Frank Fat's
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1939 |
| Founder | Dong Sai-Fat (Frank Fat) |
| Headquarters | Sacramento, California , United States |
Area served | Sacramento, California |
Key people | Fat family (owners/operators) |
| Products | Chinese-American cuisine, banana cream pie |
Frank Fat's is a Chinese-American dining establishment located in Sacramento, California, established in 1939 by a Chinese immigrant known as "Frank Fat." The original site is one among four restaurants managed by the Fat family.[1]
Marking its 80th year in 2019, Frank Fat's holds the distinction of being Sacramento's longest-running restaurant without interruption.[2] Renowned as a preferred spot where California politicians and lobbyists meet discreetly over meals, it is also famous for its distinctive banana cream pie. The restaurant has earned two prestigious culinary honors.
History
Born near Canton in 1904, Dong Sai-Fat immigrated illegally to San Francisco in 1919 by using forged documents to circumvent the Chinese Exclusion Act.[2] He assumed the identity of Wong Bing Yuen as part of the "paper son" system.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
As a member of the Taishanese people, he entered through the Angel Island Immigration Station.[3] He adopted the Anglicized name Frank Fat.
He initially worked at his uncle’s Sacramento eatery, Hong King Lum, while also taking on jobs in laundries and orchards throughout the Midwest. In 1924, he returned to China for an arranged marriage to Yee Lai-Ching (Mary Fat). After ten years, he brought his family back to California and resumed employment at his uncle’s restaurant.[3]
In 1939, after earning trust by safeguarding a $900 winning keno ticket for a state official, Fat secured funding to launch his own dining venue just two blocks from the California State Capitol.[2][1]
Initially called Frank's 806, named after its street address, Frank and Mary Fat cultivated vegetables and raised poultry on an acre near Sacramento to supply their restaurant.[4]
Situated close to the Capitol, Frank Fat's rapidly became a favorite among legislators and lobbyists due to its excellent cuisine, attentive service, and private atmosphere. Since its inception, every California governor has dined there. Distinguished guests included former governor and Chief Justice Earl Warren as well as longtime patron Jerry Brown.[2][5]
Beyond their business pursuits, Frank and Mary Fat were active in civic and political causes advocating for Chinese-American communities, including support for education and lobbying initiatives.[3]
In 1987, key legislative figures brokered a major five-year tort reform agreement at Frank Fat's, with representatives from various interest groups endorsing the deal on one of the restaurant’s linen napkins.[5][2][6][7][8]
Frank Fat passed away in 1997, followed by Mary Fat in 1999.[3] Upon his passing, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy commended Fat’s grace and role in bridging cultural divides.[4] The restaurants continue to be owned and operated by the family.
In recent years, evolving lobbying regulations, changes in alcohol laws, and increased competition within Sacramento’s dining scene have broadened the restaurant’s clientele beyond primarily political figures.[2]
The celebration of its 80th anniversary attracted notable attendees such as former governor Jerry Brown, ex-Speaker Willie Brown, and former legislator John Burton.[8]
Cuisine
An early photograph of Frank Fat displays signage advertising chop suey, American cuisine, cocktails, and private dining areas. The menu continues to feature multiple types of chow mein and chow fun.
Since its inception, the restaurant has offered a New York strip steak. Other enduring favorites include Honey walnut prawns and Peking duck. According to Eater, Frank Fat's serves deep-fried Peking duck characterized by a crisp skin and succulent meat, fully deboned and presented with scallions, homemade hoisin sauce, and steamed buns for creating bao.
Remarkably, the non-Chinese banana cream pie has been a signature dessert since the 1940s and is regarded as "arguably Sacramento's most famous dessert," illustrating the restaurant’s distinctive fusion of Chinese-American flavors.
Awards
In 2013, Frank Fat's was honored with a James Beard Foundation Award for Excellence as an American Classic. The foundation acknowledged it as a political hub in California, often referred to as the "Third House," noted for its signature dishes such as honey-walnut prawns, Frank's-style New York steak, brandy fried chicken, and banana cream pie.
The restaurant received a Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction in 2019. The Michelin Guide commended it as a family-run Chinese-American establishment since 1939, highlighting its vintage bar, refined dining space, and a menu that combines traditional selections like yu kwok dumplings with iconic items including banana cream pie.
See also
External links
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