By Chidozie Osuji / The Hubbard School

When Elizabeth Ho and Yolanda Ho-Wang opened the Tea House restaurant in Stadium Village in 2010, their goal wasn’t just serving meals that reflected their passion for Chinese food. 

The sisters also wanted to create memories for all who dined there. 

“When we came here, we wanted to bring the authentic food and introduce it to our students and campus area, not just the suburbs,” Ho said. “I want everyone who comes to the restaurant to have a good experience, not only the food, but also to experience the culture.” 

The Tea House, located at 2425 University Ave. SE prides itself on creating a family within its working environment. Employees say they can rely on each other on and off the job, and former employees will even come back to visit long after they have stopped working there. 

Ho, who serves as the restaurant’s general manager, says the Tea House prioritizes teamwork and respect among all employees, like they are a part of one big family. 

“Every Christmas, they come back to see us,” Ho said. “As long as I have a restaurant here, you will always have a job, you’ll always be welcomed.” 

Ho’s sister, Yolanda Ho-Wang, focuses on the food preparation, creating all the dishes the store offers using recipes passed down from their mother, who immigrated to the United States from China with the family in 1989 and moved to Minnesota four years later. The menu is filled with traditional dishes that resonate with many of the Asian students and families who live nearby, Ho said.

Yutpa Vang, 28, a former student at the University and former employee at the Tea House, said she initially came to the restaurant because of its location. But the authenticity and atmosphere kept her coming back.

“It’s really good, cozy, comfort food for us, even though we are not Chinese,” Vang said. “If you’re into wanting more authentic style Chinese foods, then this is the place to be.” 

Vang also brings her extended family to the restaurant. 

“If we have cousins coming home, and they're craving Chinese food, this is the first place we take them,” Vang said. 

With a relatively large number of Asian students living in Stadium Village, including many international students, the Tea House has become more than just a restaurant, but a cultural touchpoint, a space that feels familiar in a foreign place. 

The interior and exterior design of the Tea House was crafted by an award-winning Beijing designer to reflect Chinese culture, Ho-Wang said. The front entrance features traditional round gate piers from Beijing Hutong, and inside, a bamboo glass wall is double-painted and specially designed to change colors for seasons. Each booth is named after a famous district in Beijing. 

“We invested heavily in cultural essence, decoration details and materials to make this location a modernized take on the classic Chinese design language,” Ho-Wang said.

“It’s well known that a lot of foreign exchange students who come from Asia live in the Stadium Village area,” Vang said. “Whether they’re looking for comfort food or just good Chinese food, I wouldn’t see why this won’t be a good area for them.”

Student organizations like the Asian American Student Association and the Chinese American Student Association often meet here for meetings and simple hangouts, Vang said. 

For Percy Zang, a 22-year-old international student living in Prospect Park, the Tea House has become a regular hangout spot. He and his friends often come for lunch, drawn by both the convenience of its location and what Zang calls “the best Chinese restaurant in Minneapolis.” 

Michael Munn, 25, has become a regular at Tea House. Originally drawn in by friends and the proximity to his apartment, Munn said he quickly found himself returning mainly for the authenticity and welcoming atmosphere. 

Munn was born in China and moved to the U.S. at age 14. The Tea House instantly became a comfortable place where the flavors and atmosphere reminded him of home and kept him connected to his cultural roots, he said. 

“It’s a perfect place to get a taste of what authentic Chinese food is like,” Munn said. “And the menu includes everyone, no matter whether you’re a vegetarian or not. ” 

Ho and Ho-Wang at one point owned three other Tea Houses in the Twin Cities area, which were located in Plymouth, downtown Minneapolis and White Bear Lake. But by 2015, they had closed all those locations and put all their effort into the Stadium Village location. 

Ho-Wang said the decision was a good one.

“We think the proximity to the U of M main campus really provides the most advantageous cultural and economic elements to be successful,” Ho-Wang said. “U of M campus brings a fast-paced, dynamic, open-minded, multinational and inclusive vibe, which resonates with our philosophy to offer unique and authentic flavors, epitomizing the welcoming Chinese spirit to visitors.” 

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the mother and grandmother of Elizabeth Ho and Yolanda Ho-Wang immigrated to Minnesota from China with the family in 1989. Only their mother immigrated, and the year was 1989. She also did not come directly to Minnesota but eventually moved to the state in 1993. Additionally, a caption with the story incorrectly identified Elizabeth Ho and Yolanda Ho-Wang as co-owners. Ho is the general manager and is not a co-owner.