Cafe Chat Chef cooks up authentic flavors of Hong Kong

By Jan Jacobson 

Peter Wong, owner of Peter Wong Chinese Cuisine & Fresh Seafood on Camelback Road, brings his more than 30 years of experience as a culinary creator of Chinese cuisine to Phoenix’s central corridor (photo by Jan Jacobson).

    He’s worked as an executive chef at posh well-known Chinese restaurants in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Los Angeles and in Chinatown in Washington, D.C. He has even cooked for President Ronald Reagan and more than 200 high-ranking government dignitaries, preparing special menus with unique ornamental presentations.

    Wong also has helped other restaurateurs set up and establish their eateries over the years. He moved to Phoenix in 1989 and opened his first U.S. restaurant, in Central Phoenix, called Big Wong. The menu was distinctive as he offered specials and a new style food not previously found in this country. His sister in law now runs that business.

    Two and half years ago, this native of China opened his current restaurant on Camelback just west of 15th Avenue. Wong remodeled the restaurant, adding a new color scheme, decorated the walls with Chinese art, removed the prior booths, moved the fish tanks and raised the ceiling to open it up and provide a brighter décor.

    As far as the menu goes, Wong prides himself on using a variety of foods with ingredients that appeal to American and Asian people alike. He says, “There are three things that a good chef has to create: first, the food must have good color and look good. Second, it must have flavor and third, it must be tested. We offer good quality food with original recipes and sauces, which many others have copied.”

    The light rail construction has cut into his business about 25 to 30 percent but he is optimistic that customers will come back when the construction is over in February, when he expects an increase in business. Customers can dine in the main room or phone ahead and pick up all menu items, except soup, to go.

    Peter Wong’s is open for both lunch and dinner and offers several combination specials. Among the lunch specials are orange chicken and house chicken, both made with all white meat and special sauces, no MSG. Each is accompanied by the daily soup, egg roll, crab puff, and fried or steamed rice. Lunch combos range from $5.75 to $6.50 and are served daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

    A complete menu of beef, chicken, pork, fish and seafood entrees, plus vegetable, chop suey, tofu, and noodle dishes, and a full variety of soups and appetizer choices is available to diners. Customers on special diets will find that Wong is very accommodating and willing to customize and cook to their liking with little seasoning or hot and spicy, upon request.

    For those wishing to share dinners, there’s the Peter Wong Special that includes an appetizer combination plate, choice of soup and mango chicken, shrimp (or scallops) with fried or steamed rice for $15.95 for two. The Chef’s Special Dinner includes soup, a combination appetizer plate, and two entrees, steamed or fried rice.

    There’s also a Mandarin Dinner for two priced at just $10.95 that includes soup, egg roll and crab puff, chicken and beef entrée and steamed rice. Still other popular menu items are the sizzling platter choices and hot pot selections where everything is combined together and cooked in a clay pot.

    Customer favorites include the sizzling fan steak, made from quality beef with lettuce, tomatoes and yellow onions in a special sauce served with rice, and the delicious shrimp with honey walnut and mayonnaise. Other requested items include the green bean with garlic xo spicy sauce, and Singapore rice noodle—a combination of shrimp, pork and curry. Also the chicken in black bean sauce, made Hong Kong style, is a popular selection.

    There’s also the roast duck made traditional style and Peking duck served Cantonese style with bun, not pancake. Both are roasted all day. Still other unique menu choices are the mango shrimp made with fresh mango and vegetables and the royal seafood nest, which combines shrimp, squid and scallops with mixed vegetables in a potato basket.

    “We use only quality ingredients and offer good quality food at fair prices,” Wong says. “I make all my sauces here on the premises.”

    Wong’s caters parties on site and off, from weddings and corporate events to meetings and other occasions. Delivery is available within a 3-mile radius. There is a small, elevated stage available for use for business gatherings as well as for karaoke. This family-oriented restaurant, which seats 150, also is a popular site for local business people. A lot of regulars frequent the restaurant, as well as tourists and visitors.

    Wong spends most of his time in the kitchen but enjoys coming out to talk with customers when time permits, to make sure they enjoy the food and to ask them for any recommendations.

    Peter Wong’s, 1534 W. Camelback Road, is open Monday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

    Reservations are encouraged. Call 602-266-0580.