Chinese Eateries Early Beginnings

Origin of Chinese Restaurants in America

As more and more Chinese eateries opened, catering to fellow Chinese laborers, naturally competition grew.  So much so that early Chinese restaurant owners looked for ways to expand their pool of patrons.  A natural business conclusion in any type of commercial endeavor.  In order to accommodate the typical, highly conservative American diner in the early 1800’s, Chinese eateries during those times had to adapt traditional Chinese Cantonese cuisine to Western customers.   They started out by using the American Broccoli in the stir-fry’s, along with carrots, giving birth to the traditional Chinese American dish; stir-fry Broccoli in oyster sauce, which later became the famous Beef and Broccoli.  

Chinese Combination Meal Origins

As more Chinese migrants began arriving into the United States during the California Gold Rush of the late 1840’s, this influx led to a proliferation of Chinese food and eateries along the West and East coast of the United States.  As competition grew, more and more restaurants began adding more ingredients to each dish they served, creating value for the American diner.  Soon a Chinese dish was not simply just Beef and Broccoli, or Shrimp Bok Choy, it included a more variety vegetables, lots more.

Chop Suey Rising

During the 1890’s a dish featuring combinations of vegetables, and protein started to show up on Chinese eateries in the United States.  It is here that the first Chinese American Combination plate was born, the Chop-Suey.  Chop Suey is simply a garden variety of vegetables Stir-Fry with meat or meats in oyster sauce served alongside steamed rice.  The vegetables normally include; green cabbage, white onions, celery, bok-choy, Chinese napa cabbage, bean sprouts along with the diner’s choice of protein, or a combination of proteins.  

By the mid to late 1950’s as Chinese restaurants in America started to make their way into the suburbs of the inner 50 states from the coast more and more Chinese restaurateurs found themselves in unfamiliar land and taste.  Since moving inland Chinese restaurateurs had to make value and simplicity an incentive to get a diner who have never seen rice much less bean sprouts in his or her life come in and try food that they never heard of, or seen before. 

Once again, these eateries decided to mirror the American fast-food taste of speed, simplicity and value, at the same time marrying the Asian tradition of having the whole family together during a meal.  This gave birth to the Combination Meal, or Combination Family dinners, or as the kids would say, “Best Chinese Food Combo”.  Unlike going to the drive thru of an American fast-food place, a Chinese Food combo included a soup, appetizers, and one, two or three main dishes, where an entire family can sit down and enjoy together.  They also mirrored the simplicity of charging a single price for the entire meal based on the number of diners.

Cooking the Best Chinese Family style in Las Vegas

Best Chinese Food Combo in Las Vegas Chinatown

Cooking a Great meal for the entire family is no longer an easy chore, especially today.  If you have kids, the taste buds of kids today versus just 20 years ago have change wildly.  No longer is a simple sandwich considered a meal, or a hot dog.  Kids today want a different variety of Ethnic foods to go along with all the noise and hustle of life in the 21st century.  People want variety, instant gratification, and they wanted it an hour ago.  

The Combination Family Dinner Combo #1 fulfills a Chinese diner in Las Vegas taste fully.  For those on a budget, this option is currently as of April 2026 is just $20, (twenty dollars) a person, with a 2 (two) person minimum.  A two person family can have the Best Chinese food meal in Las Vegas for just $40, Is hard to find these days.  And they are not getting short changed.  Each diner still get the same cup of Egg Drop Soup, a piece of Spring Egg Roll, a golden fry Shrimp, all served with our home-made sweet and sour sauce, and Chinese hot-mustard, this is followed by a Chicken Chow Mein, and Chicken Fried Rice.

Best Chinese Family Meals in Las Vegas 

For a great tasting family supper, when everyone is asking, “What to eat in Las Vegas Chinatown”, one can do no wrong choosing the:  Family Combo #2.  This carefully organized Chinese Food combo gives each guest a cup of hot Egg Flower Soup, an Egg Roll, a Fry Shrimp to start.  For the main event, a BBQ pork Fried Rice, Chicken Chow Mein, and Moo Goo Gai Pan round up this Chinese dinner meal coming in at $27., per person as of April 2026, with a minimum of 2 (two) person.

Best Family Meal Combo

Cooking a great tasting Chinese family meal is satisfying when your guest and or patrons enjoy their supper.  Here at Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant, we enhance our patron’s dinner experience by keeping prices affordable, dishes delightful, and creating an enjoyable dining experience.    By having a variety of delicious dishes, at the same time, all in one setting, makes any household diner delightfully pleasant, not to mention coming back for more good food.  

To make the best family combination meal, we have the; Family Dinner Combo #3.  For this third combination which currently retails for $30. Per person, as of April 2026, with a minimum order of 2 two diners, receive all the appetizers and soup as with the first and second Combination, which includes:  Egg drop soup, