‘Non-Asians loving dim sum will always be a golden moment’: Chinese siblings in London on expanding food lovers’ horizons
- The Leong family, with roots in Hong Kong, have given London authentic Chinese dumplings and Taiwanese cuisine, and now a Michelin-star sushi omakase restaurant
- Younger brother Lucas’ new venture, cooked up during the Covid-19 pandemic, delivers chef-prepared Asian meal kits such as char siu bao to homes across the UK
Whether you want nasi lemak, larb or lechon, chances are you can now find a delicious take on these dishes in London – but that was not always the case.
For decades, before the city became the culinary Mecca it is today, high-quality Asian restaurants were few and far between. The ones that enjoyed brisk trade often condensed the flavours of an entire country or two into a single establishment.
The Leong family has been instrumental in introducing various Asian cuisines to London over the past 25 years, from opening Japanese restaurant Koi in 1995 to launching Alta Foods – a food platform that brings dishes such as char siu bao (barbecued pork buns) and bak kut teh (pork ribs in broth) straight to customers’ homes – in 2020.
The Leong brothers have a deep love of food, describing it as a core part of their lives and integral in their family.
Their passion for the business side of things was ignited by their father, Winston Leong, who has several investments in the food and beverage industry.
