Chinese Restaurants of Yesteryear
October 14th, 2009 by Rodney LeeTime to put on you memory caps as I'm looking to remember Chinese Restaurants of Yesteryear. I know it might be hard for you to refrain from listing other restaurants, but I'm looking for just Chinese restaurants - that no longer exist or have new names.
Starting off with a few famous ones, I remember Wo Fat:
I recall attending a function there - in the banquet room on the second floor.
Then there was Yong Sing on Alakea street. Remember the big Chinese "keyhole" doors in the front? Those doors are long gone as the building was renovated and the Mandalay Chinese Restaurant is now in it's place.
China House that was next to Ala Moana center. There was a ramp that led from the Sears parking lot to the building that housed China House. The ramp is no more.
Who remembers the "floating" restaurant that was built on a barge? Can you name it?
I'm sure there were a lot of the local neighborhood Chinese restaurants that have either closed up or is under a new name. I can name a couple in Kailua. There was Ching Lee chop suey that was located next to Andy's Drive In. Last I saw, it was now a Mui Kwai restaurant. And there was Lanikai chop suey, which later turned into Lee's Garden. I'm not sure what's there now. I wonder if Four Star chop suey is still around in Kailua.
I just Googled Four Star chop suey and it's still there - in the same location! Man! That place was there when I used to attend Japanese school! Talk about longevity. Princess chop suey across Pali Lanes is still there too. I used to go there back when I used to work at Windward Volkswagen.
Who can name the popular Chinese restaurant in town that was open super late and people used to go there after a night of drinking. Hint: The restaurant is no longer there, but the sign is still up.
In Liliha, Lin's Cantonese Food was replaced with Nice Day Chinese restaurant at the Liliha shopping plaza. Here's a link to a blog I did about Lin's Cantonese Food over a year ago. Also, there is another Mui Kwai chop suey in Liliha that used to have a different name. Maybe Melissa Chang or TwoFish remembers the name of that place.
What neighborhood Chinese restaurants do you remember that are no longer there or have a new name? How about some popular ones that used to be around town?
Tags: Ala Moana Center, Andy's Drive In, China House, Chinese food, Chinese Restaurants, Ching Lee Chop Suey, food, Four Star chop suey, Google, kailua, Lanikai Chop Suey, Lee's Garden, Lin's Cantonese Food, Madalay, McCully Chop Sui, Melissa Chang, midlife crisis blog, Mui Kwai chop sui, Oceana Floating Restaurant, Pali Lanes, Princess Chop Suey, Rodney Lee, Sears, TwoFish, Windward Volkswagen, Wo Fat, Yong Sing
October 14th, 2009 at 4:41 am
I've collected a few vintage postcards of old Chinese restaurants in Boston. I love the look of these old places. Exotic.
October 14th, 2009 at 5:12 am
I'm pretty sure the floating restaurant was Oceania. But was it a Chinese place? My dad says he took me to see Hui Ohana there when I was a kid. I don't remember any of it.
My favorite Chinese restaurants from sma' kid time were Golden Crown and Mui Kwai in Kane`ohe. Mui Kwai was (still is?) at the corner of Pahia Rd. and Kamehameha Hwy. Their ginger chicken was da bomb. Golden Crown had the best taro duck and cake noodles. Those in the know can still order the taro duck (not on the menu) at Pahke's, the restaurant now in Golden Crown's space. My Favorite Aunty brought it to a potluck when I was home - mmmmm, the taste of childhood.
October 14th, 2009 at 5:20 am
The only Chinese restaurants that I can remember is the one mentioned by KAN - Mui Kwai, next to the post office and the one on Kam Hwy, Kin Wah Chop Suey.
October 14th, 2009 at 5:23 am
Is Wo Fat still around? I know there's one in Vega. I always loved to eat there, especially their 9 course dinners. I would never past one up.
October 14th, 2009 at 5:33 am
Good Morning MLC!
Young's Chop Suey used to be near Ala Moana Ctr where that shuttle place is now. It was my friend's family's restaurant and the band used to rehearse on off days. His mom used to make us won ton in gravy yummm!
Hee Hing, before it became the fancy Hee Hing, was Kapahulu's Go-To place. It was on the corner where Harpo's came and went later. When I was little, we ordered Wor Gau Gee Mein for take out. We'd take a big soup pot that they'd fill up and it was easier to take home. I was the pot watcher in the car to make sure the pot stayed put.
