Peking House Brings the Best of Both Worlds

Tommy Yam, owner of , in Butler, has been in the kitchen for over 30 years. When he first began his cooking journey, he cooked Italian, French and American cuisine in hotels. Yam was also the head chef at the former Calamity Jane in Kinnelon before learning how to cook Chinese cuisine and opening up Peking House.

While Yam stays true to the “traditional Chinese” way of cooking, the restaurant is happy to cater to the “Americanized” Chinese dishes, he said. They can also prepare dishes to serve those with gluten-free or dietary needs. Upon request, dishes can be served steamed or with no salt, sugar, or oil. If you make the request, they will honor it.

My guest started with chicken wings as an appetizer, whereas I chose the Egg Drop Soup. Both were delicious and gave us a good first impression before we could decide on our main meals. After our waitress saw me struggling, she asked what I would normally order in a Chinese restaurant and asked if she could suggest some options. She thought I would enjoy the Honey Glazed Chicken and my guest ordered the Pepper Steak Combo.

I was amazed at the flavor of my dish and have not seen it served in other Chinese restaurants. It is similar to the Sesame Chicken, with the chicken a bit smaller in a sweet and warm sauce that molds the dish together well. It is served with vibrant red peppers (you cannot taste them unless you actually eat them, so no need to worry about the spice), bright green snow peas and a sweet and sticky honey sauce. My guest enjoyed the Pepper Steak and we wrapped the extra up to enjoy the following day.

According to our waitress, ShaSha, the most popular dishes at the restaurant are the Black Peppercorn Mushroom Beef, Volcano Chicken and Steamed Ginger Scallion Fish. She said she prefers to find out what the customer enjoys at a normal Chinese Restaurant to get a feel for their taste buds and offers suggestions from there.

After trying the Rice Pudding, which I am normally not a fan of, I have to say it had a wonderful vanilla taste that I actually enjoyed. It is a secret recipe of Peking House, according to ShaSha.

They also serve an International All You Can Eat Buffet. Lunch is served Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $6.95 and the dinner buffett is served Monday through Thursday for $10.95 and Friday through Sunday for $18.95. On the weekends, the buffet also features Shrimp Cocktail, Oysters in half shell, Prime Rib of Beef and King Crab Legs.

In addition to the casual atmosphere of the restaurant, there is also a full bar with many specialty drinks and martinis. Traditional Chinese teas are also offered. 

The entire experience was a good one- from the service to the dishes to the atmosphere. The staff is very helpful and you feel as if you have known them for years. I am excited to go back and try something new with the help of suggestions from ShaSha. As much as I enjoy another Chinese restaurant in the tri-boro, Peking House blew it out of the water with their delicious dishes and relaxed dining experience.

Peking House is located at 1510 Rt 23 North (behind the ) in Butler. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dine-in and takeout is available.