Noosaville’s China Jade Chinese Restaurant shuts after 25 years

A co-owner of a beloved family restaurant in the heart of the Noosa foodie hub reveals why she’s shutting its doors after 25 years of serving loyal customers.

Ken Liang and Allan Tie at China Jade Restaurant which is closing after 25 years. Photo: Patrick Woods

There was not much Noosaville restaurant owner May Mew would not do for her loyal customers include making it look like it was snowing in her popular Chinese restaurant.

One of her regular China Jade Chinese Restaurant customers had requested a burst of paper confetti at the end of her mother’s 90th birthday celebration one year, and Mrs Mew was happy to oblige.

“It was like snowflakes coming down on her mum and she was so happy,” she said.

Mrs Mew and her husband John, along with Mrs Mew’s two brother-in-laws, have decided to call time on their popular Mary St restaurant after 25 years.

Mrs Mew and her husband ran the front-of-house and her brother-in-laws Alan Zhang and Ken Liang kept the quality dishes coming through the pass.

The restaurant opened in 1998.

The co-owner said she had watched her customers’ families grow up and had served generations of the same families.

China Jade Restaurant in Noosaville is closing. Pictured, Allan Tie, chef. Photo: Patrick Woods.

“We had some time for sharing our happy things and sad things so they become like a friend or family to us,” Ms Mew said.

She had also watched on as her customers aged.

“When they’re all in good health, they’re drinking and laughing, they come when they’re elderly and they can’t do those things,” Mrs Mew said.

The co-owners are all retiring, with Mr Mew in his 80s.

Chef Allan Tie and cook Ken Liang pictured at China Jade Restaurant. Photo: Patrick Woods.

Mrs Mew celebrated turning 69 “just a few days ago” and the cooks are also ready to retire.

The Mews have owned four restaurants in Noosa since the 1980s — the China Wall in Noosa Junction, Chinois on Hastings St, the Noosa Junction’s Thai House and China Jade.

The restaurant owner said they had tried to sell the business.

China Jade Restaurant in Noosaville is closing. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“We’ve not been successful because people think it’s too difficult to get a chef to Noosa to work,” Mrs Mew said.

She said the families had stayed together in business because of their religious beliefs and she intends to spend more time serving her church in retirement.

Mrs Mew acknowledged “all those people” who ate at the restaurant and her loyal staff over the years.

China Jade Restaurant has been serving loyal customers for 25 years. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“We’ll miss them and hope everyone stays in the happy life and good health,” she said.

The couple will retire in Birtinya, where they bought a home.

The restaurant will close on Thursday, August 31.