Kinney's Chop Suey was on Kapahulu Ave near Ono's Hawaiian Food. If my daddy's info was correct, the owner opened a new restaurant in Kaimuki Town near the bowling alley. (this being ovr 30yrs ago)
October 14th, 2009 at 5:34 am
McCully Chop Suey on King/McCully was the happening place for musicians in the 70's. The Musician's Union was upstairs in the bldg so it was just easiest to go there. Gawd we spent a lot of time there!
October 14th, 2009 at 5:37 am
I remember Wo Fat and yeah... it was Oceania Floating Restaurant. I used to go dancing there all the time and also Dick Jensen performed on the boat. He sure could move.
Does anyone remember Ting Ting located in the heart of Chinatown? Used to be a real hole in the wall, but make the best food. I think they opened until 3 am.
There's also Liu Chop Suey (I think thats the name) at Kam Shopping Center, I dont know if the name remains the same but the original owners had ono kine grinds, too.
October 14th, 2009 at 5:39 am
Mun Chung Lau on Keawe St downtown Hilo.
I miss their #4. They were our lifesaver after those "late night" um get-togethers down the um
beach Pavilionsgathering places. Sometime don't remember how we got there but miss the place.Just don't turn your head if you THINK you saw something run along the wall that was bigger than a cat but isn't one.
October 14th, 2009 at 6:03 am
Ynaku: The first time I went to Hilo, my friends took us to a Chinese Rest and said the same thing. I remember them also saying "the restrooms are that-a-way, don't look into the kitchen when you pass it".
Ho, but the food was ono!
October 14th, 2009 at 6:05 am
sally, I think that was the place. Food good. Just don't think about it
October 14th, 2009 at 6:11 am
Rod another place in Hilo was Sun Sun Lau. I remember when they were a small restaurant near the Wailoa Pond behind Cafe100.
They later built a larger one up the street along the flood canal leading into the pond. We had our parent's 50th anniversary there. Lining the parking lot was a bunch of "5-Finger" or Star Fruit trees. You could buy cracked seed and other preserves.
After they shut down it took a long time before somebody did something with it. Now it's a building where our Elderly (MLCer) can go to request services. They consolidated a lot of different departments into that one building so our Kupunas won't have to drive all over town.
October 14th, 2009 at 6:26 am
We used to eat at Mings Palace on King Street, Kings Garden on Waialae and 10th and Coral Reef at Ala Moana. Then there was Manoa Chop Suey (one of the few places to eat in Manoa before the market place.
October 14th, 2009 at 6:36 am
che: Coral Reef! Whoa, what a flashback!
October 14th, 2009 at 6:43 am
Good Morning Rodney!
I remember going to Wo Fat, Oceania, Yong Sing and China House.
In Kaimuki on Waialae between 9th and 8th ave was Kwok's Chop Suey, now it's Hung Won Restaurant.
October 14th, 2009 at 6:52 am
Good calls...
KAN on Oceania Floating Restaurant and sally on McCully Chop Suey!!
October 14th, 2009 at 6:58 am
I remember going to Tin Tin Chop Suey in Chinatown. I don't know what's there now.
October 14th, 2009 at 7:01 am
Hung One what? nah nah nah, oh gosh, sorry I couldn't resist.
There used to be a Chinese restaurant on corner of Winam/Kapahulu for many many years. Once they closed that space just couldn't keep a business going. It's changing again, the Pho' place shut down. I think it's cursed.
October 14th, 2009 at 7:03 am
Hung Kung Restaurant in Kaimuki. I remember going there too.
October 14th, 2009 at 7:08 am
sally, I knew someone will make a comment on that one.
My parents knows the owners, so we go there a lot.
October 14th, 2009 at 7:35 am
"Who can name the popular Chinese restaurant in town that was open super late and people used to go there after a night of drinking."
McCully Chop Suey
@ KAN....the Golden Crown owners lived across the street from us in Kapunahala. The parents got older and the sons ran it for a while then no one wanted to continue it.
OL
October 14th, 2009 at 7:35 am
Sorry M, hope I didn't offend. Then again, someone else would have.
Ono for Chinese food now, oh me of little resistance.
My friends are making Chinese roast pork and we're potlucking the buns and plum sauce and gau gee to take to karaoke on Fri.
Wash it down with some Jack... it'll be a great night!
October 14th, 2009 at 7:40 am
Rod,
@ "M" got the answer b4 me, "tin-tin" was the one open late and all the football plays were transacted there.
