Hunam Chinese Restaurant
790 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514 | (919) 967-6133
“Cooking in a College Town: Running a Chinese Restaurant in Chapel Hill”
Interviewee: David Chang, Owner
Interviewer: Vik Gummadi
Family History and Opening the Restaurant
David first traveled to the United States in the early 1970s with his parents and wife. His family is originally from Hong Kong, but he cultivated his passion for preparing Chinese cuisine in the United States. David did not mention any formal culinary education during the interview, but he picked up essential skills by working for his father when his family first arrived in the United States
David opened Hunam Chinese Restaurant in 1980, but his father had actually opened a restaurant in the 1970s, which he believes was one of the first Chinese restaurants in Chapel Hill. Working for his father helped him develop leadership and organizational skills which he would later utilize to manage and operate Hunam. David opened Hunam with a group of investors and friends, but he eventually became the primary owner.
Introduction to the Restaurant Industry
Working for his father spurred David to pursue a business venture of his own and open a restaurant. Working at one of the first Chinese restaurants in Chapel Hill helped David understand the demand for Chinese cuisine in the local area, as well as establish a clientele base that he could depend on during the early stages of developing Hunam. Even after his father retired, David still worked for the same restaurant and learned from the new owner.
It was interesting to hear David’s input about working for his father because he became acclimated to the restaurant culture as a teenager. A major goal for this course was to understand how Chinese restaurants have developed over time in North Carolina, and David’s explanation of his background provided insight that merged aspects of the two projects in this course.
Hunam or Hu-not?
Contrary to the name of the restaurant, Hunam does not actually serve cuisine that is from the Hunan province. Back in the 1970s, owners utilized regional titles in their restaurant names in order to distinguish themselves from other Chinese diners. David considered many other names, like “Peking” and “Beijing,” but ultimately chose the name Hunam as an homage to the home province of Chairman Mao Zedong. The restaurant serves dishes that are mainly Cantonese and Sichuanese, and most of the traditional meals utilize duck and fish. David does like to incorporate aspects of Hunanese cooking into his dishes, however, and he specifically has an affinity for dried peppers and chiles.
Most Popular Dish
David does not believe that there is one dish at his restaurant that consistently gets ordered more frequently, but one of the more popular items on Hunam’s Chinese Menu is the Peking Duck Three Ways. The process of making this dish is lengthy, but it never fails to please the customer. David is rather fond of this dish and also enjoys other Cantonese meals that are noodle based.
Challenges of Running a Restaurant
Initially, David faced financial obstacles when he first opened the restaurant. The location of Hunam was not ideal at the time, and it was difficult to attract a wide audience. He was able to persevere through those difficult times and still keep the restaurant open, which displays his dedication to his work. Currently, Hunam still faces financial burdens in the form of increasing operating costs, specifically input and labor costs. Increased licenses and fees along with government regulations make owning a restaurant very expensive.
Interactions with Chapel Hill
One of David’s favorite aspects of running a restaurant in Chapel Hill is interacting with the local community. He currently has three children that are enrolled in schools in the local area, and he loves to partner with the schools for various events. Hunam also partakes in a variety of charitable events during Chinese New Year, which includes donating free meals. The restaurant also donates to local Asian Festivals and takes part in a Dine Out program, which gives back a portion of profits from the promotion to local community development initiatives.
David also thoroughly enjoys working with UNC Chapel Hill. Hunam has a contract with Carolina Dining Services which involves catering lunch boxes to the McColl Business School and the UNC School of Law. Additionally, he appreciates the proximity of the restaurant to the University, as it allows him to form relationships with students and faculty who eat at Hunam.
Takeaways
From this experience, I have gained a newfound respect for every individual who takes a leap of faith and decides to open their own restaurant. There were many obstacles that David had to overcome to open Hunam, but his dedication to his vision for the business venture is why the restaurant is still standing today. David opened the restaurant when he was only 24 years old, so he has experienced a great deal of personal maturation as the business has evolved over time. Additionally, Hunam has become a local staple as one of the first Chinese restaurants in the town, thus making it an integral component of the community. While his job involves working long hours for 7 days a week and can be inflexible at times, David feels as though his work is meaningful and rewarding, which are aspects that everyone should aspire to attain in a career.
David, thank you very much for sharing your story and letting me tour your restaurant. I greatly appreciate the insights and advice that you have provided.
Exterior
Interior
Menu/Additional Audio Clips
What David and his Family Eat
Most Rewarding Aspects of Owning Hunam