When the Lee family opened Peking Restaurant in the Breckenridge Shopping Center 25 years ago, it was Steve Lee’s mission to continue the tradition of the first Peking Restaurant opened over 40 years ago in Richmond, to provide the finest, most healthful Chinese dining experience, offering delicious entrees using only the freshest produce.
“It’s the food,” said Jason Lee, Steve’s son who joined the business seven years ago. “We are different. Everything is made to order and we make 99 percent of it in house.” The Chester location is one of five restaurants in the family chain.
Upon arrival, it is rare if you are not greeted by Jason or Steve. It is part of the elegance you feel upon entering. The furnishings, offering booths and tables, are dated – the family is contemplating redecorating. The background music reflects the care of each ingredient used to flavor the menu selections. The flowers placed on each table are Anthuriums and are replaced every two weeks.
Quiet and private enough for a lunch meeting or a romantic date night.
Peking’s food like all Chinese food is defined by a flavor principle of soy sauce, ginger, garlic and green onions. The traditional appetizers are offered along with a variety of soups. The Dragon Phoenix, a thick seafood soup made with lemon, chili peppers, and Chinese vegetables and their Peking Special soup, are popular and are included as part of their lunch specials.
All plates are artfully presented with large portions. Jason said General Tao’s chicken is by far one of the popular choices, but the restaurant offers 16 additional specials along with traditional dishes on their menu. A couple of their specialties include Peking Imperial, a large platter with chunks of succulent lobster sautéed in a white sauce on one side and filet mignon sautéed in a brown sauce on the other; and Peking Duck, a special dish prepared in the traditional fashion, in a slow roasted Chinese oven to a crispy brown, sliced thin and served with Chinese pancakes, spring onions and a plum sauce.
Always busy, reservations are not required but are helpful especially for Sunday brunch and holidays.
If you are looking for a special restaurant to take your Valentine and have not tried Peking, a visit is in order. They are open seven days a week, close at 2:15 p.m. each day and reopen at 4 p.m.
The Lee Family began celebrating the Chinese New Year this week, February 8, that will continue for the next 15 days. Stop in and wish them Happy New Year. The New Year celebrates the year of the Monkey.
PEKING RESTAURANT
12730 Jefferson Davis Highway
804.751.9898
www.pekingdining.com
HOURS:
Lunch: Sun-Fri 11am-2:15pm
Dinner: Sun-Thu 4pm-9pm
Sat-Fri 4pm-10pm
LOCAL RESTAURANT GUIDE
AMERICAN
Applebee’s
11900 Iron Bridge Plaza
Bigs Barbecue
6515 Centralia Rd
Brew American Gastropub
6525 Centralia Rd
Boulevard Flower Gardens Cafe
2100 Ruffin Rd.
Buffalo Wild Wings
12312 Bermuda Crossroads Ln.
Central Park Deli
12744 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Half-Way House Restaurant
10301 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Hooter’s
2401 W Hundred Rd
Howlett’s Restaurant & Tavern
3530 Festival Park Plaza
804-930-1034
www.howlettstavernchester.com
Huckleberry Cafe & Catering
11400 Iron Bridge Rd
I Don’t Know Sports Grille
1920 W. Hundred Rd.
King’s Korner
7511 Airfield Dr, North
804-271-0033
www.kingskornercatering.com
Logan’s Roadhouse
2301 W Hundred Rd
Mr B’s
11844 Chester Village Dr
Murphy’s Law
6411 Chesterfield Meadows Dr.
River’s Bend Grill and Bar
13283 Rivers Bend Blvd
Sibley’s Bar-B-Q
12000 Winfree St
804-748-3299
www.sibleysbbq.com
The Bucket Trade
13131 Rivers Bend Blvd.
The Village Grill
4337 Old Hundred Rd
What-A-Burger
9901 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Wings N Things
341 E. Hundred Rd.
CHINESE
Chan’s Restaurant
7060 Commons Plaza
Chen’s Chinese Restaurant
13104 Kingston Ave
China Wok
11992 Iron Bridge Plaza
Hunan Garden
10340 Iron Bridge Rd.
804-768-9555
www.7689555.com
Red House
9810 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Peking Restaurant
12730 Jefferson Davis Hwy
(804) 751-9898
www.pekingdining.com
GERMAN
Divine Restaurant
13127 Rivers Bend Blvd.
INDIAN
Ambrosia Family Style
11 W Hundred Rd
ITALIAN
Antonio’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
11956 Iron Bridge Plaza
Bella Italia
6407 Iron Bridge Pl
Cesare’s Ristorante & Pizza
13301 Rivers Bend Blvd
Gino’s Pizza & Spaghetti House
6429 Centralia Rd
Ledo Pizza
7052 Commons Plaza
Mamas Pizza and Subs
10020 Chester Rd
Napoli’s Italian Family Resturant
15800 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Pietro’s Pizza & Italian
2601 Osborne Rd
Pino’s Pizza Italian Family
4112 Meadowdale Blvd
Pizza Hut
4501 W Hundred Rd
Sapori Ristorante Italiano
3513 Festival Park Plaza
JAPANESE
Hibachi Ichiban
12617 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Kabuki Japanese Steak House
11926 Iron Bridge Plaza
MEXICAN
Don Pepe Mexican Restaurant
2102 W Hundred Rd
El Patron Cantina
11211 Iron Bridge Rd
The Patron Mexican Restaurant & Cantina
12211 Jefferson Davis Hwy
SEAFOOD
Crab Dump
4412 W Hundred Rd
Riptides Seafood Restaurant
11212 Iron Bridge Rd
For more information, contact Linda Fausz at [email protected]
