Mr. Gin at the original Mee Heng Low restaurant
Mee Heng Low family members in the kitchen
Two chefs in white uniforms standing in a kitchen with stacks of plates and various kitchen supplies behind them. The image features a decorated wall with Asian art and banners.
Two men and a boy sitting at a table with a birthday cake, partying in a restaurant or banquet hall with a fan, a telephone, and a sign that says 'No checks accepted' in the background.
A black-and-white photo of a smiling man with glasses sitting at a table, talking on a rotary phone. There are bottles and glasses on the table, and a vintage radio behind him. The photo is old and scratched.

1885

The Story Begins on Palm St
When Ah Louis replaced his original wooden store with the brick building that still stands today, the earlier structure was moved across Palm Street around 1885. Decades later, that modest wooden building would become home to Mee Heng Low.

1927

Meng Heng Low Opens
Gin Jack Keen opens Mee Heng Low on December 3, 1927, transforming the former Hong Kong Restaurant in a nineteenth-century false-front building on Palm Street.

1933

Putting Down Roots
Gin Jack purchases the Palm Street property during an era when California’s discriminatory land laws severely restricted property ownership by Chinese and other Asian immigrants.

1945

A New Generation
Gin Jack sells Mee Heng Low to his cousin Gow Gin and Gow’s wife, Peggy, beginning the next chapter of Gin family stewardship.

1957

A Modern Transformation
The original wooden structure is demolished and Gow and Peggy Gin open a new two-story restaurant in its place — the distinctive concrete, glass and tile building that stands today.

1971–1988

Family Stewardship Continues
Gow and Peggy’s sons, Johnny and Billy Gin, carry Mee Heng Low forward, continuing a family tradition that had become part of everyday life in San Luis Obispo.

1988

The Gin Family Era Ends
After more than four decades of Gin family operation, Johnny and Billy retire and the family steps away from running the restaurant.

1990

New Stewards on Palm Street
Sehn and Kim Hyun take over Mee Heng Low, continuing restaurant operations and bringing a greater emphasis on noodle dishes.

2009

The Kwong Era Begins
Paul Kwong begins operating Mee Heng Low, continuing the restaurant on Palm Street and bringing his family’s own recipes and culinary traditions to the menu.

2015

Preserving the Recipes
The Gin family publishes the Mee Heng Low Gin Family Cookbook, preserving beloved recipes, photographs, memories and stories from the family’s years behind the counter.

2019

The Next Generation Takes the Helm
After Paul Kwong retires, his son Russell Kwong takes over day-to-day operations, continuing the family’s chapter at Mee Heng Low.

2020

The Story Expands
Mike Gin and Andrew Gin publish an expanded second edition of the Mee Heng Low Gin Family Cookbook, adding recipes, photographs and family history to the growing record of Mee Heng Low’s legacy.

JANUARY 2026

The Neon Glows Again
Mee Heng Low’s historic neon sign is restored and relit through a $50,000 Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation..

AUGUST 2026

The Kwong Era Comes to a Close
After 17 years of Kwong family operation, Russell Kwong closes this chapter of Mee Heng Low on August 29, 2026.

OCTOBER 2026

The Legacy Continues
With the blessing of the Gin family, twin sisters Amber Karson and Emily Butler of Karson Butler Hospitality Co. begin the next chapter of Mee Heng Low — reimagining the historic Palm Street gathering place as Mee Heng Low Social Club, centered around mahjong, food, retail and community.

Black-and-white photo of a man wearing a checkered shirt and a white apron, sitting in a kitchen with a stove and utensils in the background.
Street scene with a red sign reading 'Mrs. Hang Lou Chop Suey' hanging above the sidewalk. Two women are walking on the sidewalk, with a parking lot and cars in the background. The sky is partly cloudy.
A group of people, including women, men, and children, dressed in vintage clothing, standing in front of a decorated wall with several framed botanical prints, a clock, and large plants. The setting appears to be a celebration or gathering in a resta
Black and white photo of four people in a living room, three are sitting and one standing. The person sitting in the middle is a man with binoculars on his lap, smiling. To his left, a woman with curly hair wearing a dress and sandals is sitting at a