The Hong Kong restaurant was located right next door to the ABC cinema in the Seagate, as I'm sure the majority of you will remember.
Here's a photo of the interior to refresh your memory, which dates from the late 60's.
The boss was Willie Wong, and included are 3 pictures of him on the premises.
It's strange that it was there for years & years and I would have passed by it hundreds of times, yet I don't recall ever having visited it!
Never mind me though - as well as the nosh aspect, they would often provide entertainment to go with it.
The ads under the photos are a wee example - first is dated May 1974 and has Sidney Devine one week and Bert Weedon the next.
Local act, Whistlefield, were the resident band at the time.
The second ad is dated March 1977 and here we have Paul Edison, ex lead singer of 60's pop group, The Ivy League.
Also on the bill, The Vikings.
Dundee act, The Vikings, released a single, but split up in the late 60's. However, band member, Drew Larg, kept the name going for his late 70's version of The Vikings.
The Hong Kong even dabbled in the "alternative" rock music scene for a period in 1981, by putting on post-punk bands!
I remember going there around 1970 for a friends birthday party. I was 10 and this was a pretty strange thing to do. Normally we would go to somebody's house and do Lay the Cushion Doon and Simon Says, etc, but Barbara Muir invited about five friends to the cinema and then the Hong Kong.
ReplyDeleteAs you can imagine there wre a lot of requests for Chicken Maryland amongst the kids.
Then if I haven't lost my mind saw the Delmontes there years after.....????
Craig
there were 3 great restaurants that we used to frequent when underage - the hong kong, the oriental gardens and the universal gardens up the perth road. also a good one was the anarkali in broughty ferry. they all did fab chicken marylands!! and cheap cider and babychams!!!!
ReplyDeleteMy Boss at the time used to take us for a 3 course special lunch on Fridays with drinks, seem to remember the stairs being steeper on the way out !
ReplyDeleteBrilliant place, loved the atmosphere and decor, was a special treat once a month or so, Ast Spumante, chicken fried rice etc. If I remember, you had to sit in the foyer on arrival and were shown to your table when it became ready. Saw Carl Denver Trio here one Saturday night too. Love the photo, brings back memories.
ReplyDeleteIn the 1970s many of the 60s bands did a week (or maybe a few nights residency) here. If I remember correctly, the windows onto the Seagate had loads of pictures of who was due to come. I remember seeing Dave Berry and the Cruisers and all for the price of a meal. If there was an admission charge on top I don't think it was very much...
ReplyDeleteWas probably the first chinese restaurant I ever went to, in fact, it was. Chicken Maryland lol, the memories. Great pic again retro Dundee, well done.
ReplyDeleteGirls in my class went there b4 going to the JM so they could get a drink so me & my pal tried it - they wouldn't serve us alcohol, then 2 guys got put at our table so we asked them to get it for us (as you did in those days!) Still didn't get a drink - just our luck.
ReplyDeleteAnyway we did go back and after a couple of visits we managed to get drinks so it became a regular b4 the JM - no idea what we ate or how we could afford it - we were all still at school!
What memories! I loved this place, always a stop off at the end of a night out in the late 70s for me......have to admit that mates and I did a "runner" on the place - high-spirits and much alcohol!
ReplyDeletei worked in the resident band mamba it was dreadful the manager was willie wong who mysteriously killed himself shot 2 times in the head theres a thing thank god wasnt there long
ReplyDeleteWas found in his shed in his garden.. I cleaned his house windows in the perth road
DeleteI worked upstairs in the excelsior on occasion to helpout and mr wong always made me and my guest of the day very welcome downstairs for my chicken fried rice. An occasional chick fight to end the night. happy days.
ReplyDeletemiles
I played here in a resident band July/August 1979. We had a blast! Think the owner was a Mr. Sum at the time and the DJ was Shuggie. They had a flat soewhere in Dundee that the bands stayed in as did we. Great memories. As I remember there was two sittings and we playe around the meals so to speak, as did Shuggie. I et a lovely girl while here, Lesley Cartmill. Love to contact her again. Any help welcomed. My name is Andy, I was the drummer and I'm from Yorkshire.
ReplyDeleteHe stood in for me during the week as DJ coz I was Uni at the time. Sam Sun was the manager
DeleteGod, I am old!
ReplyDeleteWe went to it by bus during the lunch hour from the Morgan, the week it opened. Probably 1964 or 1963 - the first Chinese restaurant we ever knew.
My meal was curried salmon/rice. The salmon was like chunks from a tin, but I found it delicious and was hooked!
Great photo Remember it well and was a DJ there under Willie Wong. Shared the nights with the late Jimmy Lowe. Saw some great bands there including Gerry & the Pacemakers. Mrs Millar worked in the office and Sum was the manager until Willie died. And yes the staff meal was chicken in a basket!!!
