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Zoey Zhang

A pancake seller from China who earns US$20,000 a month in the US has been arrested after becoming involved in a turf dispute with a rival vendor.
The 30-year-old, surnamed Tang, is from a third-tier city in Sichuan province in southwestern China, where his parents work as a cleaner and a security guard.
After secondary school, Tang worked in a factory in Shenzhen and sold cars via live-streams.
In his spare time, Tang learned to make savoury pancakes, a popular snack from central China’s Hubei province.

With a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and crispy flavours, they usually sell for about 6 yuan (8 US cents).
Despite his parents urging him to return home and work as a cashier, Tang wanted to go his own way.
He was inspired by seeing other Chinese people living in the US who, despite not speaking English, managed to make a living through making food deliveries.
In August 2022, Tang used his small start-up to secure a business visa for the US and travelled alone, relying on translation apps.
Struggling to adjust to Western food, he set up stalls at night markets in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, selling savoury pancakes.

Tang tweaked the recipe to make it saltier and sweeter, catering to local tastes.
One American diner described his offerings as “amazing Chinese pizza,” while a Chinese customer said it reminded her of the flavours from her hometown.
In videos posted by Tang, he revealed that a serving of the pancake was priced between US$10 and US$60, with his monthly income reaching up to US$20,000.
He frequently live-streamed the pancake-making process and shared entrepreneurial tips, attracting more than 300,000 followers on social media.
However, on July 19, Tang was arrested in Los Angeles for operating without a license. The next day, he paid US$30,000 to bail himself out.
Tang said that his arrest was the result of a turf dispute with a rival woman vendor who called the police.
He added that he was awaiting his court hearing and planned to resume selling once the matter was resolved.
According to the mainland media outlet Hongxing News, an insider revealed concerns about the sanitation at Tang’s stall, with some customers reporting physical discomfort after eating.

Local immigration authorities have also reportedly launched an investigation into him, though Tang has not publicly confirmed it.
Tang’s story has attracted much attention and a mixed reaction on mainland social media.
One online observer praised his determination, saying: “Tang has business sense and courage. He cannot speak English but has made a living in the US with just pancakes. I really admire him.”
However, another wrote: “In business, you must comply with local regulations.”
If Tang broke the law, he would have to face the consequences.”


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‘Courageous’ entrepreneur builds food stall despite lacking proficiency in English, faces court date due to dispute with rival vendor


‘Courageous’ entrepreneur builds food stall despite lacking proficiency in English, faces court date due to dispute with rival vendor.


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China pancake seller in US on US$20,000 a month arrested for unlicensed stall amid turf war

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}‘Courageous’ entrepreneur builds food stall despite lacking proficiency in English, faces court date due to dispute with rival vendor

‘Courageous’ entrepreneur builds food stall despite lacking proficiency in English, faces court date due to dispute with rival vendor