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

07/13/04

my favorite restaurant

by jvilog

Ever since I was a little girl living in Kent, my family and I have went to Tai Tung. My dad was a farmer in the kent valley, he new the owner(from many moons ago)some of my favorite dishes are their ginger beef and their sizzling rice soup. I now take my family there. It is our favorite place. There is something comforting about going to a restaurant which has some of the same waiters that waited on you when you were a child!

11/29/02

Always great!

by rhondawilson770

The best chinese food in Seattle! Consistently good. Cashew chicken is the best! Dim Sum is always good, especially the How Gow (shrimp balls)! Great value for your money! Always seated promptly. Portions are more than you can eat. Be prepared to take some home! Waiters are always courteous and helpful. A must go place when visiting Seattle.

• Pros: food, value, portions
• Cons: bathrooms

10/06/02

Absolutely the BEST

by streamline709

We dine out quite often, but hadn't taken the time to try the International District in many years. Wanted to surprise some friends with the "real deal" and due to word-of-mouth, decided to try theTai Tung. Went there nearly 20 years ago and liked the food and experience. We were over-joyed to find that the food was STILL the absolute best and the waitstaff could not have been more enjoyable. Will go back often now that we've "found" it again. Do yourself a favor - go to the Tai Tung. You will love it.

• Pros: Terrific food, Good parking, Wonderful waitstaff

07/19/02

Tradition -- Chinese Style

by algermom1

All right, it's not state of the art cooking, cutting edge atmosphere or a place to catch the "coolest"

people and happenings. If a taste of the "ordinary"

people along with good basic Cantonese/Szechwan

food appeals to you, come here. I got used to Tai

Tung's cuisine once a week(albeit take-out) over

my first 25 years; (I'm only 48!) after a 15 year absence, it's nice to come back to Seattle and find that little has changed...the restaurant has a few

aesthetic changes, some of the staff and regulars

different, but the same good food, and relaxed atmosphere was still here! Want someplace different, and have some time on your hands? Eat here.

• Pros: Comfortable, Friendly staff, Variety
• Cons: Parking, Crowded at mealtime, Not for large parties

07/01/02

Tai Tung=Tounge Tied :P

by Nelluc

I ordered some salt and pepper squid from this joint. It tasted like deep fried dirt. No flavor, pieces huge and greasy. Tai Tung left my tongue tied in a disgusted knot. Other items on menu may be better, hard to be worse.

• Cons: food tasted like dirt