Explore Lung Fung’s Endless Possibilities

Chinese restaurants are notorious for long menus filled with various noodle, rice, seafood and dim sum dishes. But sometimes eating the same ol’ spring roll or stir fry can become monotonous, even for the most loyal Chinese cuisine die-hard.

Luckily, at Lung Fung Chinese Restaurant, customers can look forward to a few new additions to the already extensive menu (more than 120 different items at last count) every week.

“I always create at least one new dish a week,” says manager Eddie Ma. “This is a neighborhood business, and most people are return customers, so I want to keep giving people new and different tastes.”

The newest creation to make its way from Ma’s imagination to the kitchen is Steamed Eggplant with Garlic ($10.95). Usually a tricky vegetable to cook, the eggplant in this dish is steamed to perfection and is topped with both fresh and crispy fried garlic.

“We have an Eggplant with Garlic Sauce ($10.95), like most other Chinese restaurants do, but we also want to do something a little healthier, so we steam the eggplant and use fresh garlic instead (of the sauce),” Ma explains of the dish not currently found on the menu.

“It’s fresh and steamed with the garlic, something different,” he says.

Innovation is a key component of many Lung Fung recipes, according to Ma, who quickly brings out a plate of his delectable Steamed Peking Dumplings ($8.95), eight little purses filled with a mixture of shrimp, pork and chives and served with a spicy house shoyu sauce.

“Some people like it crispy, but we make it this way because it’s healthier and we use less oil,” Ma says.

Another original Lung Fung dish diners adore is the Salt & Pepper Tofu ($8.95), which, in addition to a heaping pile of golden fried tofu pieces, comes loaded with crispy garlic and red peppers.

“Other restaurants use only spicy salt and some pepper, but we make ours different because of the crispy garlic,” Ma says. “It’s so popular.”

On the Side

Lung Fung Chinese Restaurant has been a favorite dining out location with the East Honolulu community of Niu Valley and its surrounding neighborhoods for years. But for those unfamiliar with the area, it’s easy to miss this restaurant tucked away in the quaint Niu Valley Shopping Center.

However, one step into Lung Fung and it’s clear to see this is no ordinary Chinese restaurant. For starters, the decor is extraordinary, with intricate wood carvings covering the ceiling and grand carved archways welcoming guests to a seat in the spacious dining room. Glass chandeliers shipped in from China cast a warm glow across the room, and on the far end of the floor is an immense mural of a golden dragon and phoenix.

“The dragon and phoenix bring good luck in the Chinese culture, so together they are even luckier,” says manager Eddie Ma.

“Also,” he adds, “dragon symbolizes the king, and the phoenix is the queen.”

Diners will especially feel like royalty at Lung Fung when enjoying dishes that include but are far from limited to Deep-Fried Oyster ($13.95), Crispy Garlic Shrimp ($13.95), Clam with Wine Sauce ($13.95), Honey & Young Ginger Chicken Casserole ($11.95), Smoked Tea Duck with bun ($17.95 half, $35 whole), Minute Chicken ($9.95), Mongolian Beef ($10.95), Sweet Sour Spare Ribs ($9.95), Wo Nam Style Lamb ($11.95), Egg Fu Yung ($9.95), Ginger Fried Rice ($8.95), Soft Gau Gee Noodle ($9.95), House Special Fried Noodle ($11.95), Steamed Manapua ($7.95), and live lobster and crab (seasonal).

“Chinese food, there are so many selections, and it’s hard to write everything on one menu,” says Ma, noting the restaurant also offers desserts, several banquet menus and specials that change daily.

“We have so many things,” he promises, “and a lot you won’t find any place else!”

Lung Fung Chinese Restaurant

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