# Are some chinese restaurant names jokes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 27, 2005, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618 "2005-09-27T03:22:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/41 "2005-09-27T18:19:13Z")
“Pho” is pronounced closer to the English word “fur” than “fo.” I suppose one should adjust puns accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![pope\_hentai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@pope\_hentai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pope_hentai)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/42 "2005-09-27T18:38:52Z")
In the atlanta/marietta area is the ill mee korean restaurant ---
**Author:** ![einhander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@einhander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/einhander)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/43 "2005-09-27T19:02:00Z")
To answer some of these questions, here’s a list of what some of these words mean: Wang - Pronounced “wong” it is a common last name that means “king/emperor” Fa or Far - Probably mean being endowed with good luck, or to succeed, grow Dong - East King - This is the Cantonese version of Jing, which means gold. Hung - Not sure about this, I think it’s a common name. Long or Lung - Probably mean dragon, possibly hollow but I doubt that’d be used that way, dragons are lucky. Lo - Probably means the kind of building or inn you drink wine in (literally “floor”) Foo or Fu - Fujing and Fujian are areas in China Hai, Ho, Hu or He - Probably part of a group of words meaning sea, river or lake, Hunan and Henan or names for areas in China (nan = south). For example, Shanghai means literally “upper sea.” As chinese american, I find them absolutely hilarious given the owners have no idea how bad these sound. In their culture, names are chosen for luck and feng shui purposes. They sound stupid in english, but their translations aren’t far off. There really are things named Super happy luck dish of the seven seas, or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![einhander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@einhander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/einhander)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/44 "2005-09-27T19:18:43Z")
> [@einhander](#): > > To answer some of these questions, here’s a list of what some of these words mean: > > Wang - Pronounced “wong” it is a common last name that means “king/emperor” > Fa or Far - Probably mean being endowed with good luck, or to succeed, grow > Dong - East > King - This is the Cantonese version of Jing, which means gold. > Hung - Not sure about this, I think it’s a common name. > Long or Lung - Probably mean dragon, possibly hollow but I doubt that’d be used that way, dragons are lucky. > Lo - Probably means the kind of building or inn you drink wine in (literally “floor”) > Foo or Fu - Fujing and Fujian are areas in China > Hai, Ho, Hu or He - Probably part of a group of words meaning sea, river or lake, Hunan and Henan or names for areas in China (nan = south). For example, Shanghai means literally “upper sea.” > > As chinese american, I find them absolutely hilarious given the owners have no idea how bad these sound. In their culture, names are chosen for luck and feng shui purposes. They sound stupid in english, but their translations aren’t far off. There really are things named Super happy luck dish of the seven seas, or whatever. Oh few corrections, Fu also means luck Fun or Fen or Feng - Probably means phoenix, but on menus probably means thick noodles As a rule of thumb, if you see an x in the name, owner is from mainland china z as a starting consonant (zen or Zhang) means from mainland china Beijing is china, Peking probably not The funnier sounding the name, the more likely it’s cantonese. Therefore, if you see a place that says Wang Feng’s Taiwanese food, it’s probably not authentic. If you see a place called Wong Fun Har Dong Poo or whatever, it’s cantonese, and probably means good greasy food. Stay away from anyplace Peking cept if it’s on the menu. Only Americanized chinese use peking, so if they aren’t fobs the food is probably so-so. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/45 "2005-09-27T19:43:46Z")
There are a number of Kosher Chinese and Japanese restaurants with the word “Mit Su Yun” in their names. (Metzuyan means “excellent” in Hebrew) ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/46 "2005-09-27T20:06:05Z")
In a related vein, there’s a chain/series of Chinese restaurants and BBQ eateries in southern California (and Nevada?) prefaced with the name **Sam Woo** (“Sam Woo Seafood Restaurant,” etc.). My understanding is that “Sam Woo” is a Cantonese expression meaning “three sages” or somesuch, but the non-Chinese speakers out there think they’re named after a guy named Sam. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/47 "2005-09-27T20:07:58Z")
On Boyleston Street in Boston they have the **Wok Inn**. Can’t tell me that’s not a joke. A really good bilingual pun, though, is a Japanese restaurant in Arlington, Mass. It’s the **Ichi-Bun**. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/48 "2005-09-27T20:19:45Z")
