# Chinese restaurant names outside of the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 29, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693 "2003-07-29T16:54:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/1 "2003-07-29T16:54:05Z")
In the United States, most Chinese restaurants have names that follow a certain formulam with two seemingly random words chosen from a pool of about 25 or so. While there are a few Chinese Chinese restaurant names – you know, “Fuk Mi”, “Wang Hung Lo”, “Suk Mi Dik” and so on – most follow the formula. The country is filled with places like “Lucky Panda”, “Happy Panda”, “China Taste”, “Happy Taste”, “Lucky Dragon”, “Panda Dragon”, “China Star”, and so on. It’s hard to remember Chinese restaurant names, because they’re all so similar. What are Chinese restaurant names like in other countries? Are they truly Chinese names, or do they follow the “pick a couple of random words from a standard list in the local language” formula? ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/2 "2003-07-29T17:01:44Z")
I’m pretty sure I dined at a Chinese restaurant in London (UK) called “Jade Garden”; I will try to verify. And on the other side of the spectrum… There is an excellent Chinese restaurant in San Jose CA called… “Chinese Food Restaurant”. The clientele is 99% Asian, so I suspect it has a nicer Mandarin name. If any dopers live there, it’s just south of I-280 on Saratoga Ave. on the west side of the street. ---
**Author:** ![No\_Me\_Ayudes\_Compadre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/no_me_ayudes_compadre/32/5224_2.png) [@No\_Me\_Ayudes\_Compadre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Me_Ayudes_Compadre)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/3 "2003-07-29T17:09:21Z")
In Mexico some Chinese restaurants have localized names like “Mandarin Palace” or “China Fountain” but most have Chinese-sounding names like Wan Chon. As an aside - there’s a very common style of Chinese restaurant here that I’ve never seen in the U.S., where one side of the menu is Chinese food and the other side of the menu is indistinguishable from any other Mexican coffee shop, with huevos rancheros, molletes, etc., and with a variety of “Chinese breads” in the front window. Not that you asked this either, but Chinese restaurants here are usually staffed by Mexicans, except the cashier/manager who tend to be Chinese. ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vampire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Space\_Vampire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vampire)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/4 "2003-07-29T17:10:47Z")
Chinese restaurant names are pretty generic in general, including in Chinese. I won’t say they’re ALL the same, but you tend to see similar names again and again. And when you try to “translate” them to English they sound even more generic and awkward. Do the restaurants have Chinese names or not? Don’t know about this “Panda” crap, though, that is probably a generic Chinese restaurant name of US origin. What is this “spectrum” of which you speak, BB? “Jade Garden” is juuuust about as typical as it gets. ---
**Author:** ![NoGoodNamesLeft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@NoGoodNamesLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoGoodNamesLeft)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/5 "2003-07-29T17:11:09Z")
I ususally get mine from “Mark’s”. Best Chinese in town. Well, that and the Mandarin or Empress of China (Both buffets). ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vampire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Space\_Vampire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vampire)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/6 "2003-07-29T17:16:12Z")
By the way, while we’re on the subject, anyone have any theories on why American Chinese food is generally so weak? The conventional wisdom is that it’s altered to suit American tastes, but it just ain’t so. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/7 "2003-07-29T17:18:48Z")
Some New Orleans-area Chinese restaurants are a little more creative. Among the better Chinese fare in and around N.O. are Trey Yuen, Mr. Tai’s, Cathay Inn, and Five Happiness. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/8 "2003-07-29T17:21:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El Mariachi Loco \* > \*\* > As an aside - there’s a very common style of Chinese restaurant here that I’ve never seen in the U.S., where one side of the menu is Chinese food and the other side of the menu is indistinguishable from any other Mexican coffee shop, with huevos rancheros, molletes, etc., and with a variety of “Chinese breads” in the front window. > > Not that you asked this either, but Chinese restaurants here are usually staffed by Mexicans, except the cashier/manager who tend to be Chinese. \*\* Here in NYC, I’ve seen a number of evenly split Mexican/Chinese restaurants (which often reflect the ethnic makeup of the neighborhood). And FWIW, many ethnic restaurants here seemed to be staffed by Mexicans–whether the restaurants are Chinese or Irish. I guess good, cheap cooks are good cheap cooks, no matter their nationality. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/9 "2003-07-29T17:26:29Z")
