# Stupid Chinese restaurant names **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 6, 2000, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222 "2000-12-06T00:29:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/21 "2000-12-06T15:02:10Z")
There’s one in downtown South Bend that I go to for lunch about once a week called “No. 1 Chinese Restaurant”. I mean, how can you argue with that? ---
**Author:** ![RonA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@RonA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RonA)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/22 "2000-12-06T15:02:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Niggle \* > \*\*Fok Yue > > On the cover of one of our local papers. It was closed by authorities due to problems with hygene… ahem… > > enough said. > > -nigel \*\* How’d ya like to be the one reporting this on the tv news? Here, we have lots of “Goldens”…Golden Dragon, Golden Moon, Golden Palace, Golden Rice, Golden Corral…oh, wait, scratch that last one. We have one Lucky (Lucky Star (also the name of a casino - no relation) ) but no Happy’s. ---
**Author:** ![Melpomene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@Melpomene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melpomene)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/23 "2000-12-06T16:01:47Z")
I am an avid Chinese Food fan, but rarely have come across many Chinese resturants with bizarre names. We have “China Gourmet” up the street from my office (EXCELLENT food in large quantities)…there’s also “China Garden” (not so good) and where I grew up in California (Antioch ~gag~) was a great little place called “Tao San Jin”, affectionately known as “TSJ’s”…I still have no idea what the name means… ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/24 "2000-12-06T16:11:19Z")
I have also seen the recurring word syndrome in the DC Chinatown area: Hope Luck Full Key Wong All arranged in various ways like: Hope Key, Full Wong, Full Key, Hope Key, Full Key, Luck Key. I always assumed they were phonetic equivalents of actual Chinese words or phrases. ---
**Author:** ![Fletch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/919ad9/32.png) [@Fletch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fletch)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/25 "2000-12-06T16:15:46Z")
There is a restaurant named Hung Chow here, they are really proud of the large cocktail lounge. They named the cocktail lounge the Elbow Room, the lounge serves some extremely potent drinks. Patrons leaving the lounge are refered to as “Elbowed”. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/26 "2000-12-06T16:19:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by puddleglum \* > \*\*There is one near me called the “Fu-Kien Gourmet”. \*\* Do you, by chance, live in Fredericksburg?? I recall a restaurant by that name on Rt 1 across from James Monroe HS… ---
**Author:** ![Gregor\_Samsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@Gregor\_Samsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gregor_Samsa)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/27 "2000-12-06T16:41:09Z")
In Brandon, Manitoba, there’s a place called Kam Lung. We referred to it as Kam’s Lung based on the taste and texture of most of their buffet. In Cochrane, Alberta there’s a place called K K’s Kitchen, with KKK in big orange letters on the building. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/28 "2000-12-06T17:01:36Z")
In Selinsgrove, PA, there’s a Lung Fung. I once ate at a local Oxford restaurant called The Paddyfield. Not an exciting name, to be sure…but the place also used to bill itself as The Home of the Giant Buffet. Sounds like some sci-fi movie! ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/29 "2000-12-06T17:49:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blue Twylight \* > \*\*Some I remember from Brooklyn: > … > Wok-N-Roll (there was a dancing eggroll on the sign) > \*\* We have a Wok n Roll in Cambridge, too. My favorite one, though (also in Cambridge) is the PuPu Hot Pot. Doesn’t sound that appetizing the first time you hear it! I’m told that the Chinese characters on the sign actually translate as “Number One Scholar” (it’s right next to MIT), but since I don’t read Chinese, the person could have been pulling my leg. There was also a restaurant in my old neighborhood named “Stars Ocean” which always vaguely confused me. The sydrome I have noticed most in the Boston/Cambridge area is using the word Cafe in your Chinese restaurant name. We have China Cafe, Cafe China and Cafe of China, all in the same small area (Arlington/Cambridge/Somerville). ---
**Author:** ![Egad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Egad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Egad)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/30 "2000-12-06T17:56:58Z")
“Hung Fatt” in the east end of Ottawa, ON ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/31 "2000-12-06T18:07:04Z")
