Have you ever tried Guizhou cuisine?
It’s actually pretty unlikely, as there are very few restaurants in the United States. Luckily, Los Angeles is home to the only Guizhou spot on the West Coast.
Hengry, a restaurant in the L.A. County city of Alhambra, is cooking up some authentic food from the southwest Chinese province. The restaurant celebrated its one-year anniversary in December 2025, and has some deep connections to the city.
The spot is owned by Chueling Au, also known as Leo, whose family once had a restaurant in Guizhou that served a single dish, Miao Sour Soup. His entire family migrated from Guizhou to Los Angeles in 1995. While they resisted getting back into the restaurant business for a couple of decades, Hengry opened in 2024 – and revived their family recipes in Los Angeles.
The restaurant remains a family affair, with Leo’s mom and auntie in the back of the kitchen sharing recipes and cooking techniques.
“We opened Hengry with the hope that people would fall in love with Guizhou cuisine the way we have,” said Au in a statement. “But for me, this restaurant is also a continuation of my family’s legacy — one that began decades ago in Guiyang.”
The Head Chef is Guangzhi Long, a culinary master from Meishan, Sichuan, who has been in the food industry for three decades.
Together, they serve delicious dishes like crispy potato pancakes, Chinese lettuce, homey stews and noodle dishes, and of course, the Miao Sour Soup – if you call ahead, you might even be able to order it with lobster. Though it’s not traditionally served with seafood (Guizhou is landlocked), Los Angeles’s impact on the family recipes makes Hengry something completely unique.
Keep an eye out for Secret Los Angeles‘s interview with owner Chueling Au, coming soon.
📍 Hengry Lounge, 2718 W. Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91803