LIVE OAK — A little piece of china has found its way to Live Oak.

When it comes to cooking authentic Chinese food, chef James Zhang is an expert with more than 35 years of cooking experience with a Chinese company called Huawei Technologies.

Huawei paid Zhang to cook authentic Chinese food for Chinese workers in different continents like Africa and North America. After his wife died, Zhang moved to New York, left Huawei for another Chinese restaurant and married his friend Helen Yue.

Together, Zhang and Yue opened China Chef Chang, 927 Ohio Ave, in late January. They offer authentic Chinese cuisine with a great sit-down atmosphere. From wonton soup to spring rolls and general Tso’s chicken to sweet and sour pork, China Chef Chang can meet anyone’s Chinese food needs.

The couple make an excellent team with Zhang working in the back of the house and with Yue covering the front. Yue has no restaurant experience, but relies instead on her entrepreneurial experience she earned in China.

“I started my own business in China selling electronics,” Yue said.

After Yue met Zhang in China, they kept in touch after his wife died and he moved to New York. Four years after he moved, she left her business and went to New York to be with him.

“I’ve never worked in a restaurant before, so in New York I did manicures,” Yue said. “In China, I also taught Chinese in middle school and learned a little English.”

James doesn’t speak English very well, but with Yue’s help and business experience, the two of them knew they could open their own business. They just didn’t want to open that business in New York.

New York is too much like China, Yue said. It’s very crowded and competitive for Chinese restaurants. It wasn’t until they met a friend who lived in Live Oak that they decided to leave for the small town in north Florida.

“We wanted to introduce original Chinese food to Live Oak,” Yue said. “We also like it here more than New York — good people and good weather.”

After being open for a little more than a month, Yue said business is going extremely well. She said she is busy most of the day and people from all across Florida are coming to eat real Chinese food.