**FCM** -The Fu-kien Gourmet to which I refer to is not in Fredricksburg, but it is about 30 miles north, maybe they have a chain. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/32 "2000-12-06T18:25:44Z")
On Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn there’s a Fu King restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/33 "2000-12-06T18:42:32Z")
Hi, **elmwood**! Being a former resident of the Greenwood Village area, I can tell you that we had restaurants such as Jade Garden, Silver Dragon, Golden Lantern, Silver Palace, Golden Dragen, North China, and my favorite, Egg Roll King. Seems like we had an abundance of the Gold and Silver restaurnts. Maybe they were trying to impress us. There is a place in the Park Meadows mall called something like Cajun Express. However, they only cajun thing they have is blackened chicken which is served with rice. The rest of it is basically Chinese! Even the employees are Asian. Their most popular food is the Bourbon Chicken, which does not contain any bourbon but tastes like teriyaki. Most popular restaurant at the Park Meadows food court: Panda Express ---
**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:** [December 6, 2000, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/34 "2000-12-06T18:57:27Z")
Hi, elmwood! Being a former resident of the Greenwood Village area, I can tell you that we had restaurants such as Jade Garden, Silver Dragon, Golden Lantern, Silver Palace, Golden Dragen, North China, and my favorite, Egg Roll King. : Seems like we had an abundance of the Gold and Silver : restaurnts. Maybe they were trying to impress us. Well, it is Greenwood Village, after all, where it seems like a plurality of restaurants are named something Bistro or whatever Trattoria, and their commercials on local radio are _always_ accompanied by smooth jazz. 😉 North Denver doesn’t have much Chinese – there’s just China Palace, New Dragon and Jade Cafe. Sadly, no wonderfully butchered names like “You Like” and “Lucky Food.” : However, they only cajun thing they have is blackened : chicken which is served with rice. The rest of it is : basically Chinese! Even the employees are Asian. Aside from the trendy Thai restaurants that dot central Denver, it seems like every employee I’ve ever seen at an Asian restaurant is Asian. Has a Chinese restaurant ever been accoused of discrimination for their hiring practices? ---
**Author:** ![mojopitch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@mojopitch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mojopitch)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/35 "2000-12-06T19:04:33Z")
A couple more in the Boston area, “Ducky Wok Restaurant” and “El Oriental De Cuba” ---
**Author:** ![jesuslynch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e99b99/32.png) [@jesuslynch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesuslynch)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/36 "2000-12-06T19:40:26Z")
Just went and had lunch at my favorite chinese place with an odd name - Vincent’s. Really. Good Moo Shu Pork and the Egg Foo Young is to die for. ---
**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:** [December 6, 2000, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/37 "2000-12-06T20:07:49Z")
A few others I dug up … Pu Pu (West Roxbury, MA) Lucky Food (S. Louis, MO) Happy Luck (Queens, NY) Good Taste (Queens, NY) Taste Good (Buffalo, NY) Great Worth (Queens, NY) Happy Family (Queens, NY) Happy Town (Queens, NY) Happy Luck (Queens, NY) Lucky Charm (Queens, NY) Elegant Chinese Kitchen (Queens, NY) New Taste (Queens, NY) Number One (Queens, NY, and many other cities) Lucky Number One (Harbor City, CA) Number Five (Abington, MA) Green Door (Philadelphia, PA) Lucky Golden (Clearwater, FL) Double Lucky (Worchester, MA) Double Happy (Louisville, CO) Yummy House (Weymouth, MA) Fu King (Lake City, FL) Dong (Brooklyn, NY) 1-2-3 (Buffalo, NY) Main Moon (Amherst, NY) Uncle Wang Noodle (NY, NY) Ho Taste (Smithtown, NY) Hi D Ho (Alamogordo, NM) Four Joys (Albuquerque, NM) Happy Immortal (San Francisco, CA) Long Life (Berkeley, CA) Ho-Toy (Anaheim, CA) Sushi Boy (Torrance, CA) ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/38 "2000-12-06T20:41:19Z")
In Cleveland Heights, on Coventry Road, there was **The House of Fat Choy.** ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/39 "2000-12-06T20:46:13Z")
There’s a (more or less) Chinese restaurant here in San Diego called Fat City. I was amused to learn that the owner’s name is Tom Fat. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222/40 "2000-12-06T23:43:36Z")
I’m guessing the “Pu Pu” Chinese restaurants are named after the “Pu Pu Platter”, which is apparently an actual Chinese dish. Remember “Brak’s Pu Pu Pu Platter, with the extra Pu”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-chinese-restaurant-names/44222.md?page=3)