Lily's
Dumplings &Dim Sum

                                            Our Story

                          A Taste of China, Made with Heart

Lily’s Dumplings & Dim Sum was born in March 2024 at the Port Townsend Farmers Market, founded by Lily, a Chinese chef with a lifelong passion for food and nearly two decades of experience in the restaurant industry.

My journey in the food industry began in 2005, when I was a university student in China. I started working in large Chinese banquet and hotel restaurant groups, where I developed my foundation in traditional Chinese cuisine, hospitality, and professional kitchen operations.

In 2009, I expanded my experience into Western dining, working in several restaurants in Shanghai in front-of-house service, bartending, and restaurant management. My responsibilities also included purchasing, kitchen and front-of-house operations, payroll, and business administration.

In 2011, I began partnering with friends from the United States and Singapore to operate two restaurants in Shanghai. In 2013, I took another important step in my entrepreneurial journey, expanding into Zhejiang Province. Over the following years, I helped establish and operate five restaurants across Hangzhou, Ningbo, and Wenzhou, including locations near West Lake, in Hangzhou’s Binjiang commercial district, and along Ningbo’s historic Old Bund.

Throughout these years, I worked across different positions in the restaurant business, from cooking and daily operations to management, staff training, purchasing, and administration. These experiences taught me that a successful restaurant is about much more than food. It takes dedication, teamwork, consistency, and genuine care for the people you serve.

Then came COVID-19.

During the pandemic, lockdowns and prolonged business closures in China made it impossible for us to sustain the mounting costs of rent, property fees, and employee wages. After years of hard work, we had to make the difficult decision to close our restaurants.

In 2021, my family and I moved to the United States to begin a new chapter in our lives. We later took over Alchemy Bistro & Wine Bar in Port Townsend, where we worked hard to build a new future in our adopted community.

As I got to know Port Townsend, I noticed something special: there was an opportunity to bring authentic Chinese food to the local farmers market and share a part of my culinary heritage with the people who call this place home.

That inspiration led to the creation of Lily’s Dumplings & Dim Sum in March 2024.

For me, this business is about more than making dumplings. It is about sharing the food I grew up with, honoring the traditions behind Chinese cooking, and introducing our community to the flavors, care, and craftsmanship that make Chinese food so special.

Every market day gives me the opportunity to do what I love: cook, connect with people, and share a little taste of China with my neighbors.

Port Townsend has become an important part of our new beginning. I am grateful for the warm welcome we have received and for everyone who has supported Lily’s Dumplings & Dim Sum along the way.

Thank you for welcoming me, supporting my small business, and allowing me to share my food and my story with you.

With gratitude and heart,

Lily
Founder & Head Chef
Lily’s Dumplings & Dim Sum