In Phoenix, Arizona, a Taiwanese-run bento shop called “Xiong He Jia” (a Taiwanese pun meaning “very delicious”) recently gained unexpected attention after hosting a visit from executives of TSMC . The most notable event was TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei’s personal visit, where he dined and left his autograph. The interaction was warm and natural, and the authentic Taiwanese bento prompted Wei to exclaim, “I’ll definitely visit again!”
Iwa Lin, one of the partners of “Xionghejia,” said that Wei Zhejia visited TSMC’s Phoenix City plant in April and dined at the restaurant with TSMC executives. She recalled that the group consisted of about seven or eight people, and the atmosphere was relaxed, more like a casual meal than a formal banquet. She described Wei Zhejia as easygoing and interacting naturally with the people present, which she found quite interesting. “He (Wei) was very kind and approachable, like an uncle, with no sense of distance.”
Lin Yu-Tung also shared that she used to work as an assistant engineer at TSMC in Taiwan. At that time, she could only see senior executives from afar at public events such as company sports meets. Now, these people who were “only able to look up to” have become customers dining in the restaurant, which makes her feel quite special.
She said that during her interactions with these senior executives, they would inadvertently use some terms and phrases that are only familiar to TSMC employees, making the conversations feel more “internal.” This also unexpectedly reconnected her with her past workplace memories when she was running a catering business overseas, adding a lot of warmth and topicality.
During his visit, Wei Zhejia left his autograph at the restaurant and took photos with the staff. Lin Youtong said that Wei Zhejia praised the food during his meal and described it as “one of the best meals he has ever had in Arizona,” which greatly encouraged the team.
“Hsiung Ho-Chia” was originally founded by two partners. In 2023, Lin Yu-Tung moved to Phoenix with her husband, who worked at TSMC. With more free time due to her child’s schooling, she felt “bored” and found a job at a local Taiwanese restaurant. Later, she became friends with her colleagues, and the two came up with the idea of starting their own business.
The two then found a small shop of about 800 square feet and started with takeout meals, opening the store in April 2025. Initially, they planned to focus on takeout to reduce labor costs, but after actually operating the business, they found that local customers preferred dine-in, so they gradually added tables, chairs, and dine-in space.
The restaurant specializes in Taiwanese bento boxes and snacks, including classic items such as Sichuan pepper chicken bento, fried pork intestine bento, railway bento, and fried chicken. Lin Youtong said that in addition to operating the restaurant, they now regularly deliver lunch boxes to TSMC, making it a daily dining option for local engineers and the Taiwanese immigrant community.
In addition to founding the “Hsiung Ho Chia” restaurant, Lin Yu-Tung recently introduced and became the agent for the Taiwanese bubble tea brand “Ho Cha Lou” in Phoenix City. The store is located next to “Hsiung Ho Chia” and opened in May of this year. She said that she entered the bubble tea market because she likes to drink beverages and hopes to bring a better selection of Taiwanese bubble tea to Phoenix City, so she decided to become the agent herself.
About two weeks ago, the newly opened “Crane Tea House” hosted a delegation led by Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu on a visit to the United States. Lin Yu-tong stated that the delegation consisted of approximately 15 to 17 people. Han Kuo-yu was friendly and interacted naturally with the team, engaging in brief exchanges. She also mentioned that the government delegation showed great concern for the lives and entrepreneurial situations of local Taiwanese people, which made her feel very warm and touched.
