Hochan (CJ) Jang is the co-founder of Balance Pan-Asian Grille.

What began for CJ as an effort to build a healthier, more creative, and more everyday kind of Asian fast casual concept more than 16 years ago has grown into a beloved regional brand with locations across Toledo and Cleveland — one defined by scratch-made food, bold flavors, affordability, and a real commitment to hospitality.

In our conversation, CJ and I explore his journey from growing up in his mother’s restaurant after immigrating from South Korea, to discovering the potential of fast casual, to building Balance with little more than conviction, credit cards, and a willingness to learn everything the hard way. We talk about how the business found its footing, why location and customer feedback were so pivotal early on, how he thinks about quality, pricing, and menu innovation today, and what it takes to scale a restaurant brand without losing the culture and standards that made it special in the first place. I very much enjoyed this conversation, and I think you’ll hear in CJ both a deep humility and a real love for the craft — I hope you enjoy it as well.

00:00 Introduction & Entrepreneurial Roots
00:26 Welcome & Background
03:00 Early Relationship with Food
06:19 From Food to Entrepreneurship
12:09 Inspiration from Fast Casual Concepts
13:36 Challenges of Ethnic Fast Casual
16:20 Launching Balance Pan Asian Grill
19:40 Opening the First Location
22:58 Importance of Location & Customer Feedback
27:53 Balance’s Identity & Values
31:07 Navigating Pricing & Affordability
35:41 Scaling & Building Culture
40:11 Vision for the Future
44:57 Hard-Earned Lessons
49:02 The Role of Upbringing & Community
51:47 Closing & Hidden Gem in Cleveland
-----

LINKS:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hochan-j-88513510a/
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/balancegrille_2-first-generation-entrepreneurs-are-redefining-activity-7351709996880998400-LM0l/
https://balancegrille.com/the-balance-grille-leadership-advantage/
https://balancegrille.com/story/

-----

SPONSOR:
Cerity Partners
Cerity Partners, a full-service investment and wealth management firm serving high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and business owners, is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. The firm has local roots in Cleveland and across Ohio, and like this podcast, Cerity Partners advisors specialize in serving the interests of local entrepreneurs and business leaders. The firm’s national presence means it can offer the resources and specialized knowledge of the largest institutions with the independence and service of a neighbor. The Cerity Partners Cleveland team understands the complexity that comes with wealth, and they adhere to fiduciary standards. Discover the financial lay of your land.

Learn more at https://ceritypartners.com/NPR or call 216-464-6266.

Roundstone Insurance
Roundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost.

Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs. Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.

Learn more at https://roundstoneinsurance.com/

-----

Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here: https://layoftheland.ck.page/5f0c1e28fa

Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/

Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayoftheland

https://www.jeffreys.page/