Wong Kei

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Wong Kei
WILLY CLARKSON - Wong Kei - 41-43 Wardour Street Soho London W1D 6PY.jpg
Wong Kei in 2015
Restaurant information
Food typeCantonese cuisine
Street address41-43 Wardour Street
CityLondon
Postal/ZIP CodeW1D 6PY
CountryUnited Kingdom
Coordinates51°30′41″N 0°07′57″W / 51.511389°N 0.1325°W / 51.511389; -0.1325Coordinates: 51°30′41″N 0°07′57″W / 51.511389°N 0.1325°W / 51.511389; -0.1325
Seating capacity500
Websitewongkeilondon.com

Wong Kei (Chinese: 旺記; pinyin: wàng jì; Jyutping: wong6 gei4) is a Chinese restaurant in London's Chinatown, once described as "the rudest restaurant in London".[1] It is one of the largest Chinese restaurants in the UK with seating for around 500 diners.

Restaurant[]

Wong Kei was once known for the rudeness of its staff, who would shout "Sit down with them!" or "Go upstairs!" to arriving patrons,[1] insult customers who asked for a knife and fork, and chase those who failed to leave a sufficient tip. This aspect was seen as a positive and enjoyable feature rather than a criticism of the restaurant.[2] After a renovation, the restaurant reopened in 2001 with friendlier waiters,[3] and when it reopened under new management in March 2014, new owner Daniel Luc said: "Maybe there was an issue with rude staff 20 to 30 years ago, but I don't think so any more. I don't know whether that's a good thing or not."[4]

Building[]

Wong Kei is situated at 41–43 Wardour Street, in a building previously owned by Willy Clarkson (1861–1934), a theatrical wig maker and costumier, as attested by the 1966 blue plaque on the façade.[5] The building was designed by the architect in a mixed Baroque and Art Nouveau style; Sarah Bernhardt laid the foundation stone for the building in 1904 and Sir Henry Irving laid the coping stone in 1905. Clarkson's was there from 1905 to 1940.[6]

When Terence Dalley sketched the building in 1972, another Chinese restaurant, Lee Ho Fook, occupied the ground floor.[7]

  • Blue plaque to Willy Clarkson

  • Plaques on either side of the entrance

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Williams, Zoe (24 February 2014). "Goodbye to the rudest restaurant in London – Wong Kei is finally ditching the bad attitude". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  2. ^ Hao, Lu (29 September 2011). "Wong Kei – Leicester Square W1D – Restaurant Review – Time Out London". Timeout.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  3. ^ Campion, Charles (8 August 2001). "Rude awakening at Wong Kei". Evening Standard. This Is London. Archived from the original on 9 December 2009.
  4. ^ Dent, Grace (11 September 2020). "Part of the Capital's folklore". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  5. ^ "English Heritage". Archived from the original on 8 January 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2007.
  6. ^ "Rupert Street Area | Survey of London: volumes 31 and 32". British-history.ac.uk. pp. 111–15). Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
  7. ^ "Catalogue: Pencil: 43 Wardour Street, London W1; Producer: Dalley, Terence". Museum of London. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.

External links[]

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