Chong proves prominent in Manhattan Beach community

Amanda Tsao
Staff Writer

The Chong family of Manhattan Beach is living the American Dream, opening and owning four successful restaurants in the South Bay after immigrating to the United States.

Seniors Carina and Erick, juniors Danica and Leonard, and freshman Christina Chong are cousins and students at Costa, whose parents are first generation immigrants from China and South America. Their fathers collectively own four restaurants in the South Bay.

“I was fairly young when we came here, and wanted to go to college which I couldn’t afford,” Roberto Chong said. “But nonetheless, the opportunities in this country has offered us are hard to come by in our country of origin.”

Fernando, Marcelino and Roberto, the Chong brothers and now fathers, co-own China Grill, W’s China Bistro, and three Chong’s restaurant locations. They were all born in Cuba and raised in Peru. They immigrated to the United States in 1975 and have lived in the South Bay ever since.

“When you are young and in a place where foreigners are embraced with open arms by a kind and tolerant society, immigration is the easiest transition,” Fernando Chong said.

The mother of the three Chong brothers first opened a restaurant in Carson, California called Golden Star, which was eventually transformed into Chong’s when the Chong brothers became involved in the restaurant business.

“Owning your own business, no matter which kind, is always going to be a unique experience,” Roberto Chong said. “With all its own set of dynamics, owning a restaurant can be a lot of fun.”

The second Chong’s restaurant was opened in 1993 in Shoreline Village, Long Beach. Others followed in Costa Mesa, Hermosa Beach, Gardena, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach. The Redondo Beach location, W’s China Bistro, recently received recognition from USA Today as one of the top two restaurants of 2013.

“Owning a restaurant, and for that matter, starting and owning a successful business, is to live the American Dream,” Fernando Chong said. “The restaurant business is hard work, but offers so many gratifying rewards, not the least of which is the getting to make many friends,” Fernando Chong said.