Chow Luck Club – Connecting People and Cultures Through Ethnic Food in New Zealand
For those interested in New Zealand’s hospitality industry and business community, today we are featuring Chow Luck Club.
Following our previous article on Hospitality New Zealand (see related article on this site), learning about local communities and networks will help you better understand business styles rooted in New Zealand.
Especially for business owners, knowing about unique communities like this may prove useful for exchanging information and building connections.
【Table of Contents】
- What is Chow Luck Club? A Growing Ethnic Food & Business Community
- The Two Key Figures Behind Chow Luck Club – Bee Koh and Lincoln Tan
- Features, Activities, and Ties with the Japanese Community
By the end of this article, you’ll see whether Chow Luck Club is something you can leverage for your own business.
[Chow Luck Club – Official Links]
1. What is Chow Luck Club? A Growing Ethnic Food & Business Community
Source: Chow Luck Club
Chow Luck Club began in 2021, evolving from Lincoln Tan’s personal blog Lincoln’s Table into a Facebook community where food-related information was shared during New Zealand’s lockdown.
For example, regarding its founding idea and early challenges, the official page describes:
[Quote from Official Page]
“The idea at the start was simple – using food to break down cultural barriers and encourage friendships through a Facebook group and small events.
Then Covid came and seven of our planned events had to be canceled, Chow Luck Club then became a vessel for helping small eateries survive the pandemic.”(Source: Chow Luck Club)
In 2024, the official site chowluckclub.com was launched, and the club has since developed into one of New Zealand’s leading platforms for diverse ethnic cuisine and lifestyle.
At present, more than 20,000 members are part of its Facebook group, and the club is actively sharing industry information through Instagram, TikTok and other social media.
⚫︎ Growing Presence in the Hospitality Industry
Source: Chow Luck Club
Chow Luck Club introduces eateries across New Zealand that serve cuisines from around the world on a daily basis, mainly through social media. But its activities go far beyond that.
Through collaborations with restaurant owners, event organisers and media professionals, the club provides events, information exchange and networking opportunities, as well as offering consulting services.
Examples of Food Events
Chow Luck Club organises a wide range of food-related events, such as festivals, markets, workshops and food tours.
Source: Chow Luck Club
Example of Consulting Services
Chow Luck Club has also provided consulting services for Ajisen Ramen, one of Auckland’s popular ramen shops.
When the consulting began, Ajisen only had one branch in Newmarket. By September 2025, the chain had expanded to four locations, showing steady business growth.
Source: AJISEN RAMEN
⚫︎ Ties with Hospitality New Zealand
Two key members of Chow Luck Club, Bee Koh and Lincoln Tan, are also part of Hospitality New Zealand’s Ethnic Advisory Group.
While Hospitality New Zealand has the characteristics of a formal industry body, Chow Luck Club is known for its more casual and open atmosphere — one of the big differences between them.
Source: Facebook
As conversations and exchanges reflect New Zealand’s diverse cultural background, this also provides Japanese residents in NZ with a valuable opportunity to experience the local business culture.
What is the “Hospitality New Zealand” ?
Hospitality New Zealand is an industry association representing accommodation, food & beverage, and tourism businesses, providing support to operators and contributing to the development of the sector.
Since the association also offers a wide range of assistance for business owners facing common challenges, we recommend that anyone interested check our related article or visit the official site.
⚫︎ Chow Luck Club’s Partners
Source: Chow Luck Club
Chow Luck Club’s partners include Auckland Council and Hospitality New Zealand, as well as the following local communities (as of September 2025):
In addition, Ajisen Ramen, mentioned earlier, is also listed as a partner.
This shows that Chow Luck Club is supported by a wide range of stakeholders — from public institutions and local communities to private enterprises.
Notably, the fact that Auckland Council is involved as a partner indicates that Chow Luck Club is more than just a foodie community — it also contributes to regional development and cultural exchange.
（※ オークランド地域全体を管轄する地方政府組織）
2. The Two Key Figures Behind Chow Luck Club – Bee Koh and Lincoln Tan
As mentioned earlier, the growth and influence of Chow Luck Club have been particularly driven by its two leading figures, Bee Koh and Lincoln Tan.
Although they come from different backgrounds, they share the same philosophy of “bringing people and cultures together through food.”
Bee Koh:
Known as the “Chief Foodie”
Source: Hospitality New Zealand
Bee Koh is widely known as the “Chief Foodie.” With a background in education, she plays a vital role in connecting food culture with community in New Zealand.
Her work goes beyond introducing restaurants — she emphasises human interaction and cultural understanding through food. Her dynamic approach offers inspiration to business owners as well.
Lincoln Tan:
Driving the Club with Media Expertise
Source: Hospitality New Zealand
Lincoln Tan, a former journalist with the New Zealand Herald, co-founded Chow Luck Club starting from his blog Lincoln’s Table.
He has leveraged his experience in media to publish articles and reviews that highlight the appeal of food within New Zealand’s multicultural society.
His communication skills have significantly contributed to the club’s recognition and growth.
Their Synergy
Bee Koh’s community-building strengths and Lincoln Tan’s communication power.
Together, these two have made Chow Luck Club both “a place to connect cultures” and “a widely recognised platform.”
For Japanese business owners active in New Zealand, their combined approach serves as a prime example of how to build networks and communicate with credibility.
3. Features, Activities, and Ties with the Japanese Community
Source: Chow Luck Club
One of Chow Luck Club’s main attractions is that it is not just a place to meet people, but also a source of learning and fresh insights.
⚫︎ Events and Learning Opportunities
Source: Chow Luck Club/Facebook
Regularly held events and meetings feature business leaders and professionals from the hospitality industry, who share real-life challenges and success stories.
By attending, participants can gain first-hand knowledge of the latest industry trends.
Why Participate?
For those working in hospitality or service industries, Chow Luck Club provides opportunities to learn about current trends and challenges in real time.
Depending on your involvement, it can also be a powerful tool for expanding your network.
⚫︎ Cross-Industry Networking
Chow Luck Club is not limited to hospitality businesses — it attracts participants from diverse backgrounds such as media, marketing and supply chains.
This diversity can spark collaborative ideas and create opportunities for market expansion.
For instance, as noted earlier, Lincoln Tan has over 5,000 followers on Facebook, and connecting with him alone could help broaden your network.
Source: Facebook
This makes the club particularly valuable for those seeking fresh perspectives and ideas beyond their daily business activities.
⚫︎ Online Information Exchange
The community is also active on online platforms such as Facebook, where lively exchanges of information take place daily.
Even if you cannot attend in person, you can still stay up to date through posts and discussions.
[Reference]
Ties with the Japanese Community
For example, at a meeting of the Japan Business Club NZ held in September 2025, four key members from Chow Luck Club and Hospitality New Zealand were invited as guest speakers to deliver speeches and participate in Q&A sessions.
(Source: Facebook [top, bottom centre], bottom two: author’s photos, venue: Ikku Japanese Restaurant)
4. Conclusion – Expanding Connections in New Zealand Through Chow Luck Club
As we have seen, Chow Luck Club is a community whose activities bring meaningful value to New Zealand’s local society.
For Japanese residents in particular, it offers not only access to ethnic food information but also opportunities to gain the latest industry insights and build networks.
If this has piqued your interest, we encourage you to take this opportunity to check out the official site or social media.
Even just a quick look might become the first step to enriching your life and business in New Zealand.
【Chow Luck Club – Official Links】
：https://chowluckclub.com/
：chowluckclub
：chowluckclub.com
Finally, we hope this page provides at least one useful insight for you!
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