@ "Kan" got the name for the floating resturant "Oceania". I went to see Dick Jensen there.
@ "Ynaku", the owner of "Mun Chun Lau" was my ex's brother in law, he made really great smoked meat, though it was not on the menu. He is now a craps dealer in a major casino in Vegas.
But Rod 4got this one (on purpose?), "Lau Yee Chai", used to be on the corner of Kalakaua and Pau St. at the begining of Waikiki, you went in through the key door and over a bridge that had a pond with carp. And then the "original" Princess Chop Suey was a pink building in Kailua where McDonalds is now.
There was also a good chinese resturant in Kaimuki on the bottom right hand corner of Kaimuki Bowl.
October 14th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Morning all you old farts
One of our favorites was "Waialae Chop Suey" corner of Waialae and 8th. Simple food but very good and very reasonably priced....... I miss dat place
NKHEA.... jus had Chinese for dinna
October 14th, 2009 at 7:52 am
I remember Wo Fat, Yong Sing, Young's Chop Sui and McCully Chop Suey of course, but couldn't tell you the names of any of the ones near where I lived. Seems like there has always been a few Chinese restaurants on Liliha Street between Kuakini and Vineyard, but the names and owners are for sure not the same as when I was in high school.
Check out this site if the link doesn't self destruct (if it blows up, I'll post it on my own blog or something)
Harriet "Rusty" Thomas Menu Collection
She was a food editor at the ermmm.... other paper in the 50s and 60s. Some of the links are in some weird characters, but click on the Browse By Location link to see scanned old menus from the places we are talking about and many more from a long time ago. Lots from Hawaii but from other places, too.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Sally, don't worry about it, we make fun of the name too.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:14 am
I'm getting hungry now for pake food.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Ah yes, Sun Sun Lau. Ynaku, you actually remember it was behind Cafe 100? I think most people don't know that.
Wo Fat. Good restaurant, crummy, crummy part of town. We would pass all the bums and drunks lying in the parking lots trying to get there.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:28 am
How about FAT SIU LAU which is now the location of LEGENDS. Real HK style Dim sum back in the 70's. Prior to that the closest was Yong SING to get Dim sum.
King Hwa Lau which is now currently EMPRESS.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:32 am
How about the original MINI GARDEN not the one right now which is not that great. The original owners made the best Won Ton Mein. There is nothing even close to that now here in Hawaii.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Growing up in da country limited my experiences in town. I remember most of these names, but do not remember if I ate there or not.
Chinese Restaurants were my family's favorite. You could feed the masses for a reasonable price.
We had Olive Chop Suey in Wahiawa. They had this little gift shop in the front with all kine Asian knicknacks. Used to always walk through there after we ate. The painted egg shells captured my attention.
Pearl City's, House of Pearl(?) is another we used to frequent. It was under Holiday Mart...I mean Daie, oh wait.. Don Quijote. Then there was also the House of Dragon(?) in Pearlridge where Radio Shack has(had) an outside door.
It's been so long since I been to these places, I feel like I am making up the names...maybe I am...brain farts.
@NKHEA - I agree, Waialae Chop Suey was ono. I used to love their oyster sauce chicken with cake noodle.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:11 am
I no remember the names of the Chinese restaurants on Oahu. I gotta ask my pake sister for that info.
On Maui had Golden Jade in Wailuku -- I can't remember when it shut down, but all that's there now is a vacant lot.
I recall going to many parties there. Was a kinda old and run down place when I was growing up, but the food was really good. I know C0hiba remembers this place.
There was Ming Yuen in Kahului. I think it shut down in the late 80s. Since it was a newer place, it was a little more "uppity" than Golden Jade. They had good food too. I'm not sure what business is in that building now. I know it was a flooring place for a while.
I recall a Wing Sing chop suey, but for the life of me I can't remember where it was. Someplace on Lower Main Street in Wailuku, I think.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Ynaku & theDman - you guys remember this place.......i think da name was Tou Inn or sumptin lidat......on Keawe St. across from the then Food Fair? my dad used to like that place and we ate there often when we made da trek to da "city". ho.... i remember one time i got really sick after eating there. i thought i was going die! first time i had da kine puking sickness. ugh
Mung Cheung Lau was da winnahs! maybe cause when we ate there we was all buss and hungry.
i only remembah Sun Sun Lau in their new fancy shmancy building on Kinoole St........cause i not dat old! haha!
and had da big seed shop inside.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:09 am
When I turned 1 (52 years ago!) my parents had my birthday party at Wo Fat. The outside looks the same but I haven't been back in years. Coral Reef and Young's brings back fond memories as we used to go quite often while working at Ala Moana Center.
