W Behind the Best 2025 Best of the Fox Winners Garden Plum H onoring traditions while adapting to new opportunities is a recipe for success at Plum Garden Restaurant in McHenry as the dining institution celebrates its 60th anniversary. Third-generation owner Jason Moy at the helm of the family's restaurant said his staff maintains traditional methods and recipes, including the ones his grandmother Connie used when she launched the business in 1965. "Our egg rolls are the still the same recipe that my grandmother Connie used when she opened the business," Jason Moy said. "Our Hong Kong Chicken is still the same recipe as when my father created in 1973." While some traditions remain, Moy said the key to success for a small business is a willingness to adapt to changes. This fall the restaurant is launching Marco Polo Dinners as a culinary experience. Guests can reserve a seat to join Perry Moy to learn the history of favorite Chinese American dishes. "Diners will be able to learn the history dishes like orange chicken and General Tszo Chicken. It is a walk of time, history and cuisine," Jason Moy said. Since 1965 Celebrating 60 Years! Jason Moy said his father is stepping out of retirement to share his culinary expertise and his love of history. His father also helped create a new Modern Tiki Drink menu that brings a new definition to the concept of a Tiki drink with over-the-top candies and even the use of dry ice. "Small businesses need to be able to adapt to survive and thrive," Jason Moy said. Serving customers from the same location for 60 years means knowing many of them by name, seeing their families grow. Jason Moy said he grew up in the restaurant, standing on a milk crate to help wash dishes and sitting in the back booth after school to finish his homework. Every week customers visit the restaurant, remarking how they remembered him as a boy. Before she launched the family restaurant, Jason Moy's grandmother Connie was born in a small village in China where she learned how to gather food and follow her mother's recipes. She came to the United States and worked in relatives' restaurants. The story goes that one day she took her family on a "day of adventure" and they boarded a train to McHenry where she saw a building and knew it was the place for her to make her dream of her own restaurant a reality. The business started as take- out only and transformed to a full-service restaurant. While the restaurant is steeped in tradition, Jason Moy said they've also been pioneers when it comes to providing the best for their customers. He said they were one of the first restaurants to end smoking inside the building, long before it was the law. It was also one of the first restaurants to provide a gluten-free and peanut-free menu. "We removed peanuts entirely from our menu," he said. The menu features homemade Crab Rangoon alongside the Bacon Mac N' Cheese Egg Roll. There are Korean, Thai and Chinese dishes on the menu. Jason Moy helped the restaurant embrace new technology, with online ordering and delivery options. "The true goal is knowing what things should change and what things should never change- such as our values and celebrating our history especially the ones who came before us," Jason Moy said. W Behind the Best 2025 Best of the Fox Winners Garden Plum H onoring traditions while adapting to new opportunities is a recipe for success at Plum Garden Restaurant in McHenry as the dining institution celebrates its 60th anniversary . Third - generation owner Jason Moy at the helm of the family's restaurant said his staff maintains traditional methods and recipes , including the ones his grandmother Connie used when she launched the business in 1965 . " Our egg rolls are the still the same recipe that my grandmother Connie used when she opened the business , " Jason Moy said . " Our Hong Kong Chicken is still the same recipe as when my father created in 1973. " While some traditions remain , Moy said the key to success for a small business is a willingness to adapt to changes . This fall the restaurant is launching Marco Polo Dinners as a culinary experience . Guests can reserve a seat to join Perry Moy to learn the history of favorite Chinese American dishes . " Diners will be able to learn the history dishes like orange chicken and General Tszo Chicken . It is a walk of time , history and cuisine , " Jason Moy said . Since 1965 Celebrating 60 Years ! Jason Moy said his father is stepping out of retirement to share his culinary expertise and his love of history . His father also helped create a new Modern Tiki Drink menu that brings a new definition to the concept of a Tiki drink with over - the - top candies and even the use of dry ice . " Small businesses need to be able to adapt to survive and thrive , " Jason Moy said . Serving customers from the same location for 60 years means knowing many of them by name , seeing their families grow . Jason Moy said he grew up in the restaurant , standing on a milk crate to help wash dishes and sitting in the back booth after school to finish his homework . Every week customers visit the restaurant , remarking how they remembered him as a boy . Before she launched the family restaurant , Jason Moy's grandmother Connie was born in a small village in China where she learned how to gather food and follow her mother's recipes . She came to the United States and worked in relatives ' restaurants . The story goes that one day she took her family on a " day of adventure " and they boarded a train to McHenry where she saw a building and knew it was the place for her to make her dream of her own restaurant a reality . The business started as take- out only and transformed to a full - service restaurant . While the restaurant is steeped in tradition , Jason Moy said they've also been pioneers when it comes to providing the best for their customers . He said they were one of the first restaurants to end smoking inside the building , long before it was the law . It was also one of the first restaurants to provide a gluten - free and peanut - free menu . " We removed peanuts entirely from our menu , " he said . The menu features homemade Crab Rangoon alongside the Bacon Mac N ' Cheese Egg Roll . There are Korean , Thai and Chinese dishes on the menu . Jason Moy helped the restaurant embrace new technology , with online ordering and delivery options . " The true goal is knowing what things should change and what things should never change- such as our values and celebrating our history especially the ones who came before us , " Jason Moy said .