A restaurateur’s journey brings Fujianese cuisine to the rest of Asia

Restaurant Putien was founded in Singapore over 25 years ago, after owner Fong Chi-chung, also known as Uncle Fong, wanted to bring the unique tastes of his hometown Putian, on the coast of Fujian province, to a wider audience. The brand has since grown to include about 80 outlets across Southeast Asia, from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, to Hong Kong and across mainland China. The flagship branch on Kitchener Road in Singapore even earned a Michelin star between 2016 and 2023.