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GOOD EATS: Ming's serves Chinese fare in sit-down setting

August 14, 2008 @ 12:00 AM

PAUL SEBERT

For The Herald-Dispatch

HUNTINGTON -- It's often said that good judgment comes from experience.

Few chefs in the Tri-State have more experience than Ming Eng, proprietor of Ming's Restaurant. Eng, a Cantonese emigrant, has run his own restaurant since 1980 and been a chef in the area for nearly 40 years.

"I first moved to Huntington from Canada in 1969," he said. "I worked at the Holiday Inn on 16th Street, it's no longer there now. I worked there for 11 years before they went broke. I then opened up my own restaurant downtown at the historic Frederick Hotel. Ten years ago we moved to the current location at the Stone Lodge."

Eng said the move was good because of the flexibility it offered him.

"When you're working 16 hours a day, seven days a week at the Frederick, it's not easy," he said. "When I was given the offer to run my own restaurant at the Stone Lodge, I told them I couldn't work as many hours as I used to because I'm not young any more. They said I could open the restaurant whenever I wanted to, so I chose 4 o'clock."

While the original location of Ming's severed a combination of Chinese and Polynesian dishes, the current incarnation has a simplified menu. A few favorites from the original location such as Tahitian chicken and fried bananas for dessert remain. Chinese specialties at the restaurant range from sesame chicken ($12.95) to a Cantonese lobster dish called chow lung harr ($27.95). These meals are served with a choice of fried or steamed rice and an appetizer of crunchy noodles.

American fare such as sirloin strip steak ($19.95) and salmon ($13.95) are also available.

Recently the restaurant has started selling small jars of its signature sweet and sour sauce to customers.

The restaurant also has a variety of group dining options. There is an assortment of family-style Chinese dishes where, for $16.95 per person, customers can dine on a selection of favorites along with soup, fried rice, hot tea and fortune cookies. There is also the bo-bo platter, divided between two or more people for $8.95 each. The platter includes barbecue ribs, chicken wings, crab Rangoon, egg rolls, suyiyaki beef and chicken liver.

"We still have a lot of older customers from the original restaurant," said Kim Eng, restaurant manager and wife of Ming Eng. "We have been in the area for 30 years. A lot of the younger people prefer buffet-style Chinese restaurants. However, many families keep coming back here."

Ming's Restaurant is open from 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It is closed on Sundays. Reservations are recommended for large groups. Cash, check, debit and all major credit cards are accepted.

For more information call 304-736-7702.

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Paul Sebert/For The Herald-Dispatch

Ming Eng is the proprietor of Ming's Restaurant, located at 5600 Rt. 60 in Huntington. The restaurant serves both Chinese and American cuisine.

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Paul Sebert/For The Herald-Dispatch

Ming's Restaurant, located at 5600 Rt. 60 in Huntington, offers a variety of Chinese and American Cuisine.

Purchase this photo