An acclaimed Chinese restaurant in the South Main area of Fort Worth is closing its doors: Cannon Chinese Kitchen, which boasted some of the best authentic Chinese food in Fort Worth, will be closing on August 7.

Owners Jarry, Mary, and Casey Ho posted the news on Facebook, attributing the closure to problems with staffing. It seemed to be a fairly last-minute decision; they were still promoting specials and cocktails the day before.

"It is with great sadness that we announce the closing of Cannon Chinese Kitchen," their post said. "For all we have overcome the past year and a half, nothing succumbs to what the hospitality/service industry is currently facing with the shortage of staff."

Cannon opened in a restored 1930s home as a hip offshoot-of-sort of their two other restaurants, Tokyo Cafe and Shinjuku Station, both Japanese. Cannon took a novel approach to Chinese food, featuring traditional Chinese dishes executed with an emphasis on the freshest ingredients prepared from scratch.

"When we decided 304 West Cannon would be the location of our newest restaurant, we wanted to introduce Fort Worth to a more traditional Chinese dining experience, sharing some of our favorite childhood family recipes," the couple said. "Fast forward 6 years later with a handful of employees who have been with us since the beginning, we leave behind a little yellow house that held fond memories for so many. We hope your meals at Cannon were like meals at your grandmother’s dinner table, sharing stories, laughter, and delicious food. We are forever grateful to you to let us be a part of your special occasions and memories."

It wasn't uncommon for them to rotate in new dishes such as baby bok choy in "XO" sauce, sweet steamed buns filled with Niman Ranch pork, sauteed mushrooms wrapped in soy paper in a rich truffle broth, and a citrusy chicken salad spiked with pea tendrils and persimmon and topped with crispy noodles.

In 2016, they earned a nomination as one of the eight best restaurants in Fort Worth at CultureMap's annual Tastemaker Awards, followed by a nomination in 2017 for Best Chef. They also earned an honorable mention in 2016 from Texas Monthly.

They asked customers to continue to support the South Main Village, calling it "a sight to see with all the development and great local businesses that have opened over the years to keep our Fort Worth shining."