Hung's Shanghai Restaurant Named Best Chinese in SPF

With a whopping of the vote, has triumphed as Scotch Plains-Fanwood’s favorite Chinese Restaurant. Patch sat down with owner Tammi Fung to learn more about the history of this local treasure.

Fung (née Hung)came to the United States in 1979 and opened Hung’s with her parents in 1981. She and her parents chose to open the restaurant in downtown Scotch Plains because it was close by to her Aunt’s well established restaurant in Metuchen. Now, Fung co-owns the business with her husband, Gene.

If you have been to Hung’s at least once or twice, chances are that Tammi remembers your name, your favorite order, and can usually recognize your voice over the phone. The secret to the longstanding success of her restaurant lies in the relationship she has developed with the community.

Tammi and Gene have three children, all of whom grew up in Scotch Plains Schools. Fung described how Daisy, age 23, Nick, 22, and Richard, 21, spent most of their childhood doing homework, eating dinner, and getting to know the customers in Scotch Plains.

“When the kids were little, we were working long hours every day,” Tammi said. “I have so many memories of them hanging out in the restaurant and napping under the counter. We treat every customer like an old friend because most of them really are our friends and neighbors.”

Some of the most popular dishes served at Hung’s include Sesame Chicken, General Tsos Chicken and the special fried rice prepared fresh at the restaurant.

“People love our fried rice because we make it differently,” Fung said. “We boil the rice first before it is fried in the wok. The secret ingredients are added as soon as the rice comes out of the boil before we put into the wok.”

Fung stated that her favorite dishes include scallion pancakes, Chicken Szechuan Style, Triple Jade Chicken (chicken, garlic sauce, snow peas, string beans, bell peppers) and the Chef’s Special Chicken & Steak with Spicy black Pepper Sauce.

Needless to say, Hung’s is not the only Chinese restaurant in Scotch Plains. With one right across the street, and several more around the corner, the well-established neighborhood spot faces heavy competition. Patch asked Fung how the business has coped with local competition and the recent recession.

“Because of the recession, a lot of restaurants are paying less for ingredients,” Fung said. “They make do financially, but the quality is not the same. We don’t do that. We continue to purchase the same high quality ingredients and prepare recipes the same way. Yes, we make less but the customers keep coming back.”

It was not hard to find those loyal customers within the walls of Hung’s Shanghai. Fanwood Resident and Scotch Plains music teacher, Debbie Shapiro and her husband, Richard, were eager to provide a glowing review of the service and cuisine offered at Hung’s.

“We are definitely loyal customers, this is our favorite place!” Debbie said. “We are always here forever because everything is so good and we can never decide what to order,” Richard added.

Hungry yet? You can visit Tammi and Gene at Hung’s Shanghai Restaurant at 360 Park Avenue in downtown Scotch Plains.  For more local news and updates, follow Patch on twitter @spfpatch.