In the town where I live there are two Chinese restaurants. One is named Hong Kong, the other one Rose Garden. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/10 "2003-07-29T17:35:02Z")
Well I was right and wrong. There is a Jade Garden restaurant in London. But it wasn’t the one I went to … seems I went to Joy King Lau. If you look at [London Eating](http://www.london-eating.co.uk) you can search for Chinese restaurants. Some are “American-Chinese” named; others not. Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/11 "2003-07-29T17:39:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Space Vampire \* > \*\*What is this “spectrum” of which you speak, BB? “Jade Garden” is juuuust about as typical as it gets. \*\* I meant the naming spectrum. From “Jade Garden” to “Chinese Food Restaurant” is a pretty wide path. Maybe I wasn’t clear; the restaurant’s actual name is “Chinese Food Restaurant”. And it was the best one outside of 'Frisco Chinatown. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/12 "2003-07-29T17:39:45Z")
[My Favorite Chinese Restaurant Name](http://fff.fathom.org/pages/taojones/Fook%20King.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/13 "2003-07-29T17:45:23Z")
[Some Chinese restaurants in Paris:](http://paris.cityvox.com/fra/paris/restaurant.html) Man Ray Dragons-Elysées Diep Le Mandarin Tong Yen La Maison Porte-Bonheur Village d’Ung et Li Lam Hoa Tong Wen Zhou Than La Fontaine de Jade Aux Délices de Szechuen Le Grenelle de Pékin [Some Chinese](http://www.romebuddy.com/presents/indexdining.html#chinese) [restaurants in Rome:](http://www.rome-hotels-discounts.com/Rome-hotel-city-information/Rome_Restaurants_By_Cuisine_Chinese.htm) La Pace Al Paradiso Il Giardino del Melograno Golden Crown [Ristorante Cinese Yu Yuan](http://www.virtualtourist.com/vt/23513/2/) ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/14 "2003-07-29T18:01:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Space Vampire \* > By the way, while we’re on the subject, anyone have any theories on why American Chinese food is generally so weak? The conventional wisdom is that it’s altered to suit American tastes, but **it** just ain’t so. Could you clarify what “it” is referring to here? Chinese food? The weakening/alteration of said food? That American tastes prefer weak Chinese food? And what do you mean by “weak”? Not spicy? Not containing adventurous ingredients/flavors? ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vampire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Space\_Vampire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vampire)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/15 "2003-07-29T18:20:07Z")
Is my English going downhill or something? I seem to be failing to communicate in this thread. “Weak” as in bad, poor, low-quality. “It” refers to the clause that preceded it. Hope that makes sense, because I need to go to bed. Should’ve been there a long time ago but had to go read a ghost story thread. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/16 "2003-07-29T18:36:50Z")
In Edinburgh: The Joy Hung Lam Ming Palace ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/17 "2003-07-29T19:16:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BwanaBob \* > I’m pretty sure I dined at a Chinese restaurant in London (UK) called “Jade Garden”; I will try to verify. [I was there not too long ago](http://sailor.teemingmillions.com/images/CR.htm). Common names I have seen are names of chinese Cities (Beijing, Nanking, Shanghai, etc) and other Chinese themes like “Great Wall”, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/18 "2003-07-29T19:45:45Z")
In Singapore, names like Crystal Jade, Jade Garden and… Dragon Phoenix. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/19 "2003-07-29T20:40:45Z")
Chinese restaurants (actually mostly takeaway only) in my immediate locality (I live near Southampton, England): Silver River Canton House Panda Kam’s Palace The Magic Wok Happy Garden Peking Kitchen Lucky House Happy Palace Hong Kong Garden Fast Wok Magic Chef Sizzling Wok New Oriental Blue Sky Jumbo House …and so on… Then there are a few that are simply named “[location] takeaway centre” or similar, for example: The Avenue\* Chinese Take-Away Lowford Chef \*(‘The Avenue’ is the name of the main road North in/out of Southampton). ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-restaurant-names-outside-of-the-us/191693/20 "2003-07-29T22:10:42Z")
In Taiwan there was one restaurant with a sign that said “Chinese Fart Food.” Maybe they served beans, or perhaps just had a pissed sign painter. The best one I went to was a wonderful place called, “Happy Mouth.” Another great little fast food potsticker chain was called, _Siu Hai Fu Long_, which translates into, “The Dragon that Swims in Four Oceans.”