Kung Fu Plaza, which is the oldest and most authentic Chinese and Thai restaurant in Las Vegas, was originally opened in 1973 in Las Vegas before Americans learned Thai food was different from Chinese food. So Alan Wong's parents decided to name the restaurant "Kung Fu," which everybody knew from the hit television show starring David Carradine.

The show Kung Fu followed the adventures of a Shaolin monk, Kwai Chang Caine [虔官昌 Qián Guānchāng] as he travels through the American Old West. In some ways, the story still fits as Las Vegas was very much considered part of the Wild West in the 1970s.

“At the time, we couldn’t tell people that we weren’t a Chinese restaurant because people believed all food cooked in a wok was Chinese,” says Wong. “My father called it Kung Fu to help distinguish what we served from Chinese food, until my parents added Chinese dishes because customers would ask for them so much."

Although born in the United States, Wong thought it would be fun to share his adventures as general manager of Kung Fu Plaza along with other experiences in Las Vegas. Sometimes the posts revolve around the restaurant and offer a deeper understanding about Asian cultures, but other times it could provide experiences related to dining, travel, or living in Las Vegas.

"I really wanted to create a blog that goes beyond the restaurant," says Wong. "I realize some people think it is a risk, but so was the original television series because it featured an Asian hero in America. The series went on to be a cult hit with two television series, one animated series, and a movie."

Wong says he won't write every post, given the amount of time it takes to manage a successful restaurant. When he isn't writing the posts, he has asked friends, family, and even employees to fill in under the Kung Fu Family moniker. Sometimes the posts might recap releases or share insights into Asian culture or the culinary industry.