Hung Far Low (restaurant) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hung Far Low |
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The building that housed the original restaurant and its restored signage in 2016
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1928 |
| Closed | 2015 |
| Food type | Chinese |
| Street address |
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| City | Portland, Oregon |
| County | Multnomah |
| State | Oregon |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 45°30′18″N 122°34′42″W / 45.5051°N 122.5783°W |
Hung Far Low was a famous Chinese restaurant located in Portland, Oregon, United States. It first opened its doors in 1928 in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood. Later, in 2005, it moved to the Montavilla area. The restaurant served customers for many years before closing permanently in 2015. Today, its colorful and historic sign in Old Town Chinatown remains a well-known landmark.
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A Look at Hung Far Low's History
The Hung Far Low restaurant first opened in 1928. Its name has a special meaning: in Cantonese, it means "red flower restaurant," and in the Taishanese dialect, it means "almond blossom fragrance." The restaurant was originally located at 112 Northwest 4th Avenue in Portland's Old Town Chinatown.
The building where Hung Far Low was located was built in 1916. Wong On owned the restaurant when it first started. In 1938, Jack Wong, who ran the restaurant, bought the building. The Wong family still owns the building today.
Moving to a New Location
In 2005, Hung Far Low moved to a new spot at 2410 Southeast 82nd Avenue. This move happened because of new city plans for the area, construction work, and rising rent costs. The new location was a simple building with a large parking lot. It was open from 11 AM to 11 PM most days. The restaurant closed its doors for good in 2015.
An interesting fact is that Kenneth Koe, a famous American chemist, once washed dishes at Hung Far Low when he was a student at Reed College.
The Famous Sign
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One of the most memorable things about Hung Far Low was its large, decorative sign. This sign, which read "Chop Suey Hung Far Low Cocktails," was put up as early as 1928. It was a huge, two-story sign, weighing about 2,000 pounds (907 kg).
Over the years, the sign and its supports became damaged. In 2008, it was taken down for safety reasons and stored away. Many local people wanted to save the sign because it was so popular. Restaurateurs Kurt Huffman and Andy Ricker also worked to keep the sign.
Bringing the Sign Back to Life
In 2010, a company called Security Signs restored the old sign. The restoration cost $77,000. A large part of this money, $45,000, came from the Portland Development Commission. Other money was raised through T-shirt sales and community efforts.
The restorers saved the top and bottom parts of the neon sign. The rest of the sign was rebuilt using aluminum. The pieces were carefully put together, sanded, and painted to last a long time. Experts believe the sign's new treatment will keep it looking good for about 50 years.
Kurt Huffman showed off the restored sign at a special event on September 2, 2010. Bruce Wong, whose grandfather first put up the sign, was also there. The sign is now a landmark at Northwest Fourth Avenue and Couch Street. It is seen as an important part of Chinese-American history in Portland.
See also