Anybody know where I can find lobster curry with fried haupia? I was so bummed when Golden Dragon closed at Hilton Hawaiian Village.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:23 am
kay-den, what was the name of the place on across from the Ilikai on the same side of Ala Moana.. the Chart House faced the harbor, and this place was toward the street side on the corner..
talking late 60's early 70's.. when they closed the place, the cooks through rice down the drains and jinxed the place for years to come.. plenny plenny restaurants have come and gone since..
any MLCers remembah da name? fancy upscale Chinese..
October 14th, 2009 at 11:28 am
most of you won't have frequented this place unless you worked at Hilton, but the HHV had a great Chinese restaurant..
Since Dad's office was in the Lagoon Apts., our family would celebrate special occasions with 7-course dinners there..
everybody will know dat one..
October 14th, 2009 at 11:28 am
what was the fancy place on Lewers in the old days. all red and black lacquer..hmmm..
October 14th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Hilo peeps. Had one Chinese restaurant in Kaikoo Mall. Next to Kinneys Shoes. I no can remembah the name.
@uncke jimmy. You talking about Dynasty Restaurant? I think it was where the Holiday Inn is now and later moved to Discovery Bay.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
In Moderation....WTH?
October 14th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
In Kaimuki there was Tin Heong on Koko Head Ave, Fong Fong at 10th/Waialae (now Mobi) and kitty corner was King's Garden (now CPB).
Liberty Chop Suey on King near Kaheka. Red Rooster...forget where it was.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
visitor, Red Rooster was on the corner of Young and Piikoi.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Tin Tin Chop Suey was great for late nite grub if you didn't mind dodging the shady characters that hung around that area.
My family used to go to Four Seasons a lot. It was on the corner of Nuuanu and Pauahi. Also remember a restaurant at Maunakea and King. It was on the makai side of King but I don't remember the name.
Anyone remember Golden Duck? Not the one across from Makiki Zippys. This one was on McCully about half a block makai of McCully Chop Suey.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
@Coconut Willy - Sorry, I was out picking up lunch. Using the word "sh0es" puts posts in moderation.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
@M - That's right. Isn't there a Mexican restaurant there now? Or did that close too?
October 14th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
@opso yeah, I remember the place you talking about, we used to call it the Tomaine Inn as a nickname, but there were other nicknames too.
Now, there was another bar-later-turned restaurant on Keawe St, right in that area that was a scary looking joint. It was not Chinese, but I recall it used to get a lot of police attention because it attracted a lot of "undesirable" people. In short, it was a hang-out for the local syndicate types....Mamo Diner? Keawe Diner? It was next to the Garden Supply store, which is still there, but the diner is boarded up.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
@Coconut Willy,
Yeah, that place in Kaiko'o! I ate there several times. It was outfitted in that Chinese red and gold. What the heck was its name? Didn't they own another place in town too? Ahh, that's gonna bug me now.
I'll bet many people don't remember that Kaiko'o also had a bar. At one point, I believe it became Hilo's first Korean Hostess bar, and created quite a stir. The Green Door was its name, and I don't think I want to dwell on the name here in this blog.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
CW - Kaikoo Mall.......i remember Kow's.....i think. but it was on the mauka side.....next to Green Door bar.
wasn't it Smitty's Deli next to Kinney's? wait.....maybe Smitty's WAS Chinese too! dang..... i forget
sally - Winam/Kapahulu corner........was it New World Chinese Restaurant? or was it something before that?
i used to eat at New World all da time! was one of my fave! i lived a coupla blocks from there in the 90's on Ekela St. our lunch gang at work always used to pick-up from there too........even tho was kinda far.
was sooo good! and the staff and "Slow Eddie" was always so cheerful......not da grumpy kine "eh.....wahchu-lie-owdah!"
October 14th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
theDman - hah! too funny! how come we remember Green Door so well......but not sure on da restaurants?!
October 14th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
@opso, heh heh, I guess everyone remembers a "catchy name".
...that..and the dolled-up Korean hostesses walking into the place in the afternoon...the ones wearing the micro-mini skirts!
One could just fantasize about what went on behind the Gree......oops!
.
