The residents of Delaware County know Margaret Kuo as a great chef and restaurateur; her warmth and compassion for her community are conveyed through her dishes earnestly. For well over 40 years, Margaret has been serving the community by sharing her heritage through the culinary arts. Although her skills in the culinary world are to be revered, Margaret knows more than just her way around the kitchen.
When you visit Margaret's, she loves through feeding people. Be prepared to be loved.
Born to a family of scholars who value both education and community, Margaret worked to achieve both academic and humanitarian goals. In her youth, she was chosen as Outstanding Youth and won many math and oratory contests in Taiwan. Margaret graduated from Taipei Institute of Technology with a degree in chemical engineering, working as a research chemist while teaching math and science.
After coming to The United States, settling down with a family of her own, and opening a restaurant, Margaret went back to school in 1996, attending Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy’s School of Government. She graduated with a masters degree in public administration. Margaret took on the role of an advocate, dedicating much of her time and effort to many community organizations in Philadelphia. She served on boards such as the Literacy Committee of the Media Foundation, the Rose Tree Media Education Foundation, Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, and more.
Margaret has additionally received awards for many of her accomplishments, recognized both locally and nationally. On a statewide level, she was recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s Fifty Best Women in Business by the Department of Community and Development. She was also recognized twice as a Paul Harris Fellow and a member of Rotary International. In 1993, she earned the Shining Star award from Pennsylvania’s governor. Nationally, one of Margaret’s most outstanding awards was a Texaco scholarship to attend the National Association of Women Business Owners in Washington D.C. in 1998.
While known for her passion for cooking, she also devoted much of her time to ballet where she would perform on stage both on live television and in several colleges. Raised in a culture that holds the culinary arts to the same level of prestige as other mediums of art, Margaret wholeheartedly expresses this appreciation through food, as evidenced by the elegant and intricate presentation of her dishes. Not only do the meals served at her restaurants appear elaborate and aesthetically pleasing thanks to Margaret and her team of chefs, but they are filled to the brim with immense love.
“What’s important to me is making them feel happy and fulfilled,” Margaret stated when asked about why she cooks for others. She expressed that food is her love language and the best way for her to convey that love to her family and community is by giving them food straight from the heart. Margaret devotes her life to providing support to her community through her cuisine and roles as a businesswoman and advocate.
