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Yong Zhao

Cofounder at Junzi Kitchen

Yong Zhao is the Co-founder and CEO of Junzi Kitchen, a modern fast-casual restaurant concept that specializes in authentic and everyday Chinese food.13 Born and raised in Liaoning, northeast China, Zhao received his Bachelor's degree in Life Science from Peking University before pursuing graduate studies at Yale University.13

In 2013, while attending Yale's doctoral program in environmental science, Zhao co-founded Junzi Kitchen with two friends.35 The inspiration for Junzi came from Zhao's desire to make homestyle Chinese cooking, which was not readily available in the US, more accessible.1

Under Zhao's leadership, Junzi Kitchen has expanded to multiple locations in New Haven and Manhattan.13 The restaurant has gained recognition for its innovative approach to Chinese cuisine, being named one of Fast Casual Magazine's "Top 20 Fast Casual Brands to Watch in 2019" and featured in publications such as Vogue, Forbes, and The New York Times.15

Zhao's approach to running Junzi Kitchen combines his scientific background with a passion for Chinese culinary traditions. He conducts extensive testing and experimentation to develop menu items, even setting up control groups in his apartment during the early stages of the business.6

In addition to Junzi Kitchen, Zhao is also involved with Nice Day Chinese, another restaurant concept.24 His LinkedIn profile lists him as working at Junzi, with his educational background at Yale University.7

Highlights

Jul 14 · cookunity.com
Meet Yong Zhao & Wanting Zhang from CookUnity
Oct 29 · cbey.yale.edu
Food Entrepreneurship in New Haven and Beyond
Jul 19 · fastcasual.com
The science behind making Junzi | Fast Casual
The science behind making Junzi | Fast Casual

Related Questions

What inspired Yong Zhao to start Junzi Kitchen?
How did Yong Zhao's background influence the concept of Junzi Kitchen?
What makes Junzi Kitchen different from other Chinese fast-casual restaurants?
How has Junzi Kitchen expanded since its founding?
What are some of the awards and recognitions Junzi Kitchen has received?
Yong Zhao
Yong Zhao, photo 1
Yong Zhao, photo 2
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Location

New York, New York, United States