Our Story.
How a Sichuan chef and an Italian philosophy built a hospitality company in the middle of Texas.
Where Ciao Meets Zen
"Love You Long Time" is the name on the door. But "Ciao & Zen" is the heartbeat behind it — not just a name, but a philosophy. A declaration. A way of being in the world.
Ciao — the Italian greeting that means both hello and goodbye, a word that carries the warmth of Mediterranean hospitality, the embrace of a culture that believes every meal is a celebration and every stranger is a friend you haven't met yet.
Zen — the Eastern philosophy of presence, intention, and mastery through practice. The belief that excellence is not a destination but a discipline. That every detail matters. That the way you do one thing is the way you do everything.
Together, these two words capture what we believe hospitality should be: warm but precise, generous but intentional, joyful but never careless. It is the spirit that guides every plate we serve, every cocktail we craft, every event we produce, and every relationship we build.
Kristina Zhao
Founder · Chef · James Beard WEL Fellow
James Beard Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Fellow. The force behind Sichuan House, Asia Market, and Dashi Chinese Kitchen & Bar. When Kristina builds something, San Antonio shows up. Love You Long Time is her most personal chapter — a hospitality company that proves you don't have to choose between excellence and equity.
Brandon
Co-Founder · Operations & Vision
The operational mind behind the ecosystem. Brandon builds the systems that let the creativity breathe — the infrastructure, the partnerships that scale without losing soul, the details that nobody sees but everybody feels. If Kristina is the heart, Brandon is the spine. Together, they built something that works as well on a spreadsheet as it does on a plate.
"I have spent my whole career feeding this city. This garden is my way of celebrating it — every family, every culture, every milestone — every single day."
— Kristina Zhao, Founder
Ciao & Zen Collective
The Ciao & Zen Collective is our sister nonprofit — the beating heart of everything we do. It runs a mentorship program designed to give aspiring hospitality professionals the training, confidence, and community they need to build careers in an industry that too often chews people up and spits them out.
Participants in the Collective receive on-the-job training as part of the Love You Long Time service team. They learn from our chef captains, bartenders, and front-of-house leaders. They gain real-world experience at real events with real stakes. And they graduate with something more valuable than a certificate: a family that has their back.
A portion of every event at Secret Little Garden directly benefits the Collective. When you celebrate with us, you're investing in the next generation of hospitality professionals. That's not a marketing line — it's a promise.
Kristina Zhao opens Sichuan House, introducing San Antonio to authentic Sichuan cuisine.
Asia Market becomes a community anchor, feeding families across the city.
Dashi Chinese Kitchen & Bar redefines Chinese dining in San Antonio. The city takes notice.
Kristina receives the James Beard Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Fellowship.
Ciao & Zen Collective launches its mentorship program, training the next generation.
Secret Little Garden opens its gates. Love You Long Time begins serving as its hospitality partner.
LYLT launches its standalone restaurant, Long Time Provisions bodega, and The Collection.