After nearly a half-century in business, the owner of Lucky's Golden Phenix (aka Lucky's Breakfast) is looking to sell his restaurant in San Diego's North Park.
In 1975, Chinese immigrant Wong "Lucky" Chong opened his namesake Lucky's Golden Phenix restaurant on Grim Avenue in what was then a remote section of San Diego's North Park neighborhood. The restaurant originally served Chinese cuisine, but as he got older, Chef Lucky transitioned into a morning-focused American breakfast menu, serving value-focused, no-frills breakfast items.
Lucky migrated to San Diego in 1949, brought by his grandfather from the Chinese city of Taishan when he was 11 years of age. Lucky's customers come to the quaint diner for it's simplicity, quality and value, as the menu prices at this cash-only eatery have been adjusted only a few times since first opening long ago. Lucky takes each order, cooks each meal and serves all the restaurant's patrons, occasionally with the assistance of his wife, and is known to interact with each and every customer. Last year, Lucky's Breakfast went viral after a patron posted a video on TikTok that has since amassed nearly 4 million views.
Lucky's Golden Phenix restaurant is now listed for sale by owner on San Diego's Craigslist. There is no specified asking price, rather Lucky is looking for the "best offer." Lucky's Golden Phenix will continue in business up until the restaurant sells.
Lucky's Golden Phenix / Lucky's Breakfast is located at 3804 Grim Avenue in San Diego's North Park.