Koong’s, a beloved Chinese restaurant that anchored North Milpitas Boulevard for more than 40 years, has quietly served its last meal as owner Ming Ju Yu heads into retirement. The longtime spot mixed original Koong family recipes with later additions and drew steady lunch crowds along with regulars who say the staff felt like family. For many in the neighborhood, the closure feels like the end of a small-business era on the block.
A Local Mainstay For Decades
Founder Henry Koong opened the restaurant in the 1980s, then sold it in 2000 to server Ming Ju Yu, who took over with a business partner and ran the place for roughly 25 years. They kept much of the original menu intact while introducing items such as szechuan noodle soup, black bean noodles and a seafood salad, according to The Milpitas Beat.
Fire, Covid and the Decision to Close
Yu told The Milpitas Beat that Koong’s survived a 2019 kitchen fire that forced a six-month shutdown, then shifted to a takeout-focused model during the Covid pandemic. She said she now plans to retire and will miss the customers who "became like family."
Public Records and "Closed" Listings
Santa Clara County’s food-facility database lists Koong’s at 103 N. Milpitas Blvd. and shows routine inspections as recently as September 2025, according to Santa Clara County inspection records. The restaurant’s online ordering page still shows the address, but the listing is currently marked "Closed," per Koong's website.
What Comes Next
Yu said she plans to step away from the restaurant world for now so she can rest, and she has not yet decided what comes next. For the moment, the darkened storefront stands as a reminder of the family-run eateries that helped shape Milpitas’ dining scene for generations.
