The Humble Chinese Restaurant In Washington That's Been Owned By The Same Family For Over 80 Years
By Andrea Verschuyl|Published October 11, 2023
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Andrea Verschuyl
Author
Having grown up in Washington, Andrea is a self-admitted Pacific Northwest snob. In their opinion, there's simply nowhere else in the country with the Evergreen State's beauty. After attending university, Andrea devoted themselves to writing full-time. They're thrilled to represent Washington for Only In Your State while pursuing other professional and personal projects. They currently reside in Olympia, where they enjoy leaf-blowing their yard, perfecting homemade ramen, cuddling with their three tiny dogs, and feeding their pufferfish, Sea Biscuit.
If there’s one thing I love about Seattle, it’s the food, and when I hear friends plan to visit, I refer them to a short list of my favorite eateries. Tai Tung, the oldest Chinese restaurant in Seattle, is one of my go-to suggestions. Not only has its longevity earned it cultural and historical significance, but its food never misses the mark.
Incredibly, in its 88 years of business, only one family has ever owned Tai Tung, passing it down between three generations. The restaurant's original proprietor, the famous Grandpa Quan, immigrated from China in the early 1900s. Upon arriving in Seattle in 1935, he risked opening his own eatery. Thanks to his determination and considerable culinary talent, Tai Tung became a local institution.
Inside, Tai Tung's atmosphere is rich with a storied past. This charmingly retro, unpretentious ambiance strikes the perfect tone for a menu specializing in crave-worthy, nostalgic classics. The current owner, Harry Chan, explains that while "there are a lot of good restaurants in Seattle," his family strives for "people to feel at home when they join us for dinner."
But if the food we made for ourselves was this good, would we ever leave the house? Publications like Love Food have named Tai Tung the best Chinese restaurant in all of Washington!
I'm not the only patron to grow hooked on Tai Tung's fare. Over the years, celebrity chefs like Tom Douglas and Anthony Bourdain have relaxed in the restaurant's comfortable booths and blown steam from their mugs of tea. And luminaries from other industries became just as die-hard fans. Bruce Lee famously named Tai Tung his favorite Seattle restaurant, and they've lovingly preserved his regular table in his memory.
Pair your visit to this renowned Seattle restaurant with a stroll through the Chinatown-International District. This bustling neighborhood is teeming with diverting shops and tempting spots to nab dessert.
Though it’s earned an obligatory spot in dining guides for being the oldest Chinese restaurant in Seattle, Tai Tung hasn’t won over generations of Seattleites by virtue of longevity alone. No, there’s something genuinely magical about this place. In a city that’s changed rapidly, it pulses with Seattle’s past. Eating here invokes a sense of continuity: of delicious food, of comforting atmosphere, and of shared experience.
