Food & Faith

Christina Norris

One minute before opening, a worker walks to the door, unlocks it, flips the sign to “Open,” and lets in the first customer already waiting outside. The customer orders with confidence; clearly this isn’t his first visit. He scrolls through his phone as Christian music drifts from the restaurant’s speakers. Minutes later, his lunch arrives. The aroma of crispy vegan chicken topped with a house-made sauce reaches his nose. A few minutes after that, the plate is empty. The vegan chicken, steamed rice, and broccoli were completely devoured. As he leaves to exit, a smiling worker says, “Thanks for coming to High Su! We hope to see you again soon.”

As with many new restaurants, the development process took time — and in the case of High Su Vegetarian Restaurant, it also took tremendous faith.

In 2022, the Collegedale High Point Chinese Church, in Collegedale, Tennessee, was growing and considering planting another church in the Chattanooga area. For seven weeks, church members participated in prayer walks through downtown Chattanooga, asking God for wisdom on what to do. On their walks they encountered many beautiful church buildings that were abandoned and available for rent or purchase. However, as they saw more buildings, they felt less convinced that planting a church was what God was calling them to do. Instead, they felt impressed to open a center of influence. After more prayer, the idea for a center of influence became clearer: It should be a restaurant.

“People need to eat. It’s a very basic need. If we can provide good food, people will come to us,” said Dennis Li, Collegedale High Point Chinese Church pastor.

Anchored in the belief that God desired a restaurant to be purchased, the group agreed on an amount of money they could afford. That same week, a local restaurant owner wanted to sell his storefront. He contacted the church and told them the amount he was asking for it. It was the exact amount the church had allocated to purchase the restaurant.

With a storefront secured, the next question became: “What should we serve?” The group didn’t want to provide food that already existed locally; they wanted to stand out. They searched for what type of cuisine was missing in the area and realized there were a few vegetarian options but no authentic Asian vegetarian restaurants.

Compelled to provide high-quality food, Li and his wife spent half a year mapping out a menu. Together, they created recipes for each food and drink option. The menu included dishes with Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese roots. They approached each dish with the intentionality of creating a healthier, delicious food choice. Li said High Su is healthier than most restaurants and remains authentic through its use of ingredients from Asia. All menu items were made vegetarian, with many being vegan.

The restaurant’s Chinese name, literally translates to “Hello Vegetarian,” encompassing both a greeting and dietary lifestyle. According to Li, the phrase can also be used as a verb, meaning “Let’s go eat a healthy meal.” The name reflects two of the restaurant’s goals: make connections and eat healthily.

From its inception, the restaurant was envisioned as a place where people would come not only to eat healthy, authentic Asian food but also to build community. To encourage conversation, the restaurant team created a welcoming atmosphere with a modern, earthy, minimalistic feel. Banners with Bible verses in Chinese were hung from the ceilings, inviting patrons to ask about their meaning – whether through Google Translate or by asking staff. Asian vegan and vegetarian cookbooks adorn the wall. The NEWSTART acronym and meaning (Nutrition. Exercise. Water. Sunlight. Temperance. Air. Rest. Trust in Divine Power.) are displayed on a wall.

In September 2023, High Su Vegetarian Restaurant opened its doors to the public. As a separate nonprofit from the Collegedale High Point Chinese Church, the restaurant operates as its own ministry. The establishment is manned by a team of full- and part-time employees with help from volunteers. The team works tirelessly, understanding High Su is more than a restaurant, but also a ministry. Those preparing the food do so understanding the opportunity they have to nourish the body and the soul. Workers in the front strive to create a welcoming environment. Team members memorize frequent diners’ names and pray over them. They offer emotional support when someone is having a hard day, and spiritual support when someone seeks it.

These interactions are intentional and reflect High Su’s mission statement.

“Our mission statement is to mingle, to serve, to connect, to win,” explained Li. “Christ’s method was to mingle with people, serve their needs, connect with those people, and ultimately to win their soul to Christ.”

Tui Silafau, High Su Vegetarian general manager, said one aspect she enjoys about her job is the diverse clientele and her ability to connect with patrons. She said diners feel a sense of peace in the restaurant and find it easier to open up about life’s difficulties. She has had countless tearful conversations and prayers with friends and strangers at the restaurant.

“We are able to talk and to share Christ, not just in portion of words but also in deed, through food. But most of all, the way that we interact with [patrons] is the biggest thing,” shared Silafau.

Many connections have been made at High Su. Patrons have been invited to participate in different clubs the Collegedale High Point Chinese Church organizes, such as the running club, hiking club, and gardening club. However, Li reminds that the restaurant’s main mission is not to convert patrons, but simply to connect with them.

“We want people to really have a relationship first,” Li explained. “… we want them to go to church with a friend, stay in church, and then we can do a Bible study, and then we can do discipleship.”

Over time, High Su has grown in popularity. Some diners are church members or students at nearby Southern Adventist University (Southern), but many are community members, or visitors from out of state. The delivery of high-quality Asian vegan and vegetarian food accompanied with compassionate service has satisfied a niche and acquired loyal customers. This is evident with the restaurant’s 4.9-star rating and hundreds of reviews on Google.

High Su has already expanded by providing dinner at Southern’s Village Market, Monday through Thursday, 4:30-7 p.m. The partnership has given students another on-campus dinner option. Li said the food has been especially enjoyed by international students – offering a link to the food they miss from home.

The restaurant aims to continue growing, currently looking into renovating another space with hopes of opening an additional location. It also plans to continue using its unique intersection of food and faith to support ministries and connect with people. Currently, funds generated from the restaurant contribute to the Collegedale High Point Chinese Church’s ministries. In the future, High Su hopes to sponsor children through Child Impact International and assist the local homeless population.

Instead of turning an abandoned building into another church, with God’s guidance, High Su renovated a restaurant and made it a place of connection. High Su’s conscious decision to create a welcoming atmosphere and fill a niche has made it worth the visit. Its fearless pursuit of excellent food has made it worth a taste. Certainly, High Su is an experience you won’t find anywhere else.

Georgia-Cumberland | December 2025