Meet Patrick Cheng | Director of Non for profit, Business Owner, and Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Patrick Cheng and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Patrick, how do you think about risk?
Let me tell you something—big rewards come from bold moves. I’ve seen too many smart people stuck in “play it safe” mode. They save every penny, avoid risk, and never take the leap. And guess what? They never win big. In Asian culture, we’re taught to save, be frugal, and only spend when absolutely necessary. But that mindset held me back. I used to resist buying new software, hiring professionals, or investing in tools that could scale my business. Once I shifted that thinking—once I embraced risk—I started taking out loans to invest in growth. And the results? Tremendous. Those investments paid off far more than I put in.

Parenting:
As a parent, the smartest move I ever made—hands down—was getting my child into the American school system early. Not at six like I was. I started him at two years old. I know the pain of being unprepared, feeling lost in kindergarten. My parents didn’t know better. I do. Now, I make sure my kid is in the mix—clubs, school events, you name it. I’m not just watching from the sidelines—I’m involved. We’re building confidence, culture, and community from day one. That’s the difference between surviving and thriving in this country.

Most Important Factor Behind My Success:
Two things: grit and experience. I spent ten years doing manual labor. Ten years! That built discipline, endurance, and a mindset that never quits. But here’s the key—I learned to shift from using my body to using my brain. That’s where true value lives. And now with AI? My learning curve isn’t just shorter—it’s almost instant. I’ve tapped into tools that give me the power to scale smarter, faster, and stronger.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
General Tso’s isn’t just a Chinese-American restaurant. It’s a movement. We took an 800 sq. ft. kitchen—smaller than most people’s garages—and turned it into a high-performance catering machine that pumps out 200 meals per hour with precision, flavor, and unmatched consistency. We didn’t just build a kitchen—we built a system. Corporate catering, doctor’s offices, chambers of commerce—you name it, we feed them, and we do it fast, fresh, and flawlessly.

What sets us apart? Speed. Consistency. Integrity. You call, we deliver—literally and figuratively. While other businesses chase trends, we focus on execution. We’ve served tens of thousands, donated over 19,000 meals to schools and local organizations, and won awards like Fooda’s Team Player of the Year. This isn’t luck—it’s leadership.

But was it easy? Not even close.

When I started, I came from a failed AirBnB business crushed by the pandemic. I had a broken restaurant, zero catering clients, and a dream that most people laughed at. I bootstrapped. I worked 16-hour days. I cooked, cleaned, delivered—and learned every inch of the business. I faced language barriers, financial blocks, cultural limitations. But I pushed through. Why? Because I don’t believe in failure—I believe in figuring it out.

And today? We’re not just surviving—we’re scaling. With plans to expand into Chicago and New York, we’re going national. And we’re bringing our model to the masses—through franchising or group ownership that empowers immigrants, builds communities, and creates real opportunity.

Here’s what I want the world to know:
This brand was built by grit, powered by culture, and driven by a purpose bigger than profits. We don’t just sell food—we serve a mission. We prove that excellence has no language barrier, that community matters, and that with the right system and mindset, anyone can win.

This is General Tso’s. Fast. Reliable. Legendary. And we’re just getting started.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Day 1: Welcome & Warmth
🏠 Arrival & Check-In

Check into Hotel Clermont or Bellyard Hotel for cool local vibes.

🍽 Dinner at General Tso’s

Kick off with bold Chinese-American flavors, and let them see how tech, efficient systems, and cultural pride can come together in one delicious business.

🌆 Evening Stroll

Explore the BeltLine near Ponce City Market for live music, drinks, and people-watching.

Day 2: Chinatown & Cultural Immersion
🥟 Morning

Breakfast dim sum at Royal China or Oriental Pearl (Duluth or Chamblee area).

Stop by Atlanta Chinatown Mall—grab Asian groceries and introduce them to local Chinese business culture.

🎨 Afternoon

High Museum or Atlanta Contemporary Art Center.

🍜 Dinner

Authentic spicy hot pot or dry pot at Haidilao or Yunnan Kitchen—showcase tech-forward dining and cultural precision.

Day 3: Community & Innovation
💼 Morning

Tour of General Tso’s Catering Kitchen.

Show off centralized systems, Fooda operation methods, and AI-powered kitchen workflows.

Discuss how this model helps immigrant entrepreneurs scale with less labor strain.

🧠 Lunch & Learn

Meet with fellow business owners from the Chinese Restaurant Alliance.

Topics: AI integration, catering systems, POS optimization, and community branding.

🍱 Dinner

Try a modern fusion spot like The Select or Poor Hendrix to appreciate how East meets West.

Day 4: Nature & Neighborhood Eats
🌿 Morning

Hike at Arabia Mountain or stroll Piedmont Park.

🥡 Lunch

General Tso’s delivery through in-house system (test the real-time efficiency).

🍵 Afternoon

Tea tasting or boba crawl at Tea Top or Kung Fu Tea in Duluth.

🍣 Dinner

Brush Sushi Izakaya – Atlanta’s upscale Japanese gem with an Asian-American entrepreneur success story.

Day 5: Entrepreneur Inspiration & Street Food
🎤 Morning

Attend a food entrepreneur pitch session or UGA-SBDC small business workshop (tie into grant readiness).

🌮 Lunch

Krog Street Market: Korean tacos, Chinese bao, and local beer.

📸 Afternoon

Photoshoot of restaurant dishes for social media branding—hands-on creative content session.

🥘 Dinner

Backyard-style Chinese BBQ with business owner friends—catered from General Tso’s (test catering SOP in action).

Day 6: Upscale Vibes & Giving Back
🛍 Morning

Shop at Phipps or explore Buford Highway Farmers Market.

📚 Afternoon

Volunteer at a local nonprofit or community center (show how we give back while networking).

🥂 Dinner

Celebrate at Canoe by the river or Bacchanalia—rewarding yourself is part of long-term sustainability.

Day 7: Wrap Up with Strategy & Dim Sum
🧭 Morning

Strategy brunch: What did we learn? What can we build together?

Discuss virtual brand growth, franchise potential, or AI assistant chatbot implementation.

🌄 Late Afternoon Departure

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Success doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Behind every great brand, every winning story, there’s always a powerful team, a strong mentor, or a community that believed in you when others didn’t. For me, that credit goes to Kevin Zhao, CEO of ZBS POS and Director of the Fuzhou Business Association. This guy didn’t just give advice—he opened doors. Without his encouragement, I would’ve never met his incredible team, especially Jim Yu, the Secretary of FBA, who connected me directly to a White House official. That connection changed everything. It catapulted my visibility, my resources, and my network to a whole new level.

That’s the power of real relationships.

I also want to shout out Verizon’s Digital Ready platform—without that exposure and the tools it gave me, I wouldn’t have been able to accelerate my business like I did. And let’s not forget my parents. They may not have had the blueprint, but they gave me the raw grit. And I turned that grit into gold.

So yes—this journey is mine, but it’s also a reflection of every mentor, ally, and connector who said, “You’ve got this—go make it happen.” And I did.

Website: https://generaltsoscatering.com/

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Youtube: https://youtube.com/@atlgatso