Kowloon Restaurant

Last updated
Kowloon Restaurant in 2008 Kowloon Restaurant Saugus MA Night.jpg
Kowloon Restaurant in 2008

Kowloon Restaurant is a pan-Asian restaurant in Saugus, Massachusetts. The restaurant serves a range of Cantonese, Sichuan, Japanese, Polynesian, and Thai dishes in several themed dining rooms and lounges. Kowloon was called one of the best Chinese restaurants in New England by Boston television station WHDH in 2004. [1]

Contents

Visiting the restaurant is a tradition for many New England families on birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations. It is also considered a top destination for fans of tiki culture and has been a stop on organized tours. [2] [3] The restaurant has been owned through three generations of the same family.

Attributes

Kowloon Restaurant is in Saugus, Massachusetts, a short distance north of Boston. It is a landmark along U.S. Route 1. The property spans 5 acres (2.0 ha). [4]

The restaurant exterior includes a 30 ft (9.1 m) tiki statue above its entrance. The first floor holds a bar, while the second has a showroom stage where Jerry Seinfeld, Frankie Avalon and Phyllis Diller have performed. Comedian and actor Dane Cook is a noted fan, and stated that he has performed there several hundred times. [4]

The restaurant has about 1,200 seats in total. Themed areas include a lagoon, tiki-hut-shaped booths, and a fake ship deck. [4]

History

The Mandarin House restaurant opened August 22, 1950, in a converted ice cream parlor on the Newburyport Turnpike with a menu of a few dozen Chinese and American dishes. The dining room could hold 40-50 customers. In 1958 Madeline and William Wong bought out the first-generation owners and began the second generation of family ownership of the restaurant. They changed the name to Kowloon Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge and began to grow the business.

In the next 50 years, the family added five additions to the original building and increased the capacity to accommodate 1,200 customers. Diners can choose from a number of themed dining rooms including the Volcano Bay Room, the Tiki Lagoon, the Mandarin Room, the Thai Grille, or the Hong Kong Lounge. Private events and a comedy club use the Luau Room.

The menu has grown as the restaurant has added new dishes to keep up with the evolving American palate. First Polynesian dishes, then Chinese when Joyce Chen became popular, more Chinese when Nixon went to China, even more Chinese when Sichuan became popular, then Thai, and then Japanese and sushi. Guests now choose from a menu of nearly 300 items. [5]

In 2001 the Wongs were inducted into the Hospitality Hall of Fame by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association. [6] The restaurant has also been nominated for addition to the Inventory of Cultural and Historical Resources by the Saugus Historical Commission. [7] Bill Wong died in 2011 at the age of 88. [8]

The third generation of the Wong family continues to run the business. The restaurant is reported to bring in over $8 million per year as the top-grossing Chinese restaurant in the United States. The current owner is Massachusetts state representative Donald Wong and five siblings. [9] [10] [4]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant shut its indoor dining room and furloughed some workers. Kowloon built outdoor dining spaces to seat hundreds of people and increased its takeout business. The restaurant also added a drive-in movie theater. [4]

In 2021, it was reported that amid difficulty in the restaurant industry, the Wong family's next generation will not be involved in Kowloon's operation. The family presented a preliminary plan for a residential subdivision on the site, which would involve tearing down the restaurant. The family anticipates the restaurant's closure in the future, potentially as soon as two to three years. A smaller version of Kowloon is likely on the property. [11]

9 Dragons, Kowloon's sister restaurant, opened in 2024 and is located inside The Brook Casino in Seabrook, New Hampshire. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiki culture</span> Pseudo-Polynesian decor and themes

Tiki culture is an American-originated art, music, and entertainment movement inspired by Polynesian, Melanesian, and Micronesian cultures, and by Oceanian art. Influential cultures to Tiki culture include Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, the Caribbean Islands, and Hawaii. The name comes from Tiki, the Māori name for the first human, often represented in the form of hei-tiki, a pendant and important taonga. The hei-tiki was often appropriated by Europeans as a commercialised good luck charm, hence the name of Tiki culture. Despite spanning over 10,000 miles and including many different unrelated cultures, religions, and languages, Tiki aesthetic is considered by some to be amalgamated into one "fantasia of trans-Pacific cultures" and "colonial nostalgia". Because of this, and the simplistic view of the Pacific taken by the aesthetic, Tiki culture has often proved controversial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trader Vic's</span> Polynesian-themed American restaurant chain

Trader Vic's is a restaurant and tiki bar chain headquartered in Emeryville, California, United States. Victor Jules Bergeron, Jr. founded a chain of Polynesian-themed restaurants that bore his nickname, "Trader Vic". He was one of two people who claimed to have invented the Mai Tai. The other was his amicable competitor for many years, Donn Beach of the "Don the Beachcomber" restaurants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theme restaurant</span> Restaurant based around a concept or intellectual property

A theme restaurant is a type of restaurant that uses theming to attract diners by creating a memorable experience. Theme restaurants have a unifying or dominant subject or concept, and utilize architecture, decor, special effects, and other techniques, often to create exotic environments that are not normally associated with dining because they are inaccessible, no longer exist, are fictional or supernatural, or taboo. The theme may be further extended through the naming and choices of food, though food is usually secondary to entertaining guests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Chinese cuisine</span> Chinese cuisine developed by Chinese Canadians

Canadian Chinese cuisine is a cuisine derived from Chinese cuisine that was developed by Chinese Canadians. It was the first form of commercially available Chinese food in Canada. This cooking style was invented by early Cantonese immigrants who adapted traditional Chinese recipes to Western tastes and the available ingredients, and developed in a similar process to American Chinese cuisine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pu pu platter</span> Tray of American Chinese cuisine

A pu pu platter is a tray of American Chinese or Hawaiian food consisting of an assortment of small meat and seafood appetizers. The Thrillist called the pu-pu platter "an amalgam of Americanized Chinese food, Hawaiian tradition and bar food."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiki bar</span> Bar with a "Tiki" or Polynesian theme

A tiki bar is a themed drinking establishment that serves elaborate cocktails, especially rum-based mixed drinks such as the Mai Tai and Zombie cocktails. Tiki bars are aesthetically defined by their tiki culture décor which is based upon a romanticized conception of tropical cultures, most commonly Polynesian. Some bars also incorporate general nautical themes or retro elements from the early atomic age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kowloon Shangri-La</span> Hotel in Hong Kong

Kowloon Shangri-La is a five-star hotel of the Hong Kong–based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts group. It is located on Mody Road in Tsim Sha Tsui East overlooking Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong Island skyline. It is the sister hotel to the Island Shangri-La in Admiralty district, Hong Kong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Route 1 in Massachusetts</span> Section of U.S. Route in Massachusetts, United States

U.S. Route 1 (US 1) is a major north–south U.S. Route in the state of Massachusetts, traveling through Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Bristol counties. The portion of US 1 south of Boston is also known as the Boston–Providence Turnpike, Washington Street, or the Norfolk and Bristol Turnpike, and portions north of Boston are known as the Northeast Expressway and the Newburyport Turnpike.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelly's Roast Beef</span> Restaurant in Massachusetts, United States

Kelly's Roast Beef is a regional fast food restaurant chain located in Massachusetts. It is known for its roast beef sandwiches, lobster rolls, and other seafood. It was founded in 1951 in the city of Revere, Massachusetts, on Revere Beach shoreline by two partners, Frank V. McCarthy, and Raymond Carey. Neither partner wanted to be the namesake of the restaurant, so they decided to name it after a mutual friend, Thomas Kelly, a florist from Dorchester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kai Mayfair</span> Restaurant in London, England

Kai Mayfair is a fine dining Chinese restaurant located on 65 South Audley Street, Mayfair, near Park Lane in London, England. It was opened in 1993 by Malaysian sport shooter; Bernard Yeoh, with the intent of changing the perception of the Chinese restaurant experience. Yeoh was keen to show that Asian food has just as much standing in the fine-dining circuit as other cuisines. The head chef is Alex Chow, while Yeoh continues to be the proprietor to this day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fraternal Order of Moai</span> American fraternal organization

The Fraternal Order of Moai is a fraternal order and social club founded in 2005 by Matt "Kuku Ahu" Thatcher, Jim "Chisel Slinger" Robinson and Joel "Cowtown Kahuna" Gunn. The Order uses the Moai statues of Rapa Nui as a theme. An initial goal of the group was to preserve the history of and artifacts from the closed Kahiki Supper Club in Columbus, Ohio. Since then it has grown into "a serious group of tiki aficionados" with activity all over the United States. Some describe the group as "a cult within a cult" when discussing the modern Tiki revival.

Donald H. Wong is an American businessman and politician. A member of the Republican Party, Wong has represented the 9th Essex District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 2011. His constituency consists of parts of Lynn, Lynnfield, Wakefield and Saugus. He is also the President of Mandarin House, Inc., which manages the Kowloon Restaurant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hilltop Steak House</span> American restaurant chain, 1961–2013

The Hilltop Steak House was an American restaurant located on Route 1 in Saugus, Massachusetts. Founded in 1961 by Frank Giuffrida, it was one of the busiest restaurants in the United States during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. The Hilltop closed in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zombie Hut</span> Restaurant in California, United States

The Zombie Hut was a Hawaiian/Polynesian-themed restaurant, nightclub and Tiki bar located on Freeport Blvd. between Florin Road and Sutterville Road in Sacramento, California that originally opened in 1945 after the end of WWII and continuing for 45 years until its closing in 1990. Inspired by the 1930s Tiki craze, the restaurant was owned by Johnny Quaresma from 1945 to 1952 when Ed and Beatrice Hill purchased the business. The Hills eventually sold the Zombie Hut to Bruce Brooks, who owned it until its closing in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chin Tiki</span> Former nightclub in Detroit

Chin Tiki was a tiki-themed supper club, nightclub and banquet hall in Detroit, Michigan owned by Marvin Chin. It closed in 1980 and was demolished in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hula's Island Grill</span> Restaurant in California, United States

Hula's Island Grill is a restaurant in Monterey, California in the United States. It serves California and Hawaiian cuisine. The restaurant has a tiki theme. There are additional locations in Santa Cruz, California, and Phoenix, Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conrad Bangkok</span> Hotel in Bangkok

Conrad Bangkok is a hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, that is part of the Conrad Hotels brand owned by Hilton Worldwide. It opened in 2003. The hotel has 392 rooms and suites. There are six restaurants and lounges at the hotel including KiSara restaurant which serves Japanese cuisine and Liu restaurant which offers traditional Chinese food. The hotel also has a gym, a spa, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and a rooftop jogging track.

A. Wong is a Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant, located in Pimlico, London. It serves modern British retake on traditional Cantonese dishes. It is owned by Andrew Wong, a third-generation London restaurateur who is also the restaurant's chef de cuisine.

Mister Jiu's is a Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant in Chinatown, San Francisco. It specializes in Cantonese cuisine blended with modern Californian twists.

Feastogether Corporation is a Taiwanese multi-brand restaurant operator headquartered in Taoyuan's Qingpu Special District. Chen Chaoquan founded Fuli Sichuan Banquet, the predecessor to Feastogether, in 1971. His son, Chen Qichang, took charge of the restaurant business in 1979. Fuli Sichuan Banquet's primary clientele was the wedding reception market, which owing to Taiwan's declining birthrate began facing challenges. In response, Chen shifted the business's focus to all-you-can-eat restaurants. In 2002, he founded Feastogether Corporation and the Eat Together buffet brand. Chen Qiqang's son, Chen Yihang, became the company's general manager in 2009 and introduced an enterprise resource planning system.

References

  1. "New England's Best". WHDH-TV Boston. 2004-03-05. Archived from the original on 2009-11-29. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
  2. DiNardo, Kelly (2007-08-03). "10 great places to carry a torch for Tiki bars". USA Today.
  3. Reynolds, Josh (2007-05-04). "South Seas chic". The Boston Globe.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Boston Flips Out over Losing a Landmark—A Giant Polynesian-Themed Restaurant". Wall Street Journal. 13 August 2021.
  5. Schaffer, Matt (2000-11-29). "Chinese Eatery Celebrates 50th Anniversary". The Boston Herald. Archived from the original on 2009-02-09. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  6. McCabe, Kathy (2001-11-25). "Kowloon Owners Inducted into Hall". The Boston Sunday Globe. Archived from the original on 2009-04-15. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
  7. "William Wong". The Boston Globe. 2011-08-09.
  8. Miller, Bryan (1988-04-06). "Oh, to Dine in Saugus, Mass". The New York Times.
  9. Sheridan, Margaret (2000-04-01). "2000 Top 100: Technology upgrades help independents hone operations and buy more time for guests". Restaurants & Institutions Magazine.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. Doyle, Terrence (2021-01-08). "Kowloon Is Not Closing". Eater Boston. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  11. "The Kowloon's new sister location at a NH casino is straight out of Vegas". NBC Boston. 2024-09-24. Retrieved 2024-11-24.

42°28′4.08″N71°1′29.78″W / 42.4678000°N 71.0249389°W / 42.4678000; -71.0249389