Dragon General Opens in Menlo Park
The new restaurant replaces Mrs Khan on Santa Cruz Avenue with a focus on regional Chinese dishes.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Chinese Food
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Dragon General opened on October 14, 2026, at 712 Santa Cruz Ave in Menlo Park. The new concept replaces Mrs Khan, a restaurant that operated at the same site from 2022 until its closure in September 2026.
Why it matters
The transition occurred after the owner could not secure a chef for authentic Uyghur cuisine, prompting a pivot to regional Chinese fare. The establishment now offers beer and wine alongside a menu featuring diverse culinary traditions.
Dragon General serves dishes from Dongbei, Beijing, Shanghai, Hunan, and Sichuan with Peking duck priced between $48 and $88. The menu also includes sweet and sour pork ribs ranging from $18 to $24.
The players
Kalbinur Tursungjan
She is the owner of the establishment who transitioned the business from its previous concept to a new restaurant model.
Minjun Li
He is the chef-partner at the new restaurant who possesses 25 years of culinary experience.
The details
Owner Kalbinur Tursungjan rebranded the space with chef-partner Minjun Li, who brings 25 years of professional experience to the kitchen. The exterior of the building was updated from a purple finish to a natural wood aesthetic to reflect the change.
Timeline
Mrs Khan opened in Menlo Park in 2022.
The restaurant Mrs Khan closed in September 2026.
Dragon General officially opened for business on October 14, 2026.
Culture Shift
The closure of the previous concept highlights the scarcity of specialized regional dining in the local area, leaving the Peninsula with only one remaining Uyghur restaurant. This shift moves the local market further away from diverse regional representations toward broader Chinese cuisine.
Residents can visit the new location on Santa Cruz Avenue to experience dishes from five distinct Chinese provinces. Guests should note that the business now holds a beer and wine license, offering new beverage options alongside the updated menu.
The takeaway
The transition at this location illustrates the challenges owners face in maintaining niche cultural menus without specialized staffing. Customers looking for specific regional Chinese dishes can now access a broader variety of provincial styles under the new management.
Further reading
Learn more about the local dining landscape by visiting the Chinese Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Redwood City Pulse.
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