Lucky Cat Dim Sum
In the bustling heart of the Jacksonville neighborhood of Mandarin, where the aroma of freshly steamed buns mingles with the chatter of city life, there lies a culinary gem that embodies the essence of tradition and innovation. Meet Guorong Fan, the visionary behind Lucky Cat Dim Sum, a dim sum haven that transcends simple dining into cultural immersion and culinary delight. Translated as “touch the heart” and most commonly associated with Cantonese cuisine, dim sum are small dishes of bite-sized dumplings that are steamed, fried or baked and intended for sharing.
From a young age, Fan was captivated by the artistry of cooking, especially the ability to create something that goes beyond mere sustenance to become a form of edible storytelling. He places high emphasis on ensuring each dish is crafted with precision and care. “This shop is my dream come true,” says Fan.
Fan’s dream took more time and endurance to become reality than he expected. “I was getting very discouraged and disappointed. In reality, it’s not as easy, as flowery, as I thought it was,” he says. As the demand for indoor dining began to decline and business faltered during the pandemic, Fan chose to leave his restaurant partnership with his brother in Jacksonville and move to New York. There Fan honed his creativity and came up with the idea of ready-made dim sum. Under the Lucky Cat Dim Sum moniker, this venture catered to the pandemic’s burgeoning delivery market and renewed interest in at-home cooking.
Once indoor dining recovered after COVID-19, Fan’s dim sum delivery service began to slow down. Unsure of his next steps, Fan moved back to Jacksonville to focus on his dream of owning his own restaurant. He set up shop at his current location in Mandarin where he could experiment with unique menu options. “This is a very personal restaurant. Stepping in here, you get a glimpse of what my personality is like,” says Fan.
At Lucky Cat Dim Sum, every dish tells a story of heritage, craftsmanship and the unyielding passion that drives Fan and his team. Born in China but raised in the United States, he places special importance on staying true to himself by creating dishes that reflect Chinese American culture. But Fan is not content to simply rest on tradition. In his quest for culinary excellence, he has seamlessly blended classic dim sum fare with modern twists, creating dishes that surprise and delight even the most discerning palate. “Good food is good food,” Fan says. “But if you can come here and have good food and then something that surprises you, it’s a story that you can pass on.”
Fan’s dishes take inspiration from various significant aspects of his life. Take, for example, his Everything Bun, inspired by the classic bagel and cream cheese from his time living in New York, and his chicken and waffles special, featuring components of the iconic Southern dish. While these dishes maintain traditional aspects of Chinese dim sum, Fan breathes new life into them while creating an exciting and welcoming atmosphere throughout his restaurant.
Fan recognizes that customers could reject his modernized versions of traditional dim sum. “I can’t say I don’t have doubts that people will actually like or resonate with the things that I want to serve,” he says.
Fan feels lucky that his venture has been successful, and that his customers have responded positively to his unique culinary creations. “I’ve been very fortunate through my journey,” he says. “I have chosen a kind of food that I can speak of with conviction.” His story is one that cannot be fully rendered through words; rather it is through his food that his story shines.
Lucky Cat Dim Sum’s story is not fully written, as Fan continues to seek out new inspirations for his dishes, searching for creations that will leave each diner with a memorable experience. “I really just want a fun restaurant for the staff, for the customer, for myself, and to give consistently good food,” says Fan. “A place where they can hopefully leave with a story.”
