Oriental Gourmet, a family-owned Vietnamese and Chinese restaurant in Quincy, Massachusetts, was struggling to attract customers during the holidays. But thanks to a viral TikTok video, this hidden gem is now packed with hungry patrons.
Stephanie Law, daughter of the restaurant’s owner, Dwayne Law, decided to take matters into her own hands when she saw her dad’s excitement over New Year’s Eve turn to disappointment as the restaurant remained empty. She posted an 11-second video on TikTok with a simple caption: “My dad opened on his day off and was so excited for New Year’s but no one is coming.”
The internet did what the internet does best. The video blew up, racking up nearly 2 million likes and a flood of supportive comments. People were touched by Dwayne’s dedication and vowed to visit the restaurant.
And visit they did! Oriental Gourmet was suddenly flooded with customers eager to try their traditional dishes and show their support. “It was amazing to see all the support that we got,” Stephanie said.
Dwayne, who immigrated from Vietnam with his wife, poured his love of cooking into the restaurant. The pandemic hit them hard, forcing them to close for two years. “I couldn’t do anything for two years,” Dwayne shared. The recent surge in business has been a lifeline for the family.
The Quincy community has rallied around Oriental Gourmet, with many customers creating their own TikToks to spread the word. “I wanted everyone else to be able to experience it as well,” Stephanie said. Dwayne, overwhelmed by the response, simply says, “Thank you for all those people.”
