We gathered with old friends to say goodbye to a West Sacramento landmark last night. Kings Restaurant will be serving up their last Dim Sum brunch this Sunday. The 94 year old owner and chef, Mr. Lam, is retiring and his local celebrity server Jennifer will be taking an extended vacation to visit her family in Hong Kong. Will sure miss their Bao and old school chow main. Photo by Barbara Linker. See this link for a previous post about Kings.
Sacramento Bee OCTOBER 25, 2017 12:03 PM King’s Restaurant, the West Sacramento eatery specializing in dim sum and with roots dating back to 1960, will close its doors at the close of business on Sunday. For decades, the restaurant at 1500 W. Capitol Ave. has been run by China native Chew Lam. Jennifer Dong, a 33-year-employee, said Wednesday that Lam is finally ready to retire. She said he will turn 94 next month. “It’s about time to retire, right?” said Dong, who said she will return to Hong Kong after the restaurant closes.
Chew Lam Obituary
Chew Hoy Lam
November 27, 1924 - September 29, 2023
West Sacramento, California - Chew Hoy Lam (A.K.A. Bing Keung Wong)
Born in Hoi Ping, China on November 27th, 1924, Chew passed away peacefully at home in West Sacramento surrounded by his family on September 29th, 2023. Chew immigrated to the United States in 1949. He worked at an herb shop and had many restaurant jobs before opening his first restaurant in 1953, The Great Wall on K Street in downtown Sacramento. In 1959, Chew closed The Great Wall, and began construction of King's Restaurant in West Sacramento, which opened in 1960. King's Restaurant was known for its traditional Cantonese style cooking as well as its Dim Sum. Chew retired in 2017 at the age of 93, after 57 years of cooking and running the restaurant.
One of Chew's greatest accolades was on November 15, 2017, when the City of West Sacramento honored him with a proclamation: "Now, therefore, be it proclaimed, that the City Council of the City of West Sacramento does hereby recognized King's Restaurant for its delicious food and incredible longevity as a West Sacramento Institution and sends best wishes to Chew Hoy Lam and his family in retirement." After Chew closed the restaurant, he continued to live in West Sacramento. He enjoyed reading his newspaper, cooking, watching Sacramento Kings Basketball, taking his daily walk, and spending time with his dogs. He is survived by two stepdaughters, Dolores Powell (David) and Jane Fong, and five sons, Benny Wong, John Wong (Cindy), Denny Wong (Erin), Kenneth Wong (Shelley), Michael Wong (Hongdara), and close family friend, Jennifer Dong (Tim). His grandchildren: Russell Likes (Kitman), Spencer Powell (Kelly), Jonathan Fong (Kelly), Alexander Fong (Ruby), Benjamin Fong, Sarah Wong, Jason Wong, Coco Wong, Justin Wong, Emeline Wong, Addison Wong, Kandle Zehrung (Jake), Hunter Wong, Kylea Wong and Paris Wong. He is also survived by many great grandchildren.
Services will be held at River Cities Funeral Chapel, 910 Soule Street, West Sacramento, CA 95691 on October 12, 2023 at 10:00 AM.
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