Something that will come as a surprise to visitors -- and even many locals -- is that Houston is home to the largest Chinatown in the country, area-wise. It is centered around Bellaire Boulevard in the southwest part of the city. Access to affordable land and large-scale immigration from Southeast Asia fueled its growth beginning in the late 1980s. There are several large restaurants in this Chinatown that handle weddings in the local Chinese community. Many other venues are also used for weddings, but are not Chinese restaurants.
Known for its Hong Kong-style seafood and the excellence of its dim sum during the weekend, Fung's Kitchen is large restaurant -- accommodating up to 350 people -- which also handles numerous Chinese weddings. Its wide repertoire includes southern Chinese-style cooking, exotic game dishes, and even "the true taste of 5000 years way back to the King dynasty," according to its Web site. It can accommodate a range of preferences. Opened in 1990 it is conveniently located near Bellarie and the Chinatown in southwest Houston.
Fung's Kitchen
7320 Southwest Freeway
Houston, Texas 77074
713-779-2288
fungskitchen.com
Occupying one end of Hong Kong City Mall in Chinatown, Ocean Palace is possibly the largest restaurant in the country west of the Mississippi. It has two levels and numerous private rooms. The upper floor -- seating around 500 -- is dedicated to daily dim sum service. Its main dining room fills on weekends, and waits are expected after noon. Given the size and range of services offered, it is also frequently used for weddings. The kitchen's capabilities extend beyond Cantonese and Hong Kong-style cooking to include northern items like Peking duck than can be part of a multi-course wedding banquet.
Ocean Palace
11215 Bellaire
Houston, Texas 77072
281-988-8898
Located at the other end of Hong Kong City Mall from Ocean Palace, Tay Do is a large restaurant, if not on the gargantuan scale of its neighbor. It is owned by an ethnic Chinese family that immigrated from Vietnam. They serve an extensive array of over 200 items, both Vietnamese and Chinese. It is known more for its Vietnamese offerings, but it does accommodate Chinese wedding parties. Part of the attraction of Tay Do is in its well-appointed interior, which includes artwork, attractive lighting, and even chandeliers.
Tay Do
11201 Bellaire Blvd
Houston, Texas 77072
281-988-8939
