Culinary entrepreneurs George Chen and Cindy Wong-Chen are set to expand their gastronomical empire with the opening of Asia Live later this year in the heart of Silicon Valley at the Westfield Valley Fair. The duo, recognized for their San Francisco landmark China Live, is crafting a new experience encompassing a broader range of Asian cuisines. As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, Asia Live will be a 13,000-square-foot venue with 350 seats that will take over the two-story space formerly housing iChina.

At a sprawling 30,000 square feet, China Live in San Francisco has been a trendsetter since its 2017 inception, engaging food aficionados through a unique combination of restaurants, a bar, and a marketplace retailing Chinese goods. With Asia Live, the Chens aspire to replicate and diversify that success, "We transformed perceptions of Chinese cuisine in America by highlighting the rich diversity of Greater China’s regional flavors," George Chen told the San Francisco Chronicle, "and now we aim to broaden that perspective to all of Asia."

Elaborating on their vision for the new Valley Fair dig, George Chen remarked, as per Silicon Valley, "Establishing our first Asia Live in the heart of Silicon Valley is a natural progression from our success with China Live, as we expand our culinary focus to encompass the broader Asian continent." The new dining hub will boast interactive culinary stations, including sushi and robata, tandoori ovens, and an Indonesian rice table, fostering an "immersive exploration" of Asian flavors.

The Chens have wider plans beyond Silicon Valley, with a Parisian Asia Live in the works at the Carrousel du Louvre and a tentative additional San Francisco location for China Live hinting at their international and local expansion ambitions. While details about the launch date remain fluid, food enthusiasts have a rich tapestry of Asian culinary traditions to anticipate at the upcoming Asia Live at 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd #1891, Santa Clara.