Tony (Xiaojun )Hu is a renowned culinary master, restaurant entrepreneur, and community leader. He currently serves as the Chairman of the US-China Restaurant Alliance and is the founder of Hu’s International Group USA, a diversified company engaged in comercial real estate development, restaurant chains, financial investment, and cultural exchange.

Hu’s company owns and operates over 20 restaurant brands, including the well-known Lao Sze Chuan, which he founded in Chicago’s Chinatown in 1998. Over the past 27 years, Lao Sze Chuan has expanded to cities such as Washington D.C., Ohio, Baltimore, Houston, and Atlanta, and has garnered numerous accolades. It has been repeatedly recognized by major U.S. media outlets as the best Chinese restaurant in the country and was listed on the Michelin Bib Gourmand for seven consecutive years. In 2024, it was ranked the No. 1 Chinese restaurant chain in the U.S. by mainstream media outlet Tasting Table.

Dedicated to promoting Chinese culinary culture, Hu organizes the annual “U.S. Chinese Restaurant International Forum” and launched the “Culinary Roots Exploration Journey,” which brings Chinese-American culinary professionals to China for training and cultural exchange. He actively advocates for the internationalization of Sichuan cuisine through initiatives such as overseas Sichuan culinary courses and participation in global food events.

Over the years, Hu has received numerous honors and awards, including:
• The Global Community Oscar: Outstanding Community Leadership Award, presented by U.S. Congressman Danny Davis
• The Arts Award from the Beverly Hills LABA Art Festival
• The Distinguished Contribution Award for Promoting Chinese Culinary Culture
• The Lifetime Achievement Award from Time Out Chicago
• The Community Hero Award from the Chicago Tribune
• Twice named to the Chicago Magazine Top 100 Most Influential People list—the only Asian American to achieve this in over a century
• Twice shortlisted for CCTV’s Global Chinese Influencer Top 20
• Named by WGN World News as “Chicago’s Very Own Chef and Restauranteur”

Tony (Xiaojun) Hu continues to be a passionate advocate for the global recognition and appreciation of Chinese cuisine.