Lai's professional cooking journey began in earnest with French cuisine, working in a French restaurant to learn the ropes. He quickly rose through the ranks after a chef fell ill, creating an opening for him.

In 2003, when Alain Ducasse opened a restaurant in Hong Kong, Lai was presented with an opportunity to return to his hometown and continue his culinary growth.

By 2009, Lai decided to open his own restaurant, focusing on what he truly wanted to cook — comfort food.

"I believe food should carry emotion. Fine dining feels colder to me, less fulfilling. I prefer bistro-style food," he explained.

After participating in several restaurant operations, Lai realized that managing a large kitchen wasn't his goal. Instead, he longed for the freedom to cook without constraints, which led to the opening of Neighborhood in Central, Hong Kong, in 2014.

"I chose Central because it's a busy area. Our main customers are office workers in Central, and the higher consumption here means we can use better ingredients," he said.