October 14th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
CW. That was Smithys (sp?) or something like that. Too bad the mall shut down and JC Penneys is no more
October 14th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
opso, My dad used to take us to Tou Inn for special dinners. He used to order the Pork Tofu or "Tomato Beef"
Remember Drop Inn on Ponahawai? Another Dark eatery.
And what's wrong with Green Door? They made good sandwiches. We used to order the "French Dip"
October 14th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Had Cheungs outside Kaikoo Mall too. Now they have a small place on Lanikaula and Kilauea selling "Filipino Food"
October 14th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
But you ended up having the "French Drip".
October 14th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
My parents were the owners of Jack's Chop Suey located behind Diner's near Farrington High School. Man, those were the good 'ole days indeed. All 7 of my brother's helped at the restaurant.
Nothing beats working and learning from your parents. Dad only had a high school education and Mom was from Hong Kong. But they managed to run a business and could make a living working for themselves.
I remember cleaning up after the Friday night parties. Wrestling Hawaii would come on the small t.v. we had in the dining room. It was a toss-up between watching Chief Billy Whitewolf and hurrying to finish bussing tables so we could go home.
October 14th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
@ Largo, “French Drip”? You are bad. Did Paula sneak some rum in your coke last night?
@ BananaFysh, yep, I remember eating at Golden Jade. Proposed to C0shiba there. I had an option to buy a house from ML&P. Needed two incomes to qualify, had to hurry. So I asked her to lunch, my choice was the fancy restaurant in Iao Valley. She wanted Chinese. After I proposed, she looked at the food and said “wait, this is the big moment… here?”.
Once, I remember arguing with the waitress that there was a bug in the food. Showed her the legs and she kept insisting that it was mushrooms.
In Chinatown there was a Wong & Wong’s. Think it was on Mauna Kea street, close to King Street (Mauka side). Minute chicken with cake noodles was the best. One of the chefs works at Asia Manoa now. Still as ono as Wong & Wong’s, minus the B-52’s running on the floor.
Alii drive had a Ocean View Inn. Good Chinese food. Huge menu, beside Chinese, had Hawaiian, and other local food. Also, great bar to drink at. Plenty B-52’s there also.
Growing up in Kapahulu, Hee Hing take out was the occasional treat.
@Sally, the one on the corner of Winam, was the Poi store side or the Date street side?
October 14th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Rodney:
From yesterday's hearing test, I took it at home- can't hear anything above 10khz (or below 30hz from this test):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G60hM1W_mk
October 14th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
the Dman:
Marilyn Chambers = Behind the green door (1972) ...remember that movie well as a teenager
October 14th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
The Chinese restaurants I remember have been mentioned.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
@opso: you used to live in SunHala? I lived there in the early 80's. I think New World was afterwards. Parking sucked (still does) but I go thru that intersection every day and that place always changes.
@ C0hiba: Waikiki/Ewa corner of Kapahulu. Poi shop was (still there!) across on the Shell Station side. Kinneys was next to Ono's.
I swear you'll never starve if you live in Kapahulu!
October 14th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Wow Rodney, this is one blast from the past. I remember several of the Chinese restaurants named here.
I remember Wo Fat. I think that building looks cool.
I also remember Yong Sing. Weren't they also located at the Kaheka St. Holiday Mart location, between the store entrance and the auto repair shop?
I remember both Legend Seafood Restaurant and the previous restaurant, Fat Siu Lau, located in the Chinese Cultural Plaza. My friends mother worked there.
I also remember King Hwa Lou and Empress, both located in the Chinese Cultural Plaza (2nd floor). There's an old picture floating around of my parents, along with numerous aunts and uncles standing outside King Hwa Lou. Memories of a good time.
Nightmarish memories of bad fashion. 
I can remember going to Empress for a friend's high school graduation party.
I remember Tin Tin in Chinatown. Besides the late night hours and good food, what was memorable for me was the drinking cups. Didn't they serve water in cone shaped paper cups, like they use for shave ice?
There was also a restaurant called Ting Yin, over in Chinatown on King St.
The intermediate school I attended had lunch on the Oceania Floating Restaurant one day. I don't recall the reason, probably some "fancy" school get-together type event.
There was Kai Lan, located on Liliha St. between Vineyard Blvd and School St.
There was Lin's Canton Foods in Liliha Square.
Sheesh, after all this, I'm hungry.
