By reporter Steven Smalley
In the Chinese culture, 33 is considered a lucky number, according to the staff at the Gim Wah restaurant, where they are about to commemorate its 33rd anniversary. Owner Alan Chan invites everyone to celebrate at the restaurant he inherited from his father, Tom, with a free buffet September 7, 5-8PM. Chan sends everyone wishes for good health and a prosperous life.
Looking back over the decades, he says, ?There have been big changes in Magnolia. Large families would come to the restaurant. People used to get together. Now no more.? Continuing he said, ?There are no big tables because there aren?t any big families. Four people is the biggest table we ever see.?
Judy Moffett, the long-tenured bar manager, says she remembers other businesses that previously occupied the building. ?There was the East Winds Restaurant prior to the Gim Wah and before that it was a laundromat.? The restaurant is actually two premises, she reveals. One is the dining room and the other makes up the lounge.
Along with free food during the party, drink specials will also be available.
Gim Wah is the longest existing restaurant under one ownership in Magnolia, according to employees. The Gim, as some locals call it, is located at 3418 West McGraw Street.
It’s either a cheap bar where the drunks hang out, or it’s a family restaurant. The two models aren’t compatible.
Happy 33rd anniversary!! It’s nice to see businesses surviving in our little village!
It’s too smoky on that entire corner for me to take my family there.
If they wanted to attract more/different clientele they could. El Ranchon next door regularly handles larger groups and families.
“The Gim” would need to invest in a redo of the decorations and furniture, update the menu to fresh food, and market themselves to families. Like the previous poster stated…. Cheap bar and family resturant are not compatible.
All the haters……
Believe it or not, there are other people that live in Magnolia that maybe don’t want to go to a restaurant with a bunch of screaming brats and enjoy few stiff pops….I know, shocker
ASSumptions. Family could mean parents and cousins when they are in town. Teenage kids. Or even well-behaved little kids. Some of us parent our kids and they know how to behave in public. It’s actually a rare occasion that I see kids misbehaving at restaurants anymore.
redo the decor? fresh food? please take your fam to PF Chang’s then. it’s a Chinese dive straight out of a time capsule. it’s supposed to be that way and it’s truly awesome- employees, pink paint, greasy food and all. I’ll take it any day over the MVP that’s for sure.
I’ve longed for good Chinese food since I left California 15 years ago. Even the ID caters to the local taste for heavy and greasy Chinese. An updated Chinese (or for that matter Mexican) restaurant in Magnolia would be super, but I am just dreaming of how it used to be in California where Mexico was close and no one would dare pass off mushy Mexican food….it couldn’t compete, nor could greasy and mushy fried Chinese (all that sells at the Asian place near Whole Foods…so what they cook the most of). This is the only Chinese food I’ve had in Washington State. No use blaming the restaurants…they just fry up what people buy the most of….like China Express. Anyway, any recommendations? Anyone remember China Fun (a play on the word for noodle), an inexpensive fast food stir fry place that was always crisp, fresh, and spot on…in San Diego? MIght as well long for In-and-Out… (P.F. Chang in overpriced and increasingly letting its standards lower too IMO).
I was being sarcastic about PF Changs…
Uptown China in Queen Anne
Chiang’s off of Lake City. Their hand formed noodles are legit.
That said, Gim Wah makes a mean, homemade Hot and Sour soup.
Mexican in Magnolia- Josefina’s is waaaay better than El Ranchon if you don’t want to leave Mag for Mexican. If you want real Mexican gotta leave the hood.
Yes, I agree about Josefina’s…much better. I’ll try out Uptown in QA. I went to a noodle place in Bellevue in Lincoln Square with a 30 person waiting line (needs rez) and the best noodles since I lived in Japan. Thanks.
Both have good food, but the service is so much better at El Ranchon.
We’ve been to Josefina’s many times and always had great service as well as delicious food.
Szechuan Chef/Bellevue
Shanghai Garden/multiple locations (get the hand shaven noodles
Facing East Restaurant/Bellevue (Taiwanese)
Yea’s Wok/Newcastle (you will usually find Peter Yea, the owner, working the dining room at lunch)
Oh, and quit being a snob, everyone knows the Chinese place near Whole Foods is crap…that is a franchise, what were you expecting? Yes, we all long for the “authentic” this or that from our foreign travels….so what? If you put a little personal effort into the search and ask friends, you can find the ‘gems’ out there…
I would start your search at Facing East, then Szechuan Chef….good luck my friend.
Tai Ho on Bothell Way in Kenmore, or Red Lantern on Jackson in the ID.