West Seattle restaurants: Ex-Chopstix reported to be future New Luck Toy

Six weeks after we reported that Chopstix appeared to be closed for good, a report about the 5905 California SW space’s future has just appeared. Thanks to Desiree for spotting the story by Allecia Vermillion in Nosh Pit and sending the link: She reports that Ma’Ono co-proprietor Mark Fuller is one of the principals of what will be a “dive bar” with Chinese food under the name New Luck Toy – which, you’ll recall, was a Junction staple for decades until its closure 10 years ago. The report says it could be open as soon as June.

Wes C. Addle March 25, 2016 (11:34 am)

haha. Just posted about this in the food forum. Sounds like it’s gonna be a winner!

HelperMonkey March 25, 2016 (11:45 am)

this is going to be great. fond memories of the old divey New Luck Toy, and excited this new iteration will actually have edible food! Sounds like this will be kid-free, too, which is awesome.

sc March 25, 2016 (12:00 pm)

Talerico’s still has some of the decor of New Luck Toy.

Rick March 25, 2016 (12:03 pm)

The old Luck Toy had fantastic cheese burgers and great chicken fried steak.

HelperMonkey March 25, 2016 (1:21 pm)

…and yet oddly enough they both tasted like eggrolls. ;)

Holla March 25, 2016 (12:05 pm)

YAHOOO!!!!! So excited!! Love dives, love the old New Luck Toy, love Mark Fuller and his Maono Fried Chicken and Whiskey. Great food + great cocktails + smart business practice = Good times. :)

Eric March 25, 2016 (12:06 pm)

The underbelly is back

Sue March 25, 2016 (12:08 pm)

I missed the original story that it appeared to be closed. I wanted to like it so much, because I love Chinese food. But the last time I went it was so filthy – my feet were sticking to the floor in the dining room and the bathroom – and I said that if that’s what it was like in the guest area, I don’t want to know what the kitchen looked like. Keeping fingers crossed that it will be good food!

Ben March 25, 2016 (12:56 pm)

I agree Sue. The food was horrible or I didn’t order the right thing. Apparently non Asian food at an Asian restaurant was what I should have ordered. Who knew :)

Wait, I think you are referring to Chopstix. I thought you meant Luck Toys. Never went to chopstix but never saw what people liked about Luck Toys.

No offense.
- Sue March 25, 2016 (1:22 pm)
  
  Yes, I was referring to Chopstix. New Luck Toy was closed by the time I moved to West Seattle in 2006. I do remember the sign and décor for it that was up, so I know the name, but never had the opportunity to go.
  
  Chinese food is generally a disappointment (to me) in Seattle, as it’s nothing like the Chinese food I grew up with in New York City. Not necessarily bad food, but just not what I expect. So I keep trying places for what I consider passable Chinese food. But one of the first places I stop when I fly back home is somewhere to get Chinese food. :)
  - datamuse March 25, 2016 (3:03 pm)
    
    I ate at New Luck Toy once. Once was enough. I hope it’s better this time around.
    
    .
    
    I used to joke that if you want good Chinese food in Seattle, go to Vancouver, but it’s not entirely a joke. Until quite recently I had an impossible time finding good Chinese food in Seattle (well, there were a couple of places in the ID but even there it could be challenging). That’s changing. My favorite place in the area is still Tacoma Szechuan in Lakewood.
    - Wes C. Addle March 25, 2016 (4:02 pm)
      
      Red Lantern in the ID is pretty good. In case you haven’t tried that spot.
    - datamuse March 26, 2016 (10:43 am)
      
      Thanks Wes C. Addle! That’s not one I’ve been to.

WsBoB March 25, 2016 (12:19 pm)

Giddyup

JanS March 25, 2016 (1:22 pm)

remember, though… the prices will be higher than the (old) New Luck Toy.

@Ben…it was great for a stop for food after barhopping on Saturday night…..always a crowd – lol

OnGraham March 25, 2016 (1:52 pm)

Super lucky news for the NoMo (North Morgan) neighborhood! Can’t wait!

Kara March 25, 2016 (2:26 pm)

I’ve lived here my whole life and my favorite Chinese place is in Stayton, Oregon…

I have heard you just gotta explore the IDC to get the real deal though.

miws March 25, 2016 (2:26 pm)

Shouldn’t it be the New New Luck Toy? ;-)

I’d like to see them pay homage to the Old New Luck Toy by offering up the Number 5.

Jan, around 36 years ago, (and for a few beyond that) it was also a great place for barhopping; Georgia behind the bar, and for a time Mary Jackson on Monday nights! :-)

Mike

Franci March 25, 2016 (2:28 pm)

Hi Sue,

I agree – I really wanted to like Chopstix, got take out a couple of times and just wasn’t impressed. I was surprised because it seems like they had a successful food truck and folks were raving about this place opening up. Oh well – hoping for a better experience with New Luck Toy. ;)

miws March 25, 2016 (2:42 pm)

Oh, and it’s hard to believe that it’s been ten years already since the Toy closed down.

I hadn’t gotten there much in then recent years (and when I did, it was usually to get a #5 to go—my bar hopping days were long over by then) but, shortly before hearing that they were closing, I had co-incidentally been there for a #5. Was sad to be losing the place after it being there forever, but felt fortunate to have gotten there on last time.

Mike

Gina March 25, 2016 (2:44 pm)

Yen Wor Village is where the Luck Toy was, and when it moved to the Junction it became the New Luck Toy. Am I remembering right?

