How Chinese Star CEO turned Dubai dream into food empire

She arrived in Dubai with a dream and started with a humble job in a Chinese restaurant. More than two decades later, Angela Guo has built a growing food empire, from Chinese Star restaurants to her newest landmark venture, Hong Gourmet Hypermarket.

When Jinxia Guo, better known as Angela, arrived in the UAE in 2000, she had little more than a dream and a determination to build a future.

Starting as a kitchen worker in a Dubai Chinese restaurant, she learned the heart of the food business from the ground up: understanding customers, valuing service and creating meals that bring people together.

Her passion eventually led to the opening of the first Chinese Star Restaurant in 2006, which grew into a successful UAE restaurant chain known for authentic Chinese flavours and warm hospitality.

But Angela’s biggest dream was still ahead. With Hong Gourmet Hypermarket in Dubai’s Satwa, she created a one-stop destination where customers can discover Asian ingredients, enjoy traditional dishes and experience the culture she has spent years sharing.  

From a small restaurant kitchen to a growing culinary empire, she continues to prove that with hard work and a love for what you do, even the biggest dreams can find a home in Dubai. Read the full story