Wah Kue Restaurant – in business and run by the same family for 64 years at 13434 1st Ave South in Burien – may close soon if a new owner isn’t found.
According to Gina, who has worked there for 17 years, after owner Wing Wong passed away three years ago, the kids “just don’t want to do it anymore.”
And if a new owner isn’t found soon, the historic Chinese restaurant will close by Dec. 31.
Asked what our Readers can do to save the restaurant, Gina said:

“Buy it!”

And if you can’t do that, she added, at least come in and spend your money on a local, legendary restaurant.
Several residents have “Wah Kue’d” – or gone “Wah Kuing” – for years, and they’re still using the same menu they did in 1950, back when gas was around 18 cents a gallon.
Gina added that their most popular item is the #3 combination dinner.
Wah Kue is open from 4 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. weekdays, and 4– 9:30 p.m. on weekends.
No reservations required.]]>

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12 replies on “B-TOWN BIZ: In business for 64 years, Wah Kue Restaurant may close soon”

  1. My grandmother couldn’t cook to save her life. When we grand-kids visited her back in the ’50s she inevitably loaded us into the car for Chinese food at Wha-Kue. At that time Cantonese dishes were terribly exotic and we kids felt awfully sophisticated learning to use chopsticks. Wish I knew how to run a restaurant because I’d be tempted to buy it just to keep the tradition going. Will be missed if it goes away – yet another piece of my childhood lost.

  2. From my great grandparents to my grandparents to my parents, to us kids and to mine and my older sisters teenage kids! We all love the food there, we used to eat there once s week when we got hungry for Chinese food. Out of all these Chinese restaurants, Wah-Kuhs is the top #1 authentic food! I can’t find no one around this area with food that still taste as good as Wah-kuhs does and has for years! And that is what is so great about the restaurant, the taste of the food never changed and has been so good for so many years, unlike other places when the first owner leaves and sells, the food just isn’t the fame anymore and the places loose business and dies! I know you kids don’t want to work a restaurant anymore but don’t sell it, hire new people to take care of it for you but still be the owner of the place! That’s how many generations this restaurant has been in your family and you guys are willing to just give it all up!!?? That’s heart breaking to see it go plus along with all of us who grew and fired and pasted it on to our family as well of dining therefor years! I have so many memories of Wah-Kuhs restaurant, par to close the food for good! For I am making memories still, with my kids eating there and then as they have kids, they too well make memories there as well!! Thank you again to your family for making such wonderful food that the world can enjoy!! 🙂 <3

  3. Wah Kue is not authentic Chinese food lol. Chinese folks do not batter all their food like Wah Kue does. Wah Kue make Chinese food for fat White people. I used to work their back in the day. What the customers eat in the front is garbage compared to what the cooks make for themselves to eat in the back. That’s why Americans are mostly fat and Chinese are mostly skinny.

    1. True they do serve Americanized Chinese food but they also serve very good Americanized Chinese food. If they close their doors I personally will miss them just as I miss not seeing Wing Wong and his lovely wife there to meet you as you entered their fine establishment. Hearing this news makes me sad.

  4. I remember when I was very young and the House of Values was next door to Wah Kue. They had a toy isle that was awesome for a youngster to look at. It is the second restaurant I remember going to, the Pan Cake Chef being the first.

  5. The last vestige of the American 1950 era interpretation of Chinese food. No one ever ever claimed it was authentic Chinese. It is very Authentic for the era and the style. A true time machine that must be experienced if you’ve never been there. If I had the money I would buy everything in the bar and spin it off somewhere else. You just can’t find these places anymore.

  6. The egg rolls, the pork noodles, the prawns!
    This place has been a Burien treasure for decades! I really hope they find a buyer and it can remain open. Gotta grab the kids and head there this weekend.

  7. Tragic….one of the last great dive Bars in Seattle. To the conasuir of the genre, the loss of Burien’s Wau Kue ranks up there with the closing of the old Dog House in Seattle. Both were Old Seattle haunts for those seeking a stiff drink and joint where “Friends Meet Friends”. Wau Kue’s classic Naugahyde booths, sailfish adorning the dining room, and the sweet sounds of Dick Dickerson on the Dog House organ both lost to a Seattle awash in Amazonian microbrew Bars and manufactured hipster lounges.
    Here’s to you Wau Kue! RIP.

  8. Don’t forget the number of years they supported Little League by sponsoring three Wah Kue teams for Highline East. They contributed in many ways to our community. I hope a solution can be found. A lot of history and many, many years of good food and family meals.

  9. We met at Wah Kue and are celebrating our 35th Anniversary this weekend. We used to sit around the “fireplace” & came for the $.50 Happy Hour drinks & free Chicken Wings. Although those days are long over, it was still our favorite place to eat & hang out with friends. This is very sad that Ronnie chooses to close it down. We will miss their great food, drinks & service. RIP Louie

  10. This makes me so sad. It is part of Burien and everyone who grew up here. Even if someone else buys it, it will never be the same. Susie won’t be there to greet us anymore. I have a tea cup from about the 60’s. Has phone number on it CH-2-5454

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