Larry Trung La, an ethnic Chinese from Vietnam, came to the US as a refugee “Boat People.” Larry is the founder and CEO of Meiwah Restaurant Group. His restaurants have repeatedly won many annual food critics’ awards and have been voted the Best Chinese Restaurant by numerous media outlets.
La is the Founder, Partner and VP Business Development of the US-Asia Links, a diverse and accomplished international team with the goal of stimulating economic growth, improving international relations and promoting trade between US and some Asian countries. Larry has made many contributions to non-profit organizations in the Washington, DC area. He was the Board Member of Newcomers Service Center and a founding member of the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce for the Capital City Area. He also served as a Board Member of East Tennessee State University. Additionally, Larry is one of the AAPI Commissioners to Maryland’s Governor Wes Moore and is a member of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Advisory Council.
He is the recipient of the 2015 Outstanding American By Choice (ABC) Award by the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security. Larry speaks Cantonese, Hakka, Mandarin and Vietnamese; therefore, he is welcomed in the diverse Asian American community. Larry is also the author of Square Moon: One Man’s Journey from War-Torn Vietnam to D.C.’s Hottest Kitchens.
Larry has a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from East Tennessee University in Johnson City, Tennessee. He attended the National Business School of Saigon, Vietnam. He considers his hometown Erwin, Tennessee. Larry resides in Rockville, Maryland with his wife of thirty-five years, Diana La. They have two children, Alisa and Timothy.
