Business of the Week: Dynasty

For 22 years, Jimmy Hung has provided great Chinese food through his restaurant, , but he did not always think he would own his own business.

After being sponsored by his sister-in-law to move to the U.S. from Taipei, Hung came to the states with his wife and two daughters. He began working as a welder for about a year, until something happened that changed his course.

“They laid me off and I said, ‘Hmm that’s not nice because I had to support a family’,” he said. “So I went to a restaurant as a dishwasher and I learned how to cut the vegetables, everything from the beginning.”

Hung not only learned how to cook, but said his former boss taught him everything else about the restaurant business as well, including how to wait tables and restaurant management. After a little more than two years, Hung got together with his family and made the decision to start his own restaurant.

“We thought that it was a good future because we didn’t have to worry about being laid off,” said Hung.

The restaurant did so well, Hung opened up a second Dynasty in Fairfield. Fast forward 18 years to the present, Hung’s brother-in-law now owns and operates it. Hung speaks of his brother-in-law as a very smart businessman and excellent cook who has even created some of the dishes that are now on the restaurant’s menu.

Fairfield residents Gary and Carmen Boling have enjoyed coming to Dynasty for 15 years because of the freshness of the food, as well as the service and the family environment. He said Hung treats his customers and employees well, which makes for an enjoyable dining experience all the way around.

“(We like) the outgoing personality of the owners, Jim here, and his brother at the other diner,” said Gary. “They’re extremely friendly people, and we’ve developed a friendship, not just a customer relationship, but a friendship.”

Gary said he enjoys bringing his grandchildren to the restaurant, and was delighted to hear when Hung’s first grandchild was born. The two often talk to each other about their little ones when the Bolings come in to eat, which is usually about once a week.

Hung said the local residents are the single reason why his restaurant has thrived as one of the longest run businesses in Suisun City. The first couple of years were a bit slow, as with most businesses, but the continued support of the community has helped a great deal.

“Without local (residents) this place would be gone a long time ago,” he said. “This location is not right in the front so they had to have known we were here to keep coming back. The reason I’m here still is because of locals and we appreciate it very much.”