It was a time when the city was a little less cultured, Mr Lee said.
''Dunedin was very different in those days. It was funny watching people try to eat with chop sticks - very funny.''
As Asian food had become more popular, people had become much better at using them, he said.
The couple, both 57, moved to Dunedin from South China in the late 1980s, with a dream of opening their own Chinese restaurant and sharing some of their food and culture with New Zealanders.
It has been nearly three decades since they opened The Asian in Moray Pl, and the restaurant has become a Dunedin landmark.
It is one of the city's longest-serving restaurants.
Mr and Mrs Lee have now decided to retire and put the business on the market.
There had been sweet and sour times over the years - but mainly sweet - and Mr Lee said he would be sad to leave.
''We have built this up from the beginning. I am quite sentimental about it, but sooner or later, we were going to get out anyway.
''I haven't thought about how it will feel yet, when we leave here.''
The business was put on the market last month and Mr Lee hoped it would be sold to someone who would continue to operate it as a Chinese restaurant.
The couple plan to move to Christchurch to be nearer family.
