08/31/08

Tai Tung now well past its prime

by Indigenous

Tai Tung is a fixture in Seattle's International District, or Chinatown as it used to be called before that moniker became not-PC. I've been eating there for at least 42 years. The old place has not aged well. The restaurant has never been about ambience, it's never targeted the tourists. Rather it's been the place where the locals go to get a decent meal at a commensurate price.

It doesn't bustle like it used to, and the familiar staff just seems to be tired. The growth of the International District has brought with literally dozens of competitors and with so many choices, the old stalwart just kind of pales in comparison. As warm as my memories are of happy family meals there are, it's now true that better choices exist.

Tai Tung's surviving grace is the presence of truly authentic Chinese fare. While it has limited appeal to the American appetite, it continues to draw a small but faithful group of older local Chinese.

• Pros: One of Seattle's oldest Chinese restaurants
• Cons: The old gray mare just ain't like she used to be

01/11/07

A little dingy, and just so-so food.

by stacydean2003

Me and my husband ate here recently and it just wasn't that great. The place is a little dingy, and they were out of a number of items on the menu. The portions are ample, although the food is nothing special. Can't say that I'd go back there again.

• Pros: Big portions at a reasonable price
• Cons: Food is just not that good

11/06/06

Favorite All Time Restaurant

by queenpiglet

My parents use to take the bus from Tacoma when they were dating to eat at the Tai Tang, so I've been eating here forever (over 50 years)! Be prepared - you come for the food, not the atmosphere! Authentic Chinese food - among our family favorites: Chopped pork with Chinese sausage, Roast duck with plum sauce, Chinese mushrooms with oyster sauce, Pork chow mein with soft noodles (get crispy noodles on the side). Since my husband married into the family (nearly 30 years ago) we have added: Pork egg foo young, Fried shrimp (get the sweet and sour sauce on the side), BBQ Pork. We always get some dim sum to go (tell them its to go and they will pack it cold). Its our family tradition (my husband & I and whoever wants to join us) to eat Thanksgiving dinner here. We order so much food they have to drag a second table over and then we have food to last the rest of the long week-end. The waiters are all friendly and helpful. They pack up the leftovers and will split them however your table prefers. The drinks are so-so and expensive, but it adds to the fun.

• Pros: Tai Tung has a parking lot - get a ticket from the front counter