Kevin and Hong Juan Lee are not quite sure what they will do to keep themselves busy now.

For the past 29 years, the couple have worked nearly seven days a week in the kitchen of their Dunedin restaurant, the Asian.

Last night, when the final customers finished their meals and paid their bills, the red "open" sign outside was switched off for last time.

As on most nights, the Asian restaurant's kitchen is a hive of activity before diners arrive for their meals. Its final night of business was no different. Photos: Craig Baxter

"We've been serving some of the customers for three generations and it makes me quite sad to miss them ... From my heart I thank them all," Mr Lee said.

On Friday, they will hand over the keys to their building they have worked and lived in since moving to New Zealand from southern China.

"When we moved here 29 years ago, our second son was only a couple of months old and this has been our life.

"Our children have grown up in here."

Not much had changed since they first opened - crispy chicken and cashew nut pork dishes were still two of the most popular orders.

Ann Mee, a regular for the past 25 years, and the Asian's owner, Hong Juan Lee, share an emotional moment before Mrs Mee's final meal at the restaurant last night.

Since announcing at the start of the year they would be selling the restaurant, it had been full most nights and it had been impossible to make a booking in the past two weeks, he said.

In December, the couple will move to Christchurch but are not quite sure what they will do in their retirement.

Last night, more than 200 people sat and ate a final meal and many more made sure to order a last takeaway.

The closure had not quite sunk in for regulars Ann and Graeme Mee, of Wingatui, who have dined at the restaurant about twice a week for the past 25 years.

Enjoying a last meal at the Asian after years of patronage are Bill Menlove (left) and Bernard Esquilant.

There were tears as Mrs Lee briefly sat with the couple, in between .

"They always make sure there is a table for us no matter how busy it is when we ring up. They're just really wonderful people," Mrs Mee said.

The building has been bought by commercial property management company NZ Moray Property Ltd.

The company was still undecided as to what it would do with the building.