A Chinese immigrant entrepreneur, Jack Ng, who once worked grueling 12-hour shifts on fishing boats in Alaska, has shared how he built a multi-million-dollar restaurant business in the United States.
Ng, the founder of NGMA Group, recalled growing up in extreme poverty in rural China, where his family lived on a rice paddy without electricity or running water.
He shared that the idea of coming to America felt like going into space, but his dream became a reality when he was 12, after his uncle sponsored his parents' work visas.
Ng moved to the US with his parents, leaving behind 4 siblings, and struggled with language barriers, eventually learning English through work and friends.
He began working at his uncle's restaurant at 14 and later joined a fishing crew in Alaska, where he endured seasickness and long stretches of 12-hour shifts for months at a time.
After saving $60,000, Ng opened his first restaurant, China City, at the age of 21, and gradually expanded, opening more locations and refining his business.
Today, at 48, the entrepreneur owns 5 restaurants in Washington and enjoys financial stability, with sales exceeding $13 million in 2025.
Ng hopes that his 22-year-old son, who already works at one of the restaurants, will eventually take over the business, but insists that hands-on experience is essential before stepping into a leadership role.
