There is something synonymous with eating Chinese food and Christmas after watching the 1983 classic “A Christmas Story”.
So it’s fitting that Christmas Eve is one of Sun Wah Restaurant in Sudbury’s busiest days of the year.
Victor Fong is one of three owners at the New Sudbury Chinese restaurant since 1997 with brother Chi Wing Fong and his brother-in-law Jian Chuan Guan.
He said the Christmas rush seemed to happen during the last 10 years of ownership.
“I wonder if it is because younger generations don’t want to cook big meals on holidays like New Year’s Eve, Mother’s Day and New Year’s Day,” said Fong.
Fong said the other benefit to ordering Chinese at Christmas is that it offers dinner guests variety.
There are beef, pork, chicken and seafood dishes. Curry is also an option for those who like heat.
Fried rice and steamed rice are favourites. And those who want their fill of vegetables can ask for dishes that include mixed vegetables, sliced almonds and water chestnuts.
The restaurant has had several owners over the past 46 years but Fong said the menu really has not changed that much with more than 60 items still on the menu.
Fong said everything is homemade from the tedious bean sprout stuffed and wrapped egg rolls to the frying and dicing of meat. He said customer favourites are the chop suey, chicken wings and chicken balls as well as the chicken fried rice.
Like most Canadian Chinese restaurants, Sun Wah was known for its buffet. Fong wonders if self-service style eating will ever return in a post pandemic world.
Currently there are only five tables permitted for lunch and dinner guests. Fong said most people simply come in to pick-up their takeout or request that it be delivered right to their door.
“In-house dining has been very slow. That’s a hard hit for us. The prices are also going up in the grocery store too. Produce, meat and oil prices have increased. Oddly, plum sauce and soya sauce are sometimes hard to find," he said.
To make things easier on its customers when ordering, Sun Wah offers traditional dinners for two to six people.
The dinner for six features egg rolls, sweet and sour chicken balls, honey garlic spare ribs, diced chicken with vegetables and almonds, tai dep woey (vegetable dish) and special fried rice.
The Sun Wah Restaurant is located at 1540 Lasalle Boulevard, across from the Real Canadian Superstore. Find their menu here.
The restaurant is open for dining, delivery and take out. Hours of operation are as follows:
- 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sunday to Thursday
- 11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
- Closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Anastasia Rioux is a freelance writer in Greater Sudbury.
