Willow Glen Resident

Business

Culinary landmark, Edna Ray, relocates to San Jose

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

A longtime South Bay culinary favorite is now calling San Jose home after serving customers in Los Gatos for 45 years.

Edna Ray Chinese Restaurant has relocated to Willow Glen at the former Emperor's Garden site at 1181 Lincoln Ave. following a five-month hiatus. The restaurant was the first in Los Gatos to specialize in Chinese food.

"We get a lot of people that recognize the name," says Anthony Suen, assistant manager. "They're intrigued by the history of the restaurant and want to know what our plans are."

Suen and his parents, Kwong Wing Suen and Lai Ying Fong, the restaurant's owners, have been looking for a location since the closure of their location in Los Gatos in July 2007.

"Last year in Los Gatos, the redevelopment agency forced many old businesses out," he says. "All of our leases ran out, and we had to go, so we had to figure out a new plan."

Suen says the family still wants to return to Los Gatos, but for now, they will concentrate on their new location.

"A lot of people in Los Gatos shop in Willow Glen and vice versa," he says. "The community is very comparable to our former location."

The restaurant was a staple in Los Gatos for 45 years, and Suen and his family plan to continue that legacy in Willow Glen.

In 1963, Edna and Raymond Lee became pioneers in the Asian restaurant business, Suen says.

"Before them, there was only one other Chinese restaurant in Sunnyvale," he says. "It was the longest-operating restaurant in Los Gatos, and something we are proud of and want to retain."

According to Suen, Raymond Lee served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. When he came back, he and his lifelong love started the restaurant. The Suens took over in 1998.

"My father is the main cook and general manager," Suen says. "He's worked throughout the Bay Area and has become pretty well known."

Suen's parents started working in restaurants throughout Asia and in Hong Kong in the late '80s.

Suen was born into the culinary life.

"I grew up with this food," he says. "I have a deep attachment to it. A lot of my childhood was spent in the restaurant business, and to stop doing it would be difficult. It's all I've known, and I'm quite used to it."

So far, Willow Glen residents have been ordering the restaurant's tangerine chicken and sesame beef dishes.

"They have become the more popular dishes," Suen says. "Both are very sweet and delectable."

The restaurant will continue its store hours from the Los Gatos location, with a break between 2:30 and 5 p.m., but Suen says customers shouldn't be deterred by the early afternoon hour gap.

"If they're hungry, we'll gladly serve," he says.

Edna Ray Chinese Restaurant is located at 1181 Lincoln Ave., San Jose. Hours are Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 pm, closed between 2:30 and 5 p.m. and on weekends from noon to 9:30 p.m.

For more information, call 408. 280.7738 or visit www.ednaray.com.