Address: 720 Market St. Construction Date: Unknown Architect: Unknown
ASIA RESTAURANT
"The food is great as is constantly being attested to by the numerous judges and lawyers who sample the inimitable egg rolls, chop suey, chow mein and dozens of other exotic dishes."
Headlights on Downtown
Located on the ground floor of 720 Market, directly under the On Leong Merchants
and Laborers Association, set the Asia Restaurant. This restaurant was owned and
operated by Min Young and his family. After Young's retirement, his stepdaughter
Annie Leong, took over the daily operations.
In addition to great food, acclaimed by both Chinatown residents and non-residents,
the Asia Restaurant provided a place for Chinese families to gather on the weekends.
As the younger generation became more assimilated
into the American culture, places like the Asia Restaurant became a source for
cultural education. Members of the older generation would visit with their neighbors,
read two of the national Chinese daily newsletters, talk in their native language
(the Cantonese dialect) and play games such as mahjong and fan-tan, while members
of the younger generation watched and learned. Many people from outside of Chinatown
also enjoyed the restaurant's cuisine. Annie Leong commented that "many politicians
and show people-from the American Theatre and even the Grand-ate with us." The
Asia Restaurant, like many other businesses in the Chinatown area, was forced
to move once the plans for Busch Stadium were well underway. By 1966, the building
was demolished and the restaurant had moved to Delmar Boulevard.
