Bryson Liu (’26)

For Bryson Liu (‘26), food was never just something to eat.

“I think [food] is a way to show that my parents show love for me and my siblings,” said Liu, “because they show [by] how much they cook and make food for us.”

But, this understanding didn’t come all at once. 

In his sophomore year, his father bought the business, stepping into a role that was not entirely unfamiliar after years of helping at Liu’s grandfather’s restaurant. When YouCha had re-entered business under the Liu family, however, it had marked a new chapter of work life and learning. Now, Liu tries to help out once a week, like his older siblings had done. 

This was only a part of what Liu was learning. In the early days of the restaurant, when the business had moved slowly, Liu noticed that what brought customers back wasn’t always the food or atmosphere. It was his father. 

“He would always make sure that the customers, when they left, were full [and] had all their needs provided for them,” Liu said. “He would also give out free water bottles sometimes when it gets really hot outside, and he would talk to the customers a lot. The customers would come over just to talk to [them].”

In these moments, Liu began to understand that running a business, as hard of a work as it was, was about care. Seeing that balance between hard work and kindness has left a lasting impression. Now, Liu carries those same values into his own life and the way he approaches his own relationships. 

“I understand that sometimes my friends are really busy, [and that] even though they’re busy, they still spend time with me,” said Liu. “I love sharing food with my friends, and that’s, kind of, my way of showing my appreciation to my friends and people that I care about.”

At YouCha, food has always been something more. And for Liu, it was a way to build connections, express care and communicate appreciation in a way that has carried far beyond countertops.

YouCha is located at 1601 Kings Hwy N Suite 200 in the Ellisburg Shopping Center.

Phoena Ke (’29)

Throughout her life, restaurant life had been something Phoena Ke (‘29) had grown accustomed to. From her cousin’s restaurant in Philadelphia to her parents’ own restaurant, Samurai Hibachi, the fast pace and steady presence of hard work have been something that has undeniably become an integral part of her life. 

“I get to experience what it’s like working at the front desk, or serving,” Ke said. “I can just be in our area and have an experience like being in the front desk [and] telling people that.”

But despite how natural this environment feels, sharing this part with others has not always been easy, and instead has been one of hesitation that all started with what her mother told her long ago.

“My mom told me that she [once] told somebody that she owns a restaurant, and then they started looking at her [weirdly],” said Ke. “After she told me that, I was like, if I tell others that [we] own the restaurant, they would think that I’m poor.”

The comment has continued to linger; what had once been a simple fact of her life had become something more complicated, shaped by what others thought of her family. 

“I do find myself telling less people that I own a restaurant,” said Ke.

At the same time, Ke has had struggles reconciling those assumptions with what she knows to be true, at least for herself and her family’s work. To her, running a restaurant was like any other occupation. And, when people gather round for food at parties and excitement replaces assumptions, it isn’t shame that fills her, but pride in her family’s work.

Having undergone this experience juggling these perceptions, Ke has broadened her perspective in how she treats others as well. 

“I don’t think it’s just restaurants,” said Ke. “I think you shouldn’t judge a person by [their job]. People who are nice to people can come from a bad place or something, or the meanest person can come from a nice place – you just have to judge the person, not what they’re surrounded by.

And for Ke, this is what everyone should try reflecting universally. 

“You should see it for yourself, because you need to give everybody a chance,” said Ke. “That’s why I think it’s important to judge from what you think they are, not what others think they are.”

Samurai Hibachi is located at 646 N Delsea Dr in Glassboro.

Irene Dong (’26)

Since 2018, Irene Dong’s (‘26) family has owned multiple sushi restaurants – the first in Haddonfield, and now along Marlton Pike at Mr. Sushi, All You Can Eat. But what began as an opportunity – an expansion from the former – quickly became the center of her family’s life. By age nine, Dong had already stepped into the fast-paced flow of business as a waitress and a cashier. 

Having to juggle several responsibilities at a young age, Dong quickly grew more independent – especially when her parents couldn’t be present much due to the restaurant. This absence was felt, even if it were minor. 

This experience at a young age has shaped how she approaches school and responsibility. 

“I know most parents are very, very, involved with their children’s school life,” Dong said. “But personally, for me, I feel like I don’t really bother to put that burden on my parents. I like to try and handle things by myself before talking to other people.”

Her parents’ experience further deepened this mindset. Without the chance to pursue higher education, they led a life built through restaurant work and, to a degree, regret – regret that, with the wishes of her parents, pushed Dong to aspire to move beyond. 

Hearing about this past, Dong has since adjusted the way she perceived her education and future. 

“I had to be more responsible and take my education seriously so I wouldn’t have to work at a restaurant and own one in the future,” said Dong, “because I think my parents stressed that idea to me about how working and owning a restaurant can be very difficult at times.”

This difficulty had become especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic not just in what she saw in her parents, but what she, herself, had gone through. When they kickstarted their business during online school after its pandemic closure, slow business meant that Dong’s entire family had to step in completely. 

“During quarantine… there was no business,” said Dong. “Once quarantine was lifted, we started getting the business back together… me and my brothers had to stay at the restaurant the whole day with our parents to help out, since it was just us, and we couldn’t really hire any other employees because of COVID.”

Through those long days, Dong became more aware about the true weight of the work, all the while beginning to understand how other people viewed her family’s line of work. 

“When people first ask me what my parents do, and I tell them we own a restaurant, I think their first response is always like, ‘Oh, that’s so cool,’” said Dong. “But I do feel like people should know more about what the struggles may be of having a family that owns a restaurant too.”

And these differences – stepping into the bustling workplace early, having to balance responsibilities, and work tireless hours when others were attending online school – made her all the more set apart from her peers. 

Since then, Dong has grown a lot as a person. What has once been isolating has become a connection with her parents she could understand more comprehensively and a method of communication. 

Looking ahead, Dong hopes to pursue the opportunities her parents did not have by becoming an occupational therapist. But, even as she looks to move towards a new future, completely different from that of her parents, the lessons she’s learned still remain – that of responsibility and hard work based on the understanding of what her parents had built, and the sacrifices it took to build it. 

Mr. Sushi, All You Can Eat is located at 2117 Marlton Pike W in Cherry Hill.