After 30 Years, There’s Still Something New For You

It’s all about the food and the customers at Lung Fung Chinese Restaurant in Niu Valley. The restaurant (originally located in Kalihi) has been serving tasty traditional Hong Kong-style cuisine with a local twist for more than 30 years, including the last 10 under manager Eddie Ma who’s constantly creating new dishes based on his observation of customer requests.

Among the latest are Stuffed Eggplant ($10.95) with pork and black bean sauce; Tomato Basil Shrimp ($12.95) served in a flavorful tomato sauce; and Lo Hon Jai Noodle ($10.95), which is the popular jai dish consisting of carrots, black mushroom, tofu, cabbage, chestnut, baby corn, bamboo shoots, bean curd, snow peas, black fungus, sesame seeds and gum choy, but instead of the usual long rice noodles, it’s served on top of regular soft noodles or look funn noodles. Or for $1 more, you can substitute the noodles for cake noodle or Hong Kong crispy noodle.

You won’t find these new plates on the menu, but it can be ordered anytime. As for dishes that are on the menu, there are many of the typical favorites you’d expect at any Chinese restaurant, but Ma says it’s a mix of authentic with local flavors. “We also have updated a lot of items to be healthier,” he adds. “We’re using less oil, and we don’t add MSG.”

Ma also recently designed special menus for groups of four or six, consisting of the restaurant’s most popular dishes (such as Lobster with Garlic Chili, Orange Chicken and Steamed Fish Fillet with Ginger Onion) and at a great value. There also are lunch specials from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (available for takeout or dine-in) and a full-service bar, however, customers have the option to bring their own beverage ($1.50 corkage fee per person).

“We have a lot of the same customers who come all the time,” says Ma. “So, we’re always trying to make new things for them to try.”

Lung Fung Chinese Restaurant

Niu Valley Shopping Center
5724 Kalanianaole Hwy.
377-5555
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily