Chinese Food (Gone)
Belmont, CA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

Driving through Belmont, check out the tall roadside sign advertising Gene’s Fine Chinese Foods. With “CHINESE FOOD” stacked in big vertical letters, there was no mystery about what hungry travelers would find inside. The smaller panel at the top carried the restaurant’s name, though it was easy to miss beneath all that lettering. 03-06

Gene’s occupied a low-slung, mid-century building along Alameda de las Pulgas. The towering marquee stood high above the restaurant, making it visible to motorists traveling along the winding hillside road. It was the sort of straightforward neighborhood sign that managed to become a roadside landmark without trying too hard.

UPDATE: Gene’s Fine Chinese Foods has closed, and both the original building and tall roadside marquee have been removed. The property was redeveloped, though Chinese food can still be found nearby at Gin Mon Restaurant. 09-26

Cheung Heng (Gone)
Hollister, CA
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

Wandering through Hollister, check out the colorful dragons guarding the entrance to Cheung Sheng. The restaurant was originally identified here as Cheung Heng, but the correct name is Cheung Sheng, meaning “Long Victory.” Either way, those big painted dragons made the old wooden storefront difficult to pass without taking a closer look. 04-06

Te Cheng Fu and his wife, Lucy, opened Cheung Sheng in August 1988 after purchasing a restaurant called Winnie’s Kitchen. The family-run restaurant became a longtime Hollister favorite for its Hunan and Szechuan dishes, including orange chicken, Hunan beef, and handmade egg rolls.

UPDATE: An arson fire destroyed the original Sixth Street building and its distinctive dragon facade on November 2, 2020. The Fu family carried on, reopening Cheung Sheng at a new location on San Benito Street. The dragons are gone, but the restaurant’s “Long Victory” continues. 09-26

Asia Cafe (Closed)
Napa, CA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

Cruising through downtown Napa, check out the glowing neon sign for the Asia Cafe. The tall vertical marquee advertised CHOP SUEY in bright red letters, making this little Main Street restaurant stand out among the increasingly polished surroundings of Wine Country. 01-07

Asia Cafe opened in 1959 and was sold to new owners in 1986. They kept it going for another 34 years, preserving its inexpensive menu and wonderfully plain dining room with old Formica tables. While upscale restaurants arrived all around it, the Asia Cafe remained a no-frills neighborhood favorite with a loyal following.

UPDATE: The Asia Cafe permanently closed on June 11, 2021, ending more than six decades on Main Street. Its landmark neon sign was carefully removed and preserved in the collection of the Napa Valley Museum Yountville. 09-26

On Sang Poultry (Gone)
San Francisco, CA
Photo courtesy Gorb70

Walking along Grant Avenue in San Francisco’s Chinatown, check out the busy storefront for On Sang Poultry. This was not the usual neighborhood butcher shop. Customers once selected live birds from cages inside, which were then prepared fresh to order. 06-07

The market later became known as New On Sang Poultry and eventually operated under the San Francisco Poultry name. For decades, it remained an important stop for Chinatown families, especially around Chinese New Year, when whole chickens with the head and tail intact are traditionally served to represent family unity and good fortune.

UPDATE: The old On Sang storefront closed following a serious building fire. Its original signs had already been replaced during later name changes and are now gone. San Francisco Poultry continues serving the neighborhood from other nearby locations, including a storefront next door on Grant Avenue. 09-26

Blue Sky Restaurant
Campbell, CA
Photo courtesy Heather David

Traveling along Winchester Boulevard in Campbell, check out the colorful roadside sign for Blue Sky Restaurant. The big arrow points the way to Chinese food, while the wild starburst on top adds just enough excitement to make the camera come out. 07-08

Blue Sky opened in 1971 and has been operated by the same family since 1985. The restaurant specializes in Cantonese and Mandarin dishes and has remained a longtime favorite along the Winchester corridor. Although the interior has been updated over the years, the familiar exterior and vintage marquee have been preserved.

UPDATE: Blue Sky Chinese Restaurant remains open after more than 50 years. Its towering arrow sign and eye-catching starburst still stand beside Winchester Boulevard, adding a welcome splash of roadside color to Campbell. 09-26