New Yong Kang, in most of its loyal customers’ eyes, has become a daily must-go place just like their kitchen, in where they can always enjoy hearty and pleasant meal in a homey atmosphere.

With 70 % of the customers being Asian, the restaurant understandably specializes in authentic Cantonese & Mandarin style Chinese cuisine. In addition, there is a large selection of live seafood available in the fish tank that customers can choose from. While naysayers complain that much of Chinese cuisine is flavored with not-so-healthy sauces and that without such, the flavor would be bland at best, Qiu refutes that, “It's not always the case, Chinese cuisine has more taste possibilities than it is given credit for.” Cantonese cuisine is characterized as being clear, refreshing, delicious, and possessing light tastes. It enjoys great prestige among the eight great branches of Chinese cuisine. It is also generally considered healthier for using more vegetables, seafood, and milder spices.

There are over seventy items on the menu and almost each item is listed with beautiful pictures on the menu to enrich the customers’ experience. When asked to discuss signature dishes, Qiu boasted about the following in particular: Crispy Fried Chicken, Dried Fried Flounder w. Special Sauce, Crispy Fried Chicken Drum Sticks w. Garlic Sauce, Lobster Yi Mein and Steamed Pork Ribs. The rich seafood selection which includes lobster, catfish, crab and Cantonese style Steamed Tilapia w. Ginger & Scallion Sauce is ideal for seafood lovers.

“We absolutely use the best and highest quality materials in each dish. The distinctive taste is subject to our chefs’ veteran cooking skill and the mystery home-made sauce,” Qiu explains. In addition, Fried Chicken Wings and Chinese Chicken Salad are offered as appetizers before a big feast. Do MAKE SURE you can stand the temptation to eat less until the upcoming delicacies are served.

Nowadays, people pay more attention to their health; so we have to be alert to this trend, making sure to provide the freshest and healthiest food to our customers,” Qiu says. A bounty of fresh seasonal vegetables is matched with the dishes to cater to vegetarians and health-conscious customers.

Considerate Service

Qiu believes customers are the real reason for his success and wants to take this opportunity to thank all those who have consistently supported New Yong Kang over the years. Staff members are always ready to provide them with professional and considerate service because customers’ needs are always their top priority. “Our staff members are well aware that different customers have different needs. They are well trained to be a service-conscious staff that looks out for each patron. Many customers come a long distance for our food, it’s our honor to satisfy them all,” explains the owner.

Regular cleaning is done everyday to keep the restaurant spotless. Hygiene is emphasized at all times. The dining area is well kept with crumb-free floors. When you step into the restaurant, you will find yourself immersed in a simple but clean setting.

More Than a Restaurateur…

While Qiu has been spread his career into the restaurant industry, he’s still active in the local building trade, and his construction business is still doing quite well.