Dons Chinese Kitchen has been serving the best of Hong Kong style food in the heart of downtown Victoria since 1978. Whether you’re looking for a quick takeaway or an evening out, their menu will please even the most discerning tastes. Choose from favorites like General Tao’s Chicken (a spicy dish) and Pork with Garlic Sauce (featuring tender pork cooked in garlic sauce), as well as plenty of vegetarian options. They also offer catering services for your next event!
When Was Don’s Chinese Kitchen Established?
The first Don’s Chinese Kitchen opened in 1958 on the campus of UC Berkeley. It is still open today, with different locations around the Bay Area. For over 50 years, they have been serving traditional Chinese cuisine, including dishes like General Tso’s Chicken and Sesame Beef. From what I’ve read about them, one of their primary goals is to provide affordable food for everyone.
Many people know them for being a family-friendly restaurant where you can get delicious food at any time of day or night! Don’s Chinese Kitchen has become a classic part of Northern California culture and customers are so glad to know that they’re still going strong after all these years!
Their Timeline!
The first Don’s Chinese Kitchen opens up in 1953 under the ownership of Jeong “Don Lee; He eventually passes away and in 1970 his youngest daughter, Ruth Lee (now Tae Kyung) takes over the restaurant when she gets older. The brothers Don and Harry open up a new Chinese Kitchen called “Don’s”.
The Dons Chinese Kitchen that was once located across from where Meijer at 28th Street SE in Grand Rapids got demolished to make way for an office complex in 1984. 5 years later, Grand Haven’s China Garden opens up in 1989. 1990 saw the closing of the original location of Dons Chinese Kitchen on Wealthy Street. One year later, Ruth Lee passed away because of cancer and her oldest son, Steve, runs the business with his wife, Marilyn Wong.
In 1998, after much deliberation between him and his brother Dennis about how to run their businesses, Steve goes out on his own and open up another Chinese Kitchen. 2001 was the last year that Don Lee’s son, Steve, ran Don’s original location in Grand Rapids. One year later, in 2002, Dennis Wong runs Don’s when he gets serious about it after working there for 5 years prior.
Find Them at 162 Ave SE in Bellevue, WA
Located on 162 Ave SE in Bellevue, WA, Don’s is a Chinese restaurant that was opened over 20 years ago by owner Dennis Wong. While it shares its name with Grand Rapids’ original Dons Chinese Kitchen, today it is an entirely different establishment. Today we’re going to be talking about how those two restaurants share the same history and menu (until recently at least), and what makes them different from one another.
History of Don’s Chinese Kitchen: Menu
Today at the restaurant, you can still order many of the dishes made popular by Ruth Lee back in the day when she owned “Don’s”, but they are now known as “Ruth’s Recipes”. They have their own items too, like the Taiwanese style fried chicken, which is absolutely delicious! The food here is consistent and has its very own style that isn’t quite Cantonese or Taiwanese. It may be because since the restaurant has been around for so long, they have a sort of created their own style.
The menu at Don’s is very extensive and has a bit of everything. You can order Chinese-American food like General Tso’s chicken, but you can also order authentic Taiwanese dishes like the Beef Noodle Soup pictured below. They also serve dim sum on Sundays which I have yet to try, but it’s definitely on my list! One thing that people really appreciate about this restaurant is that even though the menu is extensive, they make all the dishes with fresh ingredients and they don’t skimp on the quality.
The food here is affordable and reasonably priced, which is always a plus in my book. Overall, most food enthusiasts think that Don’s is a great Chinese restaurant that offers something for everyone. The food is tasty, affordable, and made with fresh ingredients. What more could you ask for? If you’re ever in the Bellevue area, people would definitely recommend trying it!
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