Spokane Restaurant Guide

My family, the Chan Family, has operated Chinese Restaurants in Washington State since the 1930's. My grandfather, John Chan, opened his first restaurant, the Golden Wheel, in Yakima in 1937. It was followed closely by the Tai Tung in Seattle's Chinatown in 1940. In Spokane, my family has been serving Chinese food to the people of Spokane for over 60 years.

In 1946, Grandfather Chan moved to Spokane to open the Famous Chinese Gardens- currently the oldest operating Chinese restaurant in Spokane. Originally located on the second floor of what is currently the Ridpath Hotel, many old-timers remember fondly the giant butterfly mirror at the top of the stairs. The menu cover that you are currently reading is a copy of the original menu cover from 1946. The calligraphy on the front is my Grandfather's hand writing. The Chinese Gardens is responsible for bringing Spokane many of the dishes that customers now enjoy in Chinese Restaurants throughout Spokane, such as Special Garden Chowmein and Almond Chicken.

In 1979, my father, Joe Chan, opened the popular Ding Howe on Third Avenue in downtown Spokane. Ding Howe, which means "the best", opened to much fanfare in 1979. Famous San Francisco Chef, Chef Zhou, brought to Spokane new recipes such as Red Sweet & Sour Sauce (previously Spokane had only known Dark Sweet & Sour Sauce) and General Tsao's Chicken. When it opened, the Spokesman Review featured a full length two page article on the Ding Howe, Chef Zhou and my father, Joe Chan.

In 1987, my father renamed Ding Howe to Chan's Dragon Inn, in honor of his famous and much loved Champion Race Horse, Chan's Dragon. In 1986, Chan's Dragon had won almost ever major race in the State of Washington.