Happy Garden's new owners to reopen with revised menu

Happy Garden, 678 W. Market St., a longtime Chinese-American restaurant in Tiffin, recently was purchased by a couple hoping to broaden the menu’s appeal. Ada Tan, who purchased Happy Garden with her husband, Lee, said most Americans tend to embrace Chinese-American food, which is found at most Chinese restaurants in the United States. Traditional Chinese dishes, however, have a different taste, Tan said, and most Americans haven’t had the opportunity to try them. Under their ownership, she said, Happy Garden will offer a new menu, and while the restaurant will continue to offer the Chinese-American selections customers have enjoyed, a number of traditional Chinese dishes also will be available. Not only will the change allow customers to experience a taste of “real” Chinese food, Tan said, but will appeal to “students from universities” and others in the area who “don’t like the American style of Chinese food.” Tan said her husband now is the chef at Happy Garden. He “learned in China” to prepare traditional selections, she said, which tend to be spicy and hot. In additional to menu changes, Tan said, customers will notice other changes at Happy Garden under the new ownership. The restaurant will begin to offer delivery services, she said, to increase convenience for customers, and the buffet no longer will be available. Tan said she and her husband will focus on the quality and freshness of food offered at Happy Garden, and continuing to provide a buffet wasn’t consistent with that vision. “No dramatic changes” should be expected to either the interior or exterior of the restaurant, she said. In order to fulfill Happy Garden’s new delivery option and improved customers service, Tan said, a delivery driver, and possibly a hostess for the reception area, will be hired. Also, she said, a computer system will be used at the restaurant to create a more professional method of order fulfillment. While Happy Garden has recently been closed to finish the transformation process, Tan said, the restaurant is to re-open this week.