> [@einhander](#): > > Therefore, if you see a place that says Wang Feng’s Taiwanese food, it’s probably not authentic. If you see a place called Wong Fun Har Dong Poo or whatever, it’s cantonese, and probably means good greasy food. Stay away from anyplace Peking cept if it’s on the menu. Only Americanized chinese use peking, so if they aren’t fobs the food is probably so-so. Great info, thanks **einhander**. I used to frequent a chinese place called Toa Yuen (or Tua Yuen, i don’t recall). What’s that mean? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/49 "2005-09-27T20:27:04Z")
> [@Peter Morris](#): > > There are any number called \*\* Lee Ho Fook \*\* or similar. I was looking for that place, to get a big dish of beef chow mein. ---
**Author:** ![einhander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@einhander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/einhander)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/50 "2005-09-27T22:42:50Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > Great info, thanks **einhander**. I used to frequent a chinese place called Toa Yuen (or Tua Yuen, i don’t recall). What’s that mean? Hmm, toa/tua does mean anything that I can recall, not sure if it’s even a chinese word. Taiwanese or cantonese maybe. Yuen = yuan, which means garden. Now if it was Hua Yuan, that would be flower garden. My guess, since you frequent it alot, is that it’s Taiwanese, because chinese would have spelled it Yuan. Only one way to tell… how are the pork buns? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/51 "2005-09-27T22:56:00Z")
Originally Posted by SaintCad There is a Thai place near where I used to live called Poo Ping Palace. Needless to say I never ate there. > [@The King of Soup](#): > > Was that, maybe, in Glendale, CA? There’s one there, but I thought it was a Chinese, not necessarily a Thai, establishment. Then again, I usually don’t eat where Thai is required. Close. Sunland-Tujunga ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/52 "2005-09-27T23:06:33Z")
> [@Valgard](#): > > If that’s the one down on Shattuck by Le Note, there used to be a massage parlor in the same building and the theatre on the opposite corner showed XXX movies a few decades ago, IIRC. It wasn’t a “dirty neighborhood” or anything but I sure noticed it as a teenager. Apropos of nothing, I know a guy that got offered a “happy ending” at that particular massage parlor. ---
**Author:** ![einhander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@einhander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/einhander)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/53 "2005-09-27T23:41:15Z")
> [@Ghanima](#): > > Apropos of nothing, I know a guy that got offered a “happy ending” at that particular massage parlor. that is actually why it got shut down. i believe it was called gypsy or golden massage. ---
**Author:** ![festiva76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e8cbc/32.png) [@festiva76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/festiva76)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/54 "2005-09-28T00:13:10Z")
The funniest here in Augusta, IMHO, is called House of Cheung King of Wing. Closer to home, the one we frequent is simply called China Restaurant. Now that’s original:) ---
**Author:** ![drmark2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@drmark2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drmark2000)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/55 "2005-09-28T01:35:23Z")
There is a supermarket-sized, genuine Asian grocery in West Hartford, CT called “A Dong.” Congealed pig’s blood cut into neat rectangular blocks? You got it! Pig intenstines? No problem! Severed duck and chicken feet? Every damned day! Dongs? Well, maybe they keep those in back. As to the OP, my guess is that sometimes there may be deliberate intent in naming these resaurants, but most of the time probably not. Persuse just about any Asian restaurant menu and marvel at the “Engrish.” “Chicken very good cooked crispy and with a brown spicy,” and stuff like that. It’s a tremendous challenge to learn and translate Western languages in to Eastern, and vice-versa. I think that most of the time, errors in both directions are inadvertant. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/56 "2005-09-28T02:51:10Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > There is a supermarket-sized, genuine Asian grocery in West Hartford, CT called “A Dong.” The A-Dong (hyphenated) Market used to be located in a questionable part of Des Moines. The joke was that every now and then some joker would come by and paint out the _n_. ---
**Author:** ![Vintage\_1957](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f04885/32.png) [@Vintage\_1957](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vintage_1957)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/57 "2005-09-28T05:31:09Z")
I don’t recall the name of the Vietnamese restaurant I drove past in Atlanta some 20 years ago; but I certainly remember the proud proprietor: **Auh Phuc**. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618/58 "2005-09-28T08:06:49Z")
> [@Myglaren](#): > > Not a Chinese resteraunt but a knitwear factory near where I used to work, > **Tin Lung** There’s a Chinese restaurant called “Tin Lung” on Kingsway in Vancouver. It’s only a couple blocks away from the former site of [Pho Bich Nga.](http://www.arthurhungry.com/archives/2004/01/pho_bich_nga.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-chinese-restaurant-names-jokes/323618.md?page=2)