ABOVE: The China House Cafe Owner Johnny Vuong stands in front of his restaurant. Last April he was worried about closing, but things are going normally now and he has even been able to provide free meals for those in need.

TRUMAN – After concerns regarding tariffs brought thoughts of potential closure to a Truman restaurant owner back in April 2025, the China House Cafe is still rolling with the punches and providing food to area customers.

According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods peaked in April and May at between 135.4 percent and 127.2 percent, but have been under 58 percent since mid-May and are at 47.5 percent as of November 2025.

Since this spike and subsequent settling, Owner Johnny Vuong said prices have increased, but they did not go as far as initially believed. In April, Vuong said the average weekly cost was $2,200. Now it ranges from $1,800 to$3,200 depending on sales. Because of these factors, Vuong said he had to raise the price on all his entrees, which he hadn’t done in over two years.

“I don’t want to raise the price because I have to watch out for my customers,” he said. “People can’t afford it sometimes.”

With him and his girlfriend being the only full-time employees, and with four part-time employees, Vuong said it can be hard to keep up with all the calls while also making food and managing the restaurant. While the price increase did slow business in the beginning, there are no slow days for a small business.

“This restaurant running, sometimes we cannot catch up,” Vuong said. “We don’t answer the phone. I hope people understand it’s not being rude, right? But that’s the way Mom and Pop is.”

In the face of all of this, Vuong said he has continued to make food the same way and not compromise to bring prices down.

“I kept all my expensive product,” he said. “All my high quality product. I don’t like to serve cheap stuff. You want people to enjoy.”

While they have made it through, Vuong said they did because of the hard work put in every week.

“Work never stops,” he said. “People say, ‘Oh, you close Monday and Tuesday. You got two days off.’ No, I’m down here Monday and Tuesday, every day, every week, for at least six to eight hours. Tons of things to do.”

As for what has allowed and motivated them to continue on, Vuong said it is the community and the customers.

“Business is not just for money,” he said. “Of course, we need money. We need to make money. But it’s not only that. It’s the customer that motivate me. My customers are very supportive, very nice to us. That’s how it motivated me because a lot of people lost their interest in running restaurant because restaurant is hard work.”

With that community support for him, Vuong has also found ways to give back to them. Recently, he offered free meals to families in need. When it was all set and done, 280 free meals were given out to 38 families in the Truman area. Vuong said he didn’t do it to be a hero, but because it was a blessing to be able to help.

“The food that I give to those people, most of them never been here before,” he said. “They can’t afford to go out. I’m not expecting to come to support me, right? I’m just doing it because I feel I have to do it.”

Moving forward, Vuong is not looking to make many changes, but he will take time off from time to time to prioritize his health.

“My plan is, every three to six months, we’re gonna take a little break,” he said. “I have to keep taking breaks because it helps my body. Because I’m getting older, I cannot run like this. I need breaks. I’m not complaining [about] hard work, but I’m telling people it’s the facts.”

January 19 through the 26 is the next of these breaks he will take. Otherwise, they are open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, visit facebook.com/chinahousecafe/ or call (507) 776-4428.