Classics are never an empty concept in the restaurant business. Instead, they represent great reputation accumulated by countless details over time. Wonton Gourmet & BBQ, a restaurant based in Cleveland, successfully interprets the essence of classics with their actions. As one of the best Chinese restaurants broadly recognized by local diners, Wonton Gourmet & BBQ has achieved its success through its pursuit of best quality. Such an accomplishment is not done overnight. Rather, the unique attractiveness of Wonton Gourmet & BBQ would not have been possible without the persistent efforts of Mr. Lin, the owner, and Mr. Ni, the chief chef, over the years. 

Wonton Gourmet & BBQ 

惠食佳

3211 Payne Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114

 (216) 875-7000

Signature Cuisine 

Speaking of the secret behind the popularity of their offerings, Mr. Ni asserts that the restaurant has persistently upheld the concept of traditions. In the restaurant, originality, real ingredients and honesty are an unchanging tenet. On a daily basis, the employees of the restaurant select fresh ingredients and offer freshly made dishes to diners. Even the seasonings are personally made by chefs in the kitchen, as an opposition to the conventional, readily-available seasoning packets. Every dish distills the fragrance and sincerity of their traditional cooking techniques. In a fast-paced environment today, such a persistence is particularly valuable. 

The restaurant maintains a highly varied menu dominated by Cantonese and Sichuan dishes, compensated by other Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisine. Beef Chow Fun(Dry) and Salted Bake Pork Chop w/Spicy Garlic are top choices. The Beef Chow Fun feature chewy and smooth texture and sufficient wok Hei, while the Salted Bake Pork Chop w/Spicy Garlic is renowned for their crispiness and soft tenderness. Every dish is worth the money given their authenticity and taste. 

Life Story 

The life of Mr. Ni is a story of self advancement and progress. Born in Fuzhou, he came to New York with his family in 1992. Only turning 17 at the time, he started a whole new chapter of his life with a vision and expectations for the future. In New York, he started as an ordinary worker in a restaurant run by his relative. He did all chores and never complained about the harsh working conditions. This experience has proven to be valuable for honing his will. 

Half a year later, the ambitious young man decided to make his way to Cincinnati. Again, he started out as a handyman in a restaurant. But with his great work ethics and conscientiousness, he soon gained appreciation and recognition from his employer. His efforts had not been wasted. Three or four months later, he was promoted to assistant chef and started to learn more cooking techniques and knowledge. Half a year later, Mr. Ni had another opportunity for job promotion. With his outstanding performances and learning desire, he was promoted to a stir-frying chef. 

Leaving Cincinnati for New York in 1995, Mr. Ni was like a fearless explorer who knew no retreat despite all the challenges in the restaurant business. Despite the popularity of Hong Kong chefs at the time, he chose to stay in his position as an assistant, quietly learning the essence of the culinary arts and honing his skills to make a living.

Eventually, Mr. Ni started his own entrepreneurial journey like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. In North Carolina, he founded his first restaurant, a perfect blend of American Chinese food and Hong Kong-style noodle dishes, which quickly gained a huge popularity among diners. Five years later, he left the restaurant to a relative and set out on a new journey.

In 2004, he joined hands with a friend to create a Sichuan restaurant, bringing spicy and fresh flavors to New York and making countless diners fall in love with it. Two years later, he returned to North Carolina again and opened a Chinese restaurant, which he operated for ten years.

However, Mr Ngai did not stay content with all these accomplishments. In 2013, he co-founded Wonton Gourmet & BBQ Mr. Lin in Cleveland. They are like two dancers who have a tacit understanding of each other, who dance hand in hand on the stage towards mutual success. Nowadays, Wonton Gourmet & BBQ has become the gold standard of Cleveland, attracting countless diners to come and taste.

The restaurant’s initial success has not been a straight path. Like other challenges in Mr Ni's life, it has had its ups and downs. At the beginning of the business, customers were hesitant about the restaurant's flavors, but Mr Ni was a firm believer in his culinary philosophy and unique flavors. He knows that there are no shortcuts to success, and that the only way to win guests' hearts is to put your heart into what you are doing. 

A year later, word of mouth began to spread in Cleveland as guests gradually accepted and recognized the restaurant's flavors. With its outstanding dishes and excellent service, the restaurant won the love and support of more and more guests.

For more than a decade, Wonton Gourmet & BBQ has never resorted to advertising. In fact, it has built a good reputation and popularity by word of mouth from its customers. Whenever anyone mentions Chinese restaurants in Cleveland, Wonton Gourmet & BBQ is always on the list. This is the result of the joint efforts of the two owners, Mr Ni and Mr Lin, and a testament to their dedication to the culinary arts and their sincere commitment.

Speaking of the future, Mr Ni always maintains a clam and clear vision for the long term. He believes that business should be done step by step and dishes should be prepared one by one, without any distractions and falsehoods. He always believes that customers can taste the attitude and sincerity behind the dishes, and it is this sincerity that has made the restaurant gradually become Cleveland's culinary mecca, and his own perseverance and hard work have been maximally rewarded!