In response to the changing trends, Tjioe has expanded the group’s offerings and presence in Singapore. Although Charming Garden has since closed, Tung Lok now operates 16 F&B brands across its markets, each representing a unique food concept. While Singapore remains the group’s main market, it also has a presence in Japan, Vietnam, and the Philippines through its associates.
Chinese families in Singapore are well-acquainted with the reunion dinner that marks the end of the Lunar Year. These lavish affairs, typically held in Chinese restaurants, symbolise abundance and celebration. At Tung Lok Group’s restaurants, Chinese dishes like Peking duck and chilli crab foster togetherness by promoting communal dining, as many of these dishes are meant to be shared with others on one big table.
In a previous interview, Andrew Tjioe, managing director and founder of Tung Lok, said: “Back in the 1980s, every weekend, our restaurant — Charming Garden — would be packed with regulars. Family lunches were a tradition; the same people would return every week. But today, people are spoilt for choice and you don’t see that sort of loyalty anymore.”