TAS March 25, 2016 (4:33 pm)

No; the original was down on Spokane Street. It moved to the Junction in the ’50s.
Ken March 25, 2016 (4:36 pm)

No. New Luck Toy was where New Luck Toy was and Yen Wor Village was, and always has been, where Yen Wor Village currently is. There was also Fong Fong Cafe just a couple of doors down from New Luck Toy – awful inside, but wonderful food. The Seattle/Puget Sound area has some excellent authentic Chinese restaurants around, but sometimes I get a craving for that old school American style Chinese, and sadly, it’s getting harder and harder to find. My go to place now is way down in Des Moines.
RayWest March 25, 2016 (4:49 pm)

Gina, depends on how old you are. I went to the old Luck Toy in the WS Junction often with my parents when I was a small child back in the late 1950s. It was owned by the Louis family. The Yen Wor Village has been in its present location for as long as I can remember and at least since the 1960s. There also used to be the Fong Fong in the Junction, a few doors south of the Luck Toy. If the Yen Wor was in the WS Junction, it must have been pre-1955.

RayWest March 25, 2016 (4:58 pm)

I am not sorry to see Chopstix close. It was obvious they were on the skids when they had to switch to Korean BBQ (or whatever it was). The food was so disappointing, over-priced, and the service sucked. I hope the New Luck Toy rises to the occasion and offers good, affordable American-Chinese style food. I personally miss the Golden Sun that was on Alki. I’d like to see the new place strive for that.

HelperMonkey March 25, 2016 (5:11 pm)

and let’s not forget the China Ding How! also, speaking of Yen Wor – does anyone actually eat there? I went in for a drink and it smells like black mold is the only thing holding that building together. I can’t imagine eating there.

RayWest March 25, 2016 (5:26 pm)

And there was also the old Hi-Hat Cafe (Chinese American) that was in the vicinity of where the Spiro’s is.
JanS March 25, 2016 (5:45 pm)

The Ding How had great wonton soup…big huge bowls on a rainy Friday night in winter. Yen Wor used to have fairly decent food. At one time their sweet and sour soup was terrific…now? no, no, no

Roddy March 25, 2016 (5:26 pm)

Mike, please refresh my memory…what was the #5?

miws March 25, 2016 (5:37 pm)

Roddy, if I’m remembering correctly; Almond Sub Gum Chow Mein, Egg Foo Young, and probably Fried Rice.

Mike

Bonnie March 25, 2016 (5:42 pm)

We ordered the #5 too! I can’t remember exactly. Almond chicken I think??? Of course the soup. We loved going to New Luck Toy.

miws March 25, 2016 (8:08 pm)

Bonnie, yes! Almond Chicken! I sort of “misspoke” above, as opposed to not remembering correctly, because in my mind I was thinking chicken, but couldn’t convey it.

So yeah, Almond Chicken, Sub Gum Chow Mein, Egg Foo Young, and maybe Fried Rice. :-)

Mike

Jissy March 25, 2016 (6:13 pm)

Yes, Raywest!!!! Loved the Golden Sun!

West Seattle Hipster March 25, 2016 (6:17 pm)

Kau Kau in Chinatown has some pretty good Chinese food.

Nope March 25, 2016 (6:26 pm)

I’m not sure what I liked most about New Luck Toy when I went there. The woman who offered to set me up with her teenage daughter … for a price. Or the woman who hit on me all night trying to get her husband to beat me up. The stomach churning gross food.

Seriously, if they want to emulate that place, I’m not going near it.

Roddy March 25, 2016 (6:42 pm)

I sure hope the owners will do a version of Almond Chicken … my absolute favorite. I want some now.

valvashon March 25, 2016 (6:54 pm)

I must be the only person here who likes Yen Wor, liked New Luck Toy, liked Chopstix (before it went BBQ) although it wasn’t great, and likes a total hole in the wall called Fortuna Cafe in the ID. I must be just so happy to have food that isn’t smothered in cheese or comes on, under or in something made of wheat that maybe I don’t know what bad Chinese food is. Yes, I do, it’s at Safeway.

Ron who grew up in WS March 25, 2016 (7:09 pm)

They should call it the New New Luck Toy

TheKing March 25, 2016 (7:19 pm)

It’s about time. Welcome back !!!!

West Seattle Hipster March 25, 2016 (8:35 pm)

I hope The Royal Fork is the next restaurant to make a comeback in WS.

Gina March 25, 2016 (8:58 pm)

Someone should bring back The Menu!

wsea98116 March 25, 2016 (11:10 pm)

I LOVED New Luck Toy! But, who went there to eat?! Cheap and STRONG drinks, scary semi-serious karaoke, and always some kind of embarrassing scuffle or loud drama!! The karaoke host would look like he just got out of bed- wearing his grey sweatpants.

Yep- it was just like home!!

..sniff..

The Hepcat March 26, 2016 (10:39 pm)

Aaahhh yes, the memories (fuzzy at best) of the mighty New Luck. Horrific food, even worse karaoke (as if there’s good karaoke), and floors so thick with god knows what you could walk right out of your shoes. But really, who went there to eat? As a RockSport bartender back in the day, I remember fat-a$$ drinks, poured like the bartenders hated their bosses, and buckets of Jager shots colder than the soul of the devil himself. After a few buckets of hooch, even sweet and sour chicken feet sounded like a marginally good idea. Geez, I miss that place……..

sweetpea March 27, 2016 (7:13 pm)

I’m still always missing Golden Sun on Alki. Still have the menu, and look at it sometimes wishing I could make a call and pick up a #1 with white rice instead of fried, and #3 with extra sweet and sour sauce and a side of extra sauce…. and a side of bbq pork… if eating it, it was a coke for my best buddy, and me checking off the next cocktail on the alphabetical typed out on a plain piece of paper….

Sorry, comment time is over.