Ronnie and Shaoyeen Shih moved from Taiwan to Stockton, CA in 1983. Working as a chemical engineer, Ronnie was transferred to California by the company he was working for at the time. To make ends meet, Shaoyeen served at a restaurant called Ghinggis Khan Mongolian BBQ restaurant in Stockton.

Shaoyeen worked 14-hour shifts at the restaurant, while Ronnie would work his day job, and would eventually start cooking on the Mongolian grill at night. After working there for 4 years,  Ronnie and Shaoyeen were able to save enough money to purchase the restaurant.

That restaurant is still at Grand Canal Blvd to this day! They ran it themselves and raised all children in that one restaurant, working 7 days a week, day in and day out.

In 2006, Ronnie, his sons, and partners finally decided to open their second location in Tracy, CA. The restaurant group has since opened 10 more locations. GKMBBQ plans to expand every year and aims to serve all areas of California so everyone can enjoy Mongolian BBQ for years to come.