Growing up in Saigon during the Vietnam War, Larry La developed a high tolerance for risk and an ability to dream of a better future. He did this in the face of myriad horrors and losses, which would have caused most people to lose hope. He learned English early in life and taught himself how to obtain necessary items and make connections in the black market. La relied upon these attributes when he moved to the United States and worked his way up from a menial job in a small town in Tennessee which offered a tuition benefit. After many years of working for his brother-in-law, La started his own restaurant on swanky DuPont Circle, believing that the great location together with his ability to produce consistently delicious Chinese food quickly would be a sure success. One of his first big breaks occurred when Mick Jagger came into the restaurant and attracted a local news retinue. Also, during the Clinton administration, La's restaurant was the Chinese take-out of presidential choice. Meiwah now has two locations and is the most popular Asian eatery in both neighborhoods.

Originally released by TeleTime, 2021. Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on April 07, 2023.