Chongwah Express Owner Sells Longtime Northport Location, Eyes Next Move

NORTHPORT, AL — Customers at Chongwah Express regularly ask owner Larry Chung "what's good?" on the menu and his answer may surprise you.

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"I tell them, 'I don't know' — you should eat something and try it for yourself," Chung told Patch on Tuesday. "Then you can tell me what you think is good."

You heard it here first, though, that Chung's personal favorites are the restaurant's teriyaki chicken, hot and spicy chicken, and Mongolian beef.

Indeed, this week is a bittersweet one for Chung and his family, who recently sold the property and restaurant ahead of plans to move to a smaller location.

The last day for the beloved eatery on McFarland Boulevard is set for Saturday, Dec. 23.

Chung then explained that the Chongwah brand will continue at a new location that has yet to be determined.

A true embodiment of the American Dream, Chung was born and raised in Vietnam before coming to the United States by boat in the early 1980s and eventually settling with his family in Peoria, Illinois.

After working for a time as a church custodian, the prospect of working with his family in Alabama presented itself and he decided to load up his bunch and head south.

Chung recalled that his brother had opened Chongwah Express locations in Auburn, Gadsden and inside Tuscaloosa's once-thriving McFarland Mall. The McFarland Mall location opened on Halloween in 1993, he said, and his brother eventually offered it to the young father to take over.

"I came down here and I didn't like restaurants but I came here for the area," he reflected. "The people are just different here than up there. They are really friendly."

Standing out among the other food court favorites, Chongwah's reputation blossomed over the years, resulting in the business growing and making the fortuitous move to Northport around 13 years ago.

While Chung is certainly glad to downsize the brick-and-mortar operations, his thoughts turned to gratitude for his customers and the memories made at the location.

"I have a lot of memories here," he said. "I think about all the customers and a lot of nice, nice people. If they don't see me in here working, they ask 'where's Larry?'"

Chung isn't too hard to find most days, though, as the retiree spends much of his time away from the restaurant as a dedicated family man or raising his menagerie of animals — goats, turkeys, quails and more.

In fact, Chung at one time was featured in a 2003 Tuscaloosa News article by the talented Chad Berry, who documented his love of exotic birds like emus and peacocks.

"I love my family and I'm retired," he said. "But I keep myself busy and love raising animals."

Looking ahead to the restaurant's next incarnation, Chung said he plans to keep things simple while still offering customers the same great Chinese cuisine they've come to enjoy so much over the years.

"Everything will depend on the location," he said, careful not to give too much away. "But what I want is to just have a couple of tables, something smaller, and I'll be happy."

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