October 15th, 2009 at 6:04 am
So ... is the Mui Kwai's in Kane'ohe still there? It would be worth the cost of the airline ticket just to enjoy their Ginger Chicken one more time. Started eating there in 1972 and I'd bet I ate there twice a month for the next 20 years.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:41 am
@gecko - I remember Golden Duck across the street from McCully Chop Suey.
Right not I'm trying to remember two fairly big restaurants that used to be in Kaimuki. Maybe M will remember. One was on the corner of 10th and Waialae. There's a CPB building there now. Another was further up the hill in the big parking lot somewhere around Harding and 12th Ave(?) My mind is going... MLC syndrome!!!
October 15th, 2009 at 9:05 am
JindoMaster808, I think the restaurant on 10th ave was King's Garden. I remember the 12th ave one as well but the name escapes me. Does Hon Kung sound familiar?
October 15th, 2009 at 9:20 am
That one in the Municipal Parking Lot always looked so fancy to me, maybe that's why we never went there. LOL I remember the entrance was so beautifully ethnic.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:23 am
When my daughter was little we used to go to Market City Chinese Rest. where Torito's is now. It's not an MLC place but it holds good memories, the owner just loved my daughter and always gave her gau gee to take home. We loved going there, the food was so ono.
October 15th, 2009 at 10:08 am
@che - That's the one - King's Garden. Thanks!
@sally - Yeah that restaurant was humongous!
October 15th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Eh scary - I remembered King's Garden on an MLC post last year. Remember this (post #46): http://midlifecrisis.honadvblogs.com/2008/09/10/same-smell/
And I didn't remember it this year? The mind is REALLY going....!!
October 15th, 2009 at 11:36 am
I am not sure but I think the fancy looking Chinese restaurant near the Kaimuki Municipal Parking Lot was called "Hong Kung".
I also remember a Chinese restaurant on the corner of Waikamilo Road and North School Street that had very good food. The building is still there but the restaurant has closed down. I cannot seem to remember the name of that establishment.
October 15th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
I'm from Kalihi so the two best were Gulick and Mee Wah. Gulick is still there but definitely not the same cooks. Mee Wah was on the corner of Houghtailing and School Street with the flashing crab sign. The entrance was on School Street but for us regulars, we walked right in the back door through the kitchen. Those cooks were the best and even smoked a cigarette while they were cooking. Back in the late 70's and early 80's, Aiea Chop Suey, made great especially the Kau Yuk. Can't forget the original Golden Duck whose beef oyster sauce was the bomb!
October 15th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Yes, Hong Kung was the one the Kaimuki municipal parking lot.
@Steve, I was going to mention the one on Waiakamilo - actually, I think it's Houghtailing - and School Street, but I wasn't really sure if that was a Chinese restaurant or not. It's on the only corner that's NOT a gas station. LOL. Right next to Kamehameha bakery.
It's been empty for years and years. It sorta reminds me of McCully Chop Sui for some reason - that's why I thought it was a Chinese restaurant. And it looks like there is a large upstairs room for banquets and big parties.
If buildings could talk, I'm sure it would have some great stories to tell.
October 15th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
JindoMaster808, visitor got Kings Garden in #39 and I got Hung Kung in #18...
October 15th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Last I remember, Mui Kwai was still in Kaneohe. That was the original one. Then they branched out to Kailua and took over Ching Lee chop suey and named it New Mui Kwai.
And the one on Liliha street is also New Mui Kwai.
I just googled it and it appears all of them - even the Kaneohe restaurant are named New Mui Kwai chop suey.
October 15th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
@Elapo - Welcome and thanks for posting! After I approved your post (since you're a first time poster), I read it going "Yeah! That's the place I remember. Mee Wah - I would've never, ever remembered that name. And the flashing crab - wow! Bringing back some memories now! Thanks for posting!
October 15th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Rod,
did anyone mention lau yee chai. i think it was by the ilikai. campbell chop suey on castle street in kapahulu across rainbow drive in.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
the old wah kung by gibsons in mapunapuna. the new one is by ranch 99. does anyone remember the name of the chinese restaurant at the corner of mccully and young before ON ON.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Sorry I'm late! Yes, the restaurant on Liliha near Holokohana Ln is now New Mui Kwai, but used to be Kai Lan, which sounds like gai lan (the chinese broc/kale). Mee Wah! Thanks Elapo. We used to park in the back parking lot (one way, enter from Houghtailing - doesn't Waiakamilo start at King St, even though they're pretty much the same road?) and enter through the back too. One time, we walked around to the front, and I thought wow, there is a front entrance!
