What It’s REALLY Like Running a Family Restaurant | Diana Chan

Diana Chan, Co-owner of Mama Chan’s in Northport, joins us this week on New York’s Business PodcastDiana always had a dream: open a restaurant inspired by her mom’s incredible home cooking. But when the opportunity came, she had no formal culinary training, no bartending experience, and no restaurant ownership background.So what did she do?She just started.With the help of her brother and mom, they hosted a few pop-ups, sold out every time, and realized there was a demand for the kind of food they grew up eating — clean, comforting, real Chinese-Taiwanese dishes made from scratch with love.In this episode, we talk about:🍜 Why she left her 10-year corporate job to follow her passion🍸 Her goal of creating a restaurant-bar hybrid where community and conversation thrive👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The highs and lows of running a family business📉 Lessons learned from zero experience in the restaurant industry📣 How she built a loyal customer base — and why you need to try their sesame chicken🥢 What it takes to build an elevated, home-style Chinese dining experience right here on Long IslandThis is a powerful story for anyone sitting on an idea but afraid to jump — Diana proves you can build something beautiful by starting before you’re ready.🎧 Listen to the full episode now — and then go grab a cocktail and a bite at Mama Chan’s in Northport. Trust me: the food is exceptional.