Céline Chung, PGE 2013, speaks with GDIY: when entrepreneurial boldness becomes a masterclass

Starting a restaurant business has never been more challenging. Tight profit margins, a shortage of talent, high customer expectations… And yet, some success stories continue to inspire. Céline Chung’s story—known as “The Queen of Asian Street Food”—is one of them.

As the founder of the Bao Family group and a leading figure in Asian street food in France, Céline Chung is Matthieu Stefani’s guest on the Génération Do It Yourself (GDIY) podcast, one of the most popular business and entrepreneurship podcasts in France.

Génération Do It Yourself gives a voice to entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, and creators who have chosen to think outside the box. Through long, candid, and unfiltered conversations, Matthieu Stefani offers a deep dive into their stories, daily lives, and behind-the-scenes experiences.

From a well-defined career path to the leap into entrepreneurship

In 2016, while working at a consulting firm, Céline Chung suffered from burnout. She then made a radical decision: to quit her job and embark on a personal mission—to introduce and popularize Chinese culture through food.

With no prior experience in the restaurant industry, she learned the ropes on the job, notably alongside the founders of PNY Burger, before opening her first restaurant in Paris. From the very beginning, a simple yet demanding mantra has guided her choices:

“Good Food, Good People, Cool Place.”

This foundation is what she and her partner Billy apply to every restaurant in the Bao Family group, which now comprises 14 locations in Paris and across France.

Building, Structuring, Sustaining

In this episode of GDIY, Céline Chung candidly shares the story behind her success—as well as the failures, doubts, and sacrifices of those early years.

She also reflects on her late discovery of her creativity at age 28 and the four years of sacrifice required to lay the foundation for a solid venture. The journey of an entrepreneur who never took shortcuts—and who is now building a truly impactful Asian restaurant group.

Watch the full episode on Génération Do It Yourself

Listen to Céline Chung's podcast on YouTube

More GEM Alumni on the GDIY Podcast

Céline Chung isn’t the only GEM alumna to have shared her story on the GDIY podcast.

The GEM Alumni community is regularly featured in this series of inspiring podcasts:

Jonathan Salmona, PGE 2004 :

co-founder of Shodo