Used to go to banquet parties, casual kine, upstairs. Had a couple fires, yeah? Too much grease?
Raymond and his brother owned it. They had the best chow funn, which my Dad liked, and I used to always ask to go there to eat dinner when Mom would ask me what I wanted to eat - and I'd go and order Sam See Mein. Then the waitress would come talk story with us, and Raymond would come too.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
@fishhead: Used to have King Tsin before On On. They later moved more Diamond Head on Beretania Street but gone now. I remember a dessert they had: a deep fried banana fritter thingy that had a thin hard-crack glaze. It got that way after they dipped it in iced water. I always had to have that dessert. I wish I knew what it was and if anyone else makes it.
October 15th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
i remember wo fat... i always thought it was kind of a weird location for a restaurant. i think we only went there once or twice for wedding receptions when i was little... after that, that area of chinatown was a little too scuzzy to have parties there. yong sing... i miss that place! i hardly go to mandalay... maybe seems a little too fancy. yong sing used to be packed all the time and i remember catching the bus to take my nephew downtown to meet my brother-in-law for lunch there! great memories...
china house, though newer, had the best dim sum (until legends!)... went to many a wedding reception there!
DVS - fat siu lau!! i remember my best friend's family - from hong kong - used to go there all the time and they'd say the name with the heaviest of cantonese accents! i can still hear it now...
good food... but legends is my favorite now for dim sum!
gecko - my family used to golden duck, while it was by mccully chop suey, after bowling back in the mid-70's, i think. i still can't get used to the "new" (but now old!) location!
elapo - i guess we used to drive by mee wah all the time but i think we only ate there once! we used to go to tasty chop suey back then, even though mee wah is closer. i think tasty was my aunt's favorite restaurant!
October 16th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Remember some of the restaurants; my memory of McCully was that we sometimes ordered a late-night takeout snack of crispy wun tun with sweet-sour sauce.
@Kage: don't know if I ever went to Waialae; but your mention of oyster sauce chicken with cake noodles reminded me that our office would sometimes order that takeout from Jack's in Kalihi. Included broccoli.
@Warrior Dave. Don't know where you can get lobster curry with fried haupia, but my memory of that was at a wedding reception at the Coral Ballroom 25 or 30 years ago. The fried haupia circled the curry; and my friend and I (not having seen it before) guessed maybe potato. We tried one piece each; then tried to convince everyone else that they didn't want it; didn't work; everybody enjoyed it. More recently, was at a buffet at Willow's. There was some curry and a stack of fried haupia. I was not shy and had my fill of fried haupia.
October 16th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Does take-out count? Patty's Chinese Restaurant in Ala Moana. I fell in love with their lemon chicken squares when I was a kid. Then I realized later, it wasn't all that.
Up at Kamehameha Shopping Center, Silver Dragon.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:08 am
Sorry getting in on this one late...
@Ynaku - Mun Chung Lau was my dad's favorite place. We used to go there all the time especially when we were going to be in town late! The food was so good especially the noodle soup bowls. Sun Sun Lau was owned by my cousin's wife's family. I remember going there for their wedding reception which basically was the whole restaurant. They even had fireworks out back behind the restaurant to celebrate their wedding. I remember the store with all the Chinese seeds and other items. Now, what was the place at Kaiko'o Mall? I loved eating there. My dad liked the rice cakes. It had all kinds of food to choose from. Yummy!
October 18th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Memories. Oceania was the place had incredible food there more than once and also went to a wedding reception there ... ten courses, two bottles both black one Jack and one Johnnie ... Spent lotta Saturday mornings shopping in Chinatown/Oahu Market with a stop at think it was Ting Yin (between BOH and Oahu Market). Folks from Hilo would stop in for boxes of Manapua. (But, in those days -- early 70s -- we used to get pies from I think Hilo.)
Anybody remember a place called Inn of 6th Happiness in Kalihi. Arranged a good bye party for one of my bosses at Wo Fat. Fun times.
October 18th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
@TwoFish - Patti's counts.
Silver Dragon - good one. Been there quite a few times.
@maxcat - I remember the name Inn of 6th Happiness. Don't remember where it was.
October 19th, 2009 at 10:21 am
@Rodney: If my memory's OK, the Inn of the 6th Happiness is/was on Kohou St., along the canal and close to Kanraku Tea House.