<strong>A history-changing dish: </strong>Many diners at Tai Ping Koon Restaurant, one of the oldest restaurants in Hong Kong, come for its signature TPK Style Roasted Pigeon.
A history-changing dish: Many diners at Tai Ping Koon Restaurant, one of the oldest restaurants in Hong Kong, come for its signature TPK Style Roasted Pigeon.
Maggie Hiufu Wong/CNN
<strong>Founded in the 1800s: </strong>Opened in 1860 in Guangzhou, Tai Ping Koon had two branches in the Chinese city before moving to Hong Kong during the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1938. This photo was taken outside the Tai Ping Koon on Wing Hon Road, Guangzhou. It was one of the most fashionable hangouts for the city's affluent and powerful.
Founded in the 1800s: Opened in 1860 in Guangzhou, Tai Ping Koon had two branches in the Chinese city before moving to Hong Kong during the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1938. This photo was taken outside the Tai Ping Koon on Wing Hon Road, Guangzhou. It was one of the most fashionable hangouts for the city's affluent and powerful.
Tai Ping Koon
<strong>Tai Ping Koon in the 1940s.: </strong>The family had relocated to Hong Kong to escape the political instability on the mainland. The now closed Wan Chai Tai Ping Koon, opened in 1941, was one of the restaurant's first Hong Kong outposts.
Tai Ping Koon in the 1940s.: The family had relocated to Hong Kong to escape the political instability on the mainland. The now closed Wan Chai Tai Ping Koon, opened in 1941, was one of the restaurant's first Hong Kong outposts.
Tai Ping Koon
<strong>'Soy sauce Western cuisine':</strong> Tai Ping Koon is said to be the first Western-style restaurant owned by a Chinese person. It pioneered the so-called soy sauce Western cuisine, made up of traditionally Western dishes with familiar Chinese seasonings, such as grilled steak with soy sauce.
'Soy sauce Western cuisine': Tai Ping Koon is said to be the first Western-style restaurant owned by a Chinese person. It pioneered the so-called soy sauce Western cuisine, made up of traditionally Western dishes with familiar Chinese seasonings, such as grilled steak with soy sauce.
Tai Ping Koon
<strong>Fifth generation owner: </strong>Andrew Chui, fifth generation owner of Tai Ping Koon Restaurant (sitting in the middle on the front row), spent seven years visiting libraries around the world to learn more about his family's history.
Fifth generation owner: Andrew Chui, fifth generation owner of Tai Ping Koon Restaurant (sitting in the middle on the front row), spent seven years visiting libraries around the world to learn more about his family's history.
Tai Ping Koon
<strong>An important part of Chinese</strong><strong> culture:</strong> "Tai Ping Koon's history is significant not just because it has been here for 160 years now, it's also a part of the country's history and has influenced Cantonese food culture," says Chui, who has written two books about his family business.
An important part of Chinese culture: "Tai Ping Koon's history is significant not just because it has been here for 160 years now, it's also a part of the country's history and has influenced Cantonese food culture," says Chui, who has written two books about his family business.
Tai Ping Koon
<strong>Tai Ping Koon in Hong Kong: </strong>The Yau Ma Tei branch, opened in 1964, is one of four remaining Tai Ping Koon restaurants left in Hong Kong.
Tai Ping Koon in Hong Kong: The Yau Ma Tei branch, opened in 1964, is one of four remaining Tai Ping Koon restaurants left in Hong Kong.
Tai Ping Koon
<strong>Respecting traditions: </strong>In addition to keeping its traditional recipes, Tai Ping Koon has also insisted on preserving many old ways of operating, including providing free accommodations and meals for its staff. Here's a photo of a New Year staff celebration at Tai Ping Koon in the 1950s.
Respecting traditions: In addition to keeping its traditional recipes, Tai Ping Koon has also insisted on preserving many old ways of operating, including providing free accommodations and meals for its staff. Here's a photo of a New Year staff celebration at Tai Ping Koon in the 1950s.
Tai Ping Koon
<strong>Historical weddings: </strong>Tai Ping Koon restaurants were once a popular wedding venue. Though never officially confirmed, rumor has it that a few important political figures like former Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh and Zhou En-lai, first premier of the People's Republic of China, both got married at a Tai Ping Koon restaurant.
Historical weddings: Tai Ping Koon restaurants were once a popular wedding venue. Though never officially confirmed, rumor has it that a few important political figures like former Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh and Zhou En-lai, first premier of the People's Republic of China, both got married at a Tai Ping Koon restaurant.
Tai Ping Koon
<strong>Family stories: </strong>"These stories were passed down through generations without many details... It was like police work. I have to be careful I am not making up stories. I want to prove the story is really about Tai Ping Koon," says Chui, who visited libraries around the world to look for information relating to his family's restaurants. Here's a picture of Chui Hon Chor, Andrew Chui's grandfather.
Family stories: "These stories were passed down through generations without many details... It was like police work. I have to be careful I am not making up stories. I want to prove the story is really about Tai Ping Koon," says Chui, who visited libraries around the world to look for information relating to his family's restaurants. Here's a picture of Chui Hon Chor, Andrew Chui's grandfather.
Tai Ping Koon
<strong>An iconic street view: </strong>Tai Ping Koon Restaurant's gigantic neon signs have become an iconic part of Hong Kong's streets through the decades.
An iconic street view: Tai Ping Koon Restaurant's gigantic neon signs have become an iconic part of Hong Kong's streets through the decades.
winhorse/iStock Unreleased/Getty Images
<strong>Retro-style decorations: </strong>The wood-paneled walls, lace voile-covered windows and leather booth seating exude an old-world elegance at Tai Ping Koon's Yau Ma Tei branch.
Retro-style decorations: The wood-paneled walls, lace voile-covered windows and leather booth seating exude an old-world elegance at Tai Ping Koon's Yau Ma Tei branch.
Maggie Hiufu Wong/CNN
<strong>Andrew Chui: </strong>"When people do business, they keep going if they are making money. If they can't make money, they can shut it down. For me, closing is not an option. It's part of the history and the food culture of Hong Kong. If we can sustain the business one more day, the legend would be extended for one more day," says Chui.
Andrew Chui: "When people do business, they keep going if they are making money. If they can't make money, they can shut it down. For me, closing is not an option. It's part of the history and the food culture of Hong Kong. If we can sustain the business one more day, the legend would be extended for one more day," says Chui.
Maggie Hiufu Wong/CNN