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257 results for: Restaurants

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Image of King Fur Cafe menu, circa 1945
Menu

King Fur Cafe menu, circa 1945

In the 1930s, several Chinese nightspots opened in Seattle's Chinatown neighborhood (now the Chinatown - International District), catering to both Asian and non-Asian customers. Among them was the King Fur Cafe at 709 1/2 King Street, run by long-time manager Fred Eng until around the 1960s. King Fur's menu offered both Chinese and American dishes, in addition to music and…
ID Number:2021.15.9
Date:Circa 1945
Image of Louie's Chinese Garden menu, 1943
Menu

Louie's Chinese Garden menu, 1943

Charles Louie opened Louie’s Chinese Garden on South Main Street in Seattle’s Chinatown (now the Chinatown - International District) sometime in the 1930s. In the 1940s, the restaurant served both American and Chinese food, and was also a nightclub, offering dancing with a regular orchestra. During World War II, patrons could buy War Stamps at the cashier’s counter. Louie’s sons…
ID Number:2021.15.10
Date:1943
Image of New Chinatown restaurant  menu, 1943
Menu

New Chinatown restaurant menu, 1943

Daniel Woo opened his New Chinatown restaurant and supper club in the early 1940s. Located on 6th Avenue South and Main Street in Seattle’s Chinatown (now the Chinatown - International District), it offered both dining and dancing. A January 1944 newspaper ad promotes the New Chinatown as a great place for an evening of fun. It opened at 6:00 pm…
ID Number:2021.15.11
Date:1943
Image of Great Northern Secrets cookbook, circa 1925
Ephemera

Great Northern Secrets cookbook, circa 1925

The “Oriental Limited” was a train route between Seattle and Chicago operated by the Great Northern Railway. In response to the popularity of the food served on the Oriental Limited, the Great Northern published this cookbook of “secret” recipes from the chefs on the train, and photographs of some of the chefs. Several of the recipes feature ingredients sourced from…
ID Number:2023.14.35
Date:Circa 1925
Image of Seattle's International Settlement brochure, circa 1960
Ephemera

Seattle's International Settlement brochure, circa 1960

The Jackson Street Community Council (1946-1967) was established to represent both Seattle's Asian and African American communities in part of the Central District and the Chinatown - International District, supporting businesses, volunteer organizations, and social groups. The JSCC linked these two communities of color and later advocated for civil rights for both. This brochure, titled Seattle's International Settlement, gives an…
ID Number:Lib1991.30.19
Date:Circa 1960
Image of 22 Mercer menu, circa 1945
Ephemera

22 Mercer menu, circa 1945

The menu pictured here for 22 Mercer features a bullet and the slogan "Shoot Straight for 22." At the time, the restaurant offered tenderloin steaks for $0.60 and pints of chili for $0.25.
ID Number:Lib1991.38.6
Date:Circa 1945
Image of Shanghai Restaurant menu, circa 1960
Menu

Shanghai Restaurant menu, circa 1960

The "Shanghai Cafe" opened in 1916 on Second Street in downtown Seattle. Later, a second location was opened at 711 Pike Street, which was named the "New Shanghai Cafe" after the original location closed. According to his obituary, Wing Pon Lock (1906-1969), a Chinese immigrant and naturalized U.S. citizen, bought the New Shanghai Cafe in 1948. It appears that his…
ID Number:Lib1991.38.8
Date:Circa 1960
Image of Valentine's Suburban Café menu, circa 1944
Ephemera

Valentine's Suburban Café menu, circa 1944

The menu pictured here calls Valentine's Suburban Café "the popular rendezvous of the highway" due to its location on Aurora Avenue at 96th Street. However, in 1944 the establishment was referred to as a "roadhouse" and charges of illegal gambling were brought against owner Robert Jacobs. The restaurant doesn't appear in Seattle directories before 1943 or after 1945, so the…
ID Number:Lib1991.38.9
Date:Circa 1944
Image of Hesse's Southern Barbecue menu, circa 1940
Ephemera

Hesse's Southern Barbecue menu, circa 1940

Hesse's Southern Barbecue restaurant was opened in 1933 at 139 North Broadway in Seattle by Leonard Leray Hesse (1890-1982) and his wife, Frances S (Burke) Hesse (b. 1898). They sold the restaurant in 1945, and it continued at the same location until about 1963. The menu pictured here still has the Hesses' name on it, and offers barbecued ham sandwiches…
ID Number:Lib1991.38.13
Date:Circa 1940
Image of Vince Giuffre making pizza, Seattle, 1954
Photograph

Vince Giuffre making pizza, Seattle, 1954

Vince Giuffre owned Italian Spaghetti House and Pizzeria in 9824 Bothell Way in the mid 1950s. At the time, pizza was still being introduced on the West Coast and considered a novelty.This portrait of Giufree was part of a feature in the Seattle Times that went through the steps of making pizza, which was documented by photographer Josef Scaylea. Scaylea…
ID Number:Lib1993.20.152
Date:1954
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