OLDEST CHINESE RESTAURANT
Anyone have any idea what would be the oldest Chinese restaurant in any of the Mountain States region - or in your particular city of expertise? Quality doesn't matter, I'm after history. If it has been run by the same family since it was opened, all the better.
For that matter, anyone have any idea about what would be the oldest Chinese restaurant in the U.S.? Thanks.
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Pekin Noodle Parlor - Butte, MT
Montana Magazine recently did an article on the restaurant. It's been in the same family since opening, seating diners in salmon-colored booths and wire framed chairs for over 100 years. I'd guess it's certainly the oldest Chinese restaurant in the state, and some say it could be the oldest in the country. The food is unlike most Chinese-American food I've tried, but watching the cooks in back you'll know that each dish is prepared fresh. I don't know enough about Chinese cuisine to speak about its authenticity, but I do know that I enjoy the food at the Pekin enough to eat there about once a month (although certain dishes I avoid). My favorites are the hot pork appetizer, ginger beef, sweet-and-sour pork ribs, and their noodles. It's a quirky, unique restaurant that is steeped in Montana history, and definitely worth a visit if you find yourself in uptown Butte.
http://www.montanamagazine.com/online...
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Pekin Noodle Parlor
117 S Main St, Butte, MT 59701›2 Replies-
re: Jeebs
The Pekin turns 100 years old next Thursday, July 7. What a day to celebrate!
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Interesting question. While I can't say that this particular restaurant is the oldest in the Mountain State, I do know that a Chinese restaurant in my old neighbohood of Aurora, CO is still open and serving food - for at least 20 years. I haven't eaten there in probably ~15 years so I can't speak to the food quality.
Are you planning on eating at these old Chinese restaurants? As a side story, a couple years ago, I ate at a place called Yenching Palace in Washington, DC. It has since closed, giving way to a Walgreens. It was a 50+ year old Chinese restaurant that was famous for being the "informal" meeting place between US and Soviet emmisaries in negotiating the resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The food was horrid (at the time, we had joked that threatening the Soviets with more food from Yenching Palace backed them down) so just wanted to provide ample warning that long-standing doesn't equate to good food; it seems like you're already prepped for that.
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Golden Phoenix Restaurant
15181 E Hampden Ave, Aurora, CO 80014
