ABOUT STEPHEN LI

Experience inside
the business.

An operating career across established restaurant organizations and emerging brands, with a focus on people, execution, and growth.

SL

Stephen Li

Principal Consultant
Apex Vista Consulting

I connect the strategic view with the realities of running a restaurant.

My background includes serving as Director of Operations at Panda Restaurant Group, Operations Consultant at Restaurant Brands International, and Head of Americas Region at YANGGUOFU.

Alongside those roles, I’ve supported Momo’s Pastry, Tamkoko, Sushi Ninja, and Chin Cha through work in brand and restaurant development. My experience spans fast casual, casual dining, bakery, and beverage concepts.

I bring a practical perspective to team development, guest experience, operating costs, site strategy, and U.S. market entry. Through Apex Vista, I work directly with founders and leadership teams to turn priorities into clear action.

SELECTED EXPERIENCE

Established groups.
Emerging concepts.

These summaries describe my roles and areas of work. They represent professional experience, rather than brand endorsements.

Director of Operations

Panda Restaurant Group

Experience in restaurant operations and leadership within an established restaurant organization.

Operations Consultant

Restaurant Brands International

An operating perspective on restaurant execution, brand standards, and franchise environments.

Head of Americas Region

YANGGUOFU

Regional leadership experience with a China-based restaurant brand and its Americas business.

Brand development & consulting

Momo’s Pastry

Work involving U.S. brand development, launch planning, and the coordination of operating and marketing priorities.

Brand development & consulting

Tamkoko

Work involving U.S. market assessment, site strategy, and development planning for a beverage concept.

Restaurant development

Sushi Ninja

Restaurant-development work spanning operating preparation, management structure, and guest-facing concept planning.

Restaurant development

Chin Cha

Development work involving concept planning, menu considerations, and opening preparation.

EXPERTISE I BRING TO THE WORK

Restaurant & multi-unit operationsPeople & leadership developmentGuest experience & service executionLabor, food cost & profitabilityU.S. market entry & localizationSite strategy & expansion planning

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