Leong’s Asian Diner: Original Springfield Style Cashew Chicken

Chicago has deep-dish pizza. Philadelphia has Philly cheesesteak. And Springfield, Missouri, has Springfield style cashew chicken. Springfield style cashew chicken, a regional favorite, was invented in the 1960s by David Leong. You can find copies of Springfield style cashew chicken all over town, but you can get the original only at Leong’s Asian diner.

Springfield Style Cashew Chicken
Leong’s Asian Diner’s Original Springfield Style Cashew Chicken

History of Springfield Style Cashew Chicken

David Leong, a naturalized U.S. citizen from China, settled in Springfield, Missouri, after serving in World War II and then bouncing from restaurant to restaurant around the country. A friend had urged him to come to Springfield to open a Chinese restaurant, something the city was lacking at the time.

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Folks in Springfield were hesitant to try Asian cuisine. They were used to southern comfort foods like fried chicken or roast beef and mashed potatoes. So Leong breaded the chicken, deep-fried it, and found a way to keep it crispy even when covered with the Asian sauce. People loved it. Word spread, and soon restaurants all over town were creating their own versions of Springfield-style cashew chicken. Leong’s Tea House was open for 33 years before David Leong retired in 1997.

Leong’s Return to Springfield

David Leong’s son, Wing Yee Leong, moved to California to study photography in 1981. Having grown up in the restaurant business, he gravitated back to restaurants, learning under world class chefs in upscale California restaurants. He worked his way up to executive chef level before moving back to Springfield in 1995.

Wing Yee Leong
Wing Yee Leong, Executive Chef

After serving as Executive Chef at several Springfield restaurants, Wing, along with two brothers and their father David (now in his mid-90s) went back into business. Leong’s Asian Diner opened in 2010. Executive Chef Wing was anxious to try out newer dishes. However, old customers, thrilled to have Leong’s back in town, wanted the customary dishes. Listening to their customers, the menu now includes mostly traditional Asian foods, with newer, less traditional, dishes offered as specials. Springfield Style Cashew Chicken is still the signature dish.

Sweet & Sout Chicken
Sweet & Sour Chicken

Asian food at Leong's

mango upside down cake
Mango Upside-Down Cake with mango sherbet

If you go to Leong’s Asian Diner

Leong’s Asian Diner, located at 1540 Republic Road in Springfield, Missouri, is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Check the web site for hours and the menu.

Leong's Asian Diner

Accommodations: We stayed at the Hotel Vandivort during our visit to Springfield. Find the best deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor.

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Disclosures: My visit to Leong’s Asian Diner was hosted by the Springfield Missouri Convention and Visitors Bureau, and my meal was complimentary, but any opinions expressed in this post are my own.
This article contains an affiliate link, which means that if you book a room using this link, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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8 thoughts on “Leong’s Asian Diner: Original Springfield Style Cashew Chicken

  • March 31, 2016 at 12:51 pm
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    Hi, Connie!
    I just learned of you and your blog on “The Right Way to Travel”, through International Living.
    Being from Springfield, Missouri, this one caught my eye, of course. Good article. Did this article get published in the local newspaper, too (Springfield News-Leader)?
    They did a similar article not too long ago, and it just occurred to me that you may have (or should have) written it. Just wondering.

    Also, I am just now starting a blog of my own, and would love to share experiences, if that would be something of interest to you, as well. I just subscribed and look forward to seeing more of your work! My blog (barely started) is: hydeouttravels.com

    Reply
    • March 31, 2016 at 3:25 pm
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      Hi Danny. Great start to your blog! I was going to subscribe, but I couldn’t find where to do that. I would love to share experiences with you. Feel free to email me at connie@midwestwanderer.com with any questions/comments you might have.

      The article that I published on my blog yesterday about Leong’s was the first I’ve written about the restaurant. I didn’t realize one had recently been published in the Springfield newspaper.

      I look forward to “chatting” with you more.

      Connie

      Reply
  • April 1, 2016 at 8:12 am
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    I”m not a big fan of cashew chicken, but you did inspire me to visit Springfield, Missouri! Now that mango upside down cake, that’s another story- I’d eat that any day!

    Reply
    • April 1, 2016 at 9:26 pm
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      The mango upside down cake was delicious! There is so much to see and do in Springfield MO.

      Reply
  • April 3, 2016 at 7:46 pm
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    Cashew chicken is my fav dish! Love learning about this local take on it. Not sure when I’ll be to MO., but if I go I need to put this on my list.

    Reply
    • April 3, 2016 at 8:36 pm
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      I love trying local iconic foods, and the Springfield-style cashew chicken is definitely one worth experiencing.

      Reply
  • February 15, 2024 at 5:57 pm
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    I can’t tell you how overjoyed I am to find this recipe! My father’s nephew Ray Yep owned a chain of Chinese restaurants in Springfield MO. They were named “Yep’s restaurants “and several carry out places named”Master Wong’s”. He and my father opened a restaurant in Colorado when I was young. I’m sure he used the same recipe for cashew chicken from Springfield because I have never been able to find cashew chicken like my dad use to make. My father owned that restaurant for 15+ years and I never thought to write down his recipes.
    Now I am so happy to recreate one of his many dishes as an adult. Thank you!
    P.S. this recipe made so much chicken! Can we freeze the extra chicken for another time?

    Reply
    • February 16, 2024 at 10:24 am
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      Thank you for sharing the info about your dad’s and his nephew’s restaurants. Leong’s Springfield Cashew Chicken sure is different from any other cashew chicken. As for freezing the chicken, I’m not an expert, but I don’t see why it couldn’t be frozen to use another time.

      Reply

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