Hongkongers’ son brings American-style Chinese food to Bangkok
- James Au never thought he’d follow in his parents’ footsteps and open a restaurant. Then he noticed the Thai capital’s lack of Chinese-American food
- The result was Lazy Panda, an eatery that builds on Au’s family history – with culinary roots stretching back to Hong Kong, via Minneapolis and Alaska
His journey to the Thai capital began in Minneapolis, where his family had worked its way up to owning a chain of seven Chinese-American restaurants.
Au, however, got his start in software. Before turning 20, he had already sold his first start-up – an online community for video-game betting – for US$100,000, which he invested in buying, renovating and flipping properties following the global financial crisis of 2007-2008, after which he turned his attention to rental properties.
For a while, he worked in digital marketing, but the “crazy drama” he experienced at the company – combined with a visit from his mother Lorna – would soon see him change career paths. By this time, Au’s parents had already sold their restaurant business to enjoy a well-deserved retirement. Noting the absence of American-style Chinese food in Bangkok, mother and son discussed the possibility of filling the gap in the market.