ReplyDeleteThis not right Jimmy was never the DJ at The Hong Kong ever
DeleteCharlie Wright? Worked with you in Tay centre also taffy.wee John and jimmy low 1977 Phillis and tam,and dougy Thomson and kenny,great times eh.
DeleteI was a barman with kenny in centre bar too ,new them all,great times,Jim and abbey Glennie the bouncers.
DeleteOh the memories. My friend and I used to drive over from Fife for a meal and a boogie all inclusive. 2 girls on the pull but we never did!! I remember the band but can't recall their name. One band member was called Alan Gregory I think. I'm sure he was the drummer. I loved that place.
ReplyDeleteI remember the Hong Kong restaurant well, I worked there at weekends when I was at school and then on and off between 1969 and 1971. It used be flood during periods of heavy rain. I saw many band band play ther as Willie Wong was in partnership with a promotoer (Jimmy I think) who office was above the Hong Kong Restaurant. I remember on band called Trio Leary another called Thynglechime who went on to win Opportunity Knocks and Willie had us hand out pre-addressed postcards to dinners to get them set off to Opportunity Knocks. I worked in most of Willies restaurant - Hong Kong, Kowloon and Shanghi in Dundee - the Silver City in Aberdeen - He was also involved in Dundeee Interioir Furniture and had a shop above the Hong Kong Resturant selling all sort of goods from Hong Kong including blown up furniture. Happy times
ReplyDeleteAs the time I was married to the drummme of Trio Leary! Often wondered what became of them? Anyone know?
Deletegod !!! i am the bar men in this restaurant from 1970- 1973 my name Michael ( Chinese) do I know you??
DeleteMichael, I worked there I think wen you worked behind the bar ,my name is agnes ,
DeleteI think I might hav been your girlfriend for a wee while ,
DeleteMy husband and I went there on a blind date with another couple in 1968. We married in 1969 and are still married, now living in Melbourne Australia. The Hong Kong holds a special memory for us. Linda and Callum
ReplyDeletei worked there as a waitress from about 77-79 i thought it was a great place to work great banter with the customers ..shuggie and billy were the dj's at the time pat was behind the bar ...the waitresses i remem ber are.hazel,moira,lilian (mypal) my names maggie we used to have a right laugh and got to here the bands and get paid for it lol lots of good memories
ReplyDeleteI remember the Hong Kong so well. I used to love the Chicken and Fried Rice. Saw the Walker Brothers there, although Scott Walker wasn't with them, they had a sister singing with them. I sat and chatted to the other brother, John Walker. I remember he had the same ring as me, the one which had the word "LOVE" on it. I wanted to swap with him but he didn't want to. Probaby his was a more expensive one. LOL. They also used to have GOGO dancers there on some evenings. Great Memories.
ReplyDeleteI went on to work at the Wheel Inn n Scone, Buddies in broughty ferry, Jackie Os in Kirkcaldy, Flicks in brechin, links hotel nightclub in montrose, jordans in cupar and won the regional heat of Dj of the year competition. 40 years in, still working and waiting for my long service medal
DeleteBill
Grew up in St. Andrews and went to many of the places you mention in the 70s. Wheel Inn, Jackie Os, Hong Kong. And Brought Ferry, though I think it was Sands when I went.
DeleteI remember it well and the owner Willie Wong. MY Dad Abby "Lane" Laing played there a lot I got given an album and signed photos by Mr What do you wanna make those eyes at me for, Emile ford when he played there. I still have it lol.
ReplyDeleteI used to go see your dad wen he played in the glames ,loved those times
Deleteuse to watch abby lane in the glamis and later in gj's up the Hilltown great entertainer....willy wong also owned the ambassador so the acts would play one or the other of his places ..
ReplyDeleteThanks. It's nice to know he's remembered well.
DeleteI worked on the door in the ambassador in 1977 ,I was pregnant at the time with my first daughter ,loved it with mafia every week,
Deleteha ..it is very long time ago , i was working 1971 as a bar men for three years
ReplyDeleteWillie Wong was larger than life but unfortunately he died very suddenly under very suspicious circumstances.(so many rumours about his death but truth never came out) The Hong Kong was never the same again. Willie owned businesses all over Scotland but called Dundee his home.
ReplyDeleteIn 1967 a group of high school students from the states spent 4 weeks at Dundee university. I was one of those students and my group of friends and I spent many evenings at the Hong Kong. They even took me there to celebrate my 17th birthday. Always enjoying on leaving hearing Willy Wong saying Cheerio as we left.
ReplyDeleteMy uncle had a trio which played in the Hong the late '60s early '70s I think - George Simmons & the Cortina Combo! His sister Margaret worked there as a waitress for a while. Sadly neither still with us.
ReplyDeleteRemember seeing Bernie Flint perform at the Hong Kong in 1977. He was a big act back then.
ReplyDelete