A Taste of Tradition

“I’ll work hard, put my heart into it, and do my best to make it better and better,” promised Leo Pang, the owner and operator of downtown Grinnell’s newest dining establishment, Pang’s Asian Bistro. Feeling fortunate for the opportunity, Leo emphasized his desire to honor the restaurant's long standing place in Grinnell and his dedication to keeping it thriving for the community.

While Pang may be new to town, he’s no stranger to the restaurant business, having owned and operated one in Atlantic, Iowa prior. Leo shares, “I have several years of experience running restaurants and the Chuong family had been running this restaurant for more than 20 years. When they decided to retire, I was very grateful they gave me the opportunity to take over and continue the restaurant.”

Pang was first introduced to Grinnell through a mutual friend of Chuong Garden’s owner. He was drawn to the town itself, but what impressed him most were the people and sense of community here. Pang’s Asian Bistro has quickly become a go-to spot for Grinnell locals and college students. Driven by a team of eight employees, the kitchen stays busy serving up popular staples, with orange chicken and beef broccoli topping the list of favorite menu items.

The team served several signature dishes during the Ambassadors’ visit including crab rangoons, egg rolls, sesame chicken, sweet and sour chicken, and sesame rice balls with red bean paste. “They made a believer out of me! I wouldn’t consider myself a big fan of Asian cuisine, but this is delicious,” shared Chamber Ambassador Fran Conn.

Pang’s most rewarding part is seeing customers enjoy their food. “To know we have worked hard cooking and preparing it and to see them appreciating the service makes me very happy,” expressed Leo. His goal is to always provide good food, attentive service, and an enjoyable experience for everyone who walks through the door. Pang’s Asian Bistro is open Tuesday through Saturday 11AM-8:30PM, Sunday from 11AM-3PM, and is closed on Mondays.

Photo Identification:

Seated L to R: Jing Feng, Leo Pang, Fei Fei Liu, Simon Luo, Dainelle Liu, Lisa Xu

Standing L to R:

Ivan Mei – Panda Palace (Washington, IA)

Nikki Armstead – Grinnell Chamber

Darcy Swick – Ramsey-Weeks Insurance

Rachel Arseneault – Ramsey-Weeks Real Estate

Nicolle Donnelly – Poweshiek Insurance Agency

Alyssa Sliger – First Interstate Bank

Natalie Pavey – Cirks Financial Services

Steven Lewis – First Interstate Bank

Marcus Brandenburg – Anthem, Heating & Cooling