Monday, January 1, 2024
Downtown State College had no full-dining Chinese restaurants in 1977 when I arrived on PSU campus. There was Suzi Wong Egg roll shop, but I missed my family's cooking and Cantonese-style food: stir fry beef/chicken and veggies, good rice, fried rice, lo-mein, dumplings, etc. My options: pedestrian dorm cafeteria food (burger patties, deep-fried sausages "taco dogs", etc.). Just Ye Olde College Diner (midnight fries and chili), the Corner Room (stickies and club sandwich), and another diner. No national chains. David and Julie Chen opened the Golden Wok in early 1980s and offered delicious Chinese dishes. I saved up and went as often as I could afford. When I stayed after graduation to work locally and got married, we ate regularly at the Wok.
The restaurant expanded the house space, adding a front sun room and back room. They were popular for take-out and student group dinners. David and Julie would recognize us and give us a good table. Their sons worked there for years. For a post-funeral dinner with my extended family, Julie provided special dishes.
Our condolences to Julie, Jeffrey, Evan and families. We will miss David, but the Chens and the Golden Wok will always be remembered as a landmark family business in downtown State College.
