Chinese New Years Eats (2/7)

Thursday, February 7th, 2008

Today is marks the first day of the Chinese New Year celebration. This weekend why not visit any of the Cleveland Asiatown Restaurants to partake in the excitement?

According to Cleveland's 1890 census, the Chinese community consisted of just 38 residents, most of them living around the Old Stone Church area downtown. Gradually, after the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943 and as a result of the Communist takeover in Mainland China, the Cleveland Chinese community moved to present-day Asiatown during the 1950s and 1960s. In the 70s, the neighborhood welcomed Filipino, Vietnamese & Korean immigrants as well.

The neighborhood abounds in excellent, and affordable, restaurants. Among the best are Bo Loong (39th and St. Clair), a large dining room known for its dim sum, fresh seafood, and late night karaoke; #1 Pho (31st and Superior), the quintessential Chinese noodle house, popular with students and downtown office workers; and Li Wah (29th Street and Payne), in the Asian Plaza shopping center, with 400 seats, dim sum, and a varied dinner menu.

Happy New Year!