Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Wang.
Kelly, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
We live in South San Diego, where there has long been a gap when it comes to authentic Chinese food. As a big fan of hot pot—one of the most beloved and trending cuisines in modern Chinese culture—I wanted to bring that experience closer to our community. To prepare, we traveled to Los Angeles and explored many different hot pot restaurants. Among them, ZhangLiang really stood out to us. We fell in love with its fresh ingredients, delicious flavors, and unique DIY concept that allows every guest to create their own hot pot. That’s what inspired us to open ZhangLiang Spicy Hotpot in South San Diego—to share this authentic, exciting dining experience with our neighbors and community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It wasn’t easy finding the right place. We looked for almost a year before we were lucky enough to get this spot on Plaza Blvd, in the heart of South San Diego’s Asian community. Then came another year of renovations—every single corner is new, and we worked side by side with our architect on everything, from the kitchen flow to the theme colors. It was tough at times, but we poured our hearts into every detail because we want our guests to feel comfortable, happy, and cared for. More than just a restaurant, we hope this becomes a place people love to visit again and again.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are proud to be a veteran-owned business. After serving our country for many years, we wanted to pursue something we are truly passionate about while also giving back to the community we call home. For us, that means bringing the highest quality food and authentic Chinese flavors to South San Diego.
Being so close to the naval base, our goal is to not only serve as a convenient and welcoming spot for locals, but also to create a place where sailors and service members can feel at home—whether they’re stopping by for a quick lunch or gathering with friends and family for dinner.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love most about our city is its diversity. We’re surrounded by a vibrant mix of cultures—Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Vietnamese, Spanish, and many more—that make this community so unique and special. What I wish we had more of, though, is authentic Asian food. Compared to Convoy, the options here are still limited, and that’s exactly what we’re working to change by bringing true, high-quality flavors to South San Diego.
Pricing:
- $13.99 per pound DIY hot pot
- $15.99 per pound for stir fry
- Average spend $15-$25 per person
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zhangliangsd.com
- TikTok: @zhangliangnationalcity
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573460877402
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/P8hntQGDIp
Image Credits
National city Mayor Ron Morrison visited our store and he loves our food!
