Fans of Heart's Coffee Shop bid an emotional farewell to the Valley institution after 47 years

This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.

See more from the L.A.Times in Google Search.

Set us as preferred Since 1979, Heart’s Coffee Shop in Lake Balboa has been under the careful ownership of Yuk and Sue Wong.For nearly five decades, they served up diner classics like steak and eggs and a hearty stack of pancakes while infusing the meals with touches that showcased their Chinese heritage.But on Sunday, every order at the San Fernando Valley mainstay was served with a side of heartbreak as the restaurant marked its final day of business.“To make the decision was gut-wrenching because it was months and months of mulling it over with my parents and my brother,” said Susan Wong-Young, the daughter of Heart’s owners.She said they really had to consider “what’s the best thing that we can do to honor this restaurant, the community, to make sure that we give it one last hurrah.” Food After announcing its permanent closure at the end of July, Crustacean in Beverly Hills has secured a lease extension that will allow the restaurant to keep serving diners through Oct.

31.After facing economic hit after hit — from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to the current downturn — the Wongs decided it was time to close down their shop and kick off their retirement.“My parents have worked so hard, never taking a vacation for 47 years,” Wong-Young said.“They immigrated here from Hong Kong in 1969 with one dream: to become business owners and to live that American dream and have a good life for their two kids.

And they accomplished that tenfold.”For more than four decades, Yuk Wong has woken up every day at 4 a.m.and cooked bacon from before the sun rises until closing time.

He and his wife gave everything they had to build a community around delicious food and homey vibes.They were committed to that sense of camaraderie with their neighbors, even to their financial detriment.

Food Long-standing ...