Jonathan Chi was born in Taiwan and raised in a family of chefs. He started his career in the restaurant industry at an early age; working alongside his father and brothers in the kitchen. Continuing his love for hospitality, Jonathan supported himself through college and worked his way from the bottom-up, first as a dishwasher and then as a waiter. In 1983, Jonathan's younger brother opened the original Chi Dynasty location in Glendale. The thriving restaurant had a strong following and soon after opening, Jonathan and his family relocated to a new space in Los Feliz and later to Studio City. As word spread among locals, the Chi Dynasty reputation began to flourish. Keeping a competitive edge to an ever-changing scene, Jonathan often travels back to China in order to bring together authentic Chinese influences with contemporary elements.