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Friday, February 12, 2010

Two-Block Radius / Chow Chungee's Drink 'N Eat

Posted by Paul Constant on Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 4:29 PM

Last night, after Slog Happy, I went to Chungee's Drink 'N Eat, the new Chinese restaurant in the cursed space at 1830 12th Ave, to pick up some takeout.

Chungee's obviously doesn't have all the wrinkles ironed out of their operation just yet. Most notably, the website listed on the menu, Chungees.com, links to what I assume to be their old location, in Edison, CA. None of the prices on the online menu are correct, but the menu is pretty hilarious:

Screen_shot_2010-02-12_at_2.51.37_PM.png

The food was pretty good, though. There's a surprising lack of good old-fashioned American Chinese food joints on Capitol Hill. So to test out Chungee's capacity for what I call candied meats, I ordered my favorite kind of the greasy, sloppy fried plates: General Tso's Chicken ($9.95). It's really hard to screw up General Tso's chicken, but Chungee's was better-than-average. The big chunks of chicken were fresh, and the sauce had more of a spicy kick than you get at Panda Express-type steam table restaurants. This, combined with the Ginger Pancakes ($4.95), which were delicious onion pancakes with a nice curry/coconut dipping sauce (but curiously, no trace of ginger), was more than enough for two people.

Chungee's is still in its first week of operation—in fact, their grand opening, with "a Traditional Lion Dance (at 3:00pm) along with beating drums, firecrackers and Lion Dancers bringing good fortune to our new business," is tomorrow—but I like it a lot so far. I hope Chungee's sticks around. It'll be good to have a late night (open 'til midnight) Chinese food joint with booze on Capitol Hill again.

Comments (13) RSS

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Paul, how does it rate against the greasy Chinese take-out joints of the East coast? This New Yorker wants to know!

Posted by Brian with an I on February 12, 2010 at 5:18 PM

I really hope that this is (1) decent and (2) able to survive at that modestly cursed location. Having americanized comfort chinese within a 2-block radius would be awesome and dangerous.

Posted by josh

on February 12, 2010 at 5:27 PM

I have eaten there twice since they opened. They are 1/2 block from my house. It is ok not great but easity the best restaurant within 20 yards.

Posted by Chef Thunder on February 12, 2010 at 5:33 PM

It's not a steam table... It's a bain-marie.

no really. look it up.

Posted by wrong word, yo on February 12, 2010 at 5:40 PM

I don't believe this is the same Chungee's, Paul.

Posted by RatGirl on February 12, 2010 at 5:58 PM

Will they deliver? Please, God, let them deliver.

Posted by Tippy Katz on February 12, 2010 at 9:26 PM

Woo hoo! Chinese New Year's! Valentine's Day! the Olympics next door! Mardi Gras! Presidents Day! Get out and party, folks!

Posted by kk in seattle on February 12, 2010 at 11:50 PM

When you compare a "Chinese" restaurant with Panda Express, you instantly know this cannot be Chinese food. This is akin to calling the Spaghetti Factory or Domino's Pizza an Italian restuarant. I did like the description "American Chinese" as this is probably most accurate. For the record, I do enjoy the food at Panda Express and may even try out Chungee's but I won't call it Chinese.

Posted by Asian American Dude on February 13, 2010 at 8:20 AM

Please, let them deliver!!! Late night chinese delivery like a real city, please!

Posted by Repunzel on February 13, 2010 at 10:15 AM

I think its a great addition to the neighbourhood and along with the food being great, the bar is cool and the staff super friendly. They don't do delivery but who cares? Get your lazy ass off the sofa and walk down there. You can even grab a drink while you wait. If you dont like the 'Real American City " you live in , go fail in the Big Apple!

Posted by vikinggo on February 13, 2010 at 11:37 AM

Good vegan options yes/no?

Posted by question land on February 13, 2010 at 12:04 PM

I'm 1/2 owner of Chungee's and guilty of the website screw-up. The amount of work the restaurant business requires is amazing and it caught me completely off guard- so when I went to claim our domain name and start the website, (with zero knowledge of site building) I knew I was in over my head and it was too late and it's out there for everyone. I'm laughing at myself and hoping our customers will understand, and just find the the place the good old fashioned way, and come enjoy the food and mellow ambiance until I get all this figured out- which might be never!
Thanks for everyone who understands! : )
Tom

One thing. I did have family in Menlo Park once.

Posted by Homesy on February 14, 2010 at 11:16 PM

any MSG?

Posted by gourmand on January 2, 2011 at 12:57 AM