Edna Ray Chinese Restaurant in Los Gatos - anyone been?
I've been to tons of great, authentic Chinese restaurants in the South Bay, mostly in Cupertino, Milpitas, SJ and Santa Clara. But I happen to live in up in the Santa Cruz Mtns just south of Los Gatos, where there isn't a critical mass of fellow Asian people. Is there any place nearby that has decent Chinese food? (I thought Jasmine, in downtown L.G., was pretty unimpressive.) From time to time I pass Edna Ray's at Santa Cruz Blvd. and Route 9 in Los Gatos. I'm intrigued, in a strange way. What's with the name? Can a restaurant with a sign written in that almost-retro-fake-Chinese-brushstroke font really be any good? Is this Chinese, or Chinese-American food? Is the food as inexpensive as the shabby exterior would lead one to believe? (There's no menu posted outside! And by the way, I've had great Chinese food in many a shabby setting.) I'm very curious. Can anyone fill me in?
2m8ohed
Jun 01, 2007 02:27PM
It is an intriguing name, isn't it? It's extremely standard Chinese-American food: deep-fried walnut prawns on shredded iceberg with that mayonnaise sauce, sweet-and-sour lunch specials with an egg roll, etc. I thought it was perfectly fine, but I haven't been since 2002.
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Edna Ray has been around for YEARS!!! I remember as a child that I liked the 'private' booths and I thought that was fun but I don't want to knock it if I haven't been there for so long. I just recall that it was 'so-so'. Since you're up north, I can only suggest Mandarin Gourmet near Westfield shopping center. Give Edna Ray a try and let me know, I have been a San Jose native for years and moved to Gilroy and I'm always craving dishes where people won't look at me a little strange. Mention the word 'Eggplant' and I get something with too much coating.
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Ray and Edna Lee created EdnaRay in 1963, which makes it the oldest functioning restaurant in Los Gatos. They sold the business after a fire in 1996, and both have passed away, but the restaurant is still operating. For more information, visit the Los Gatos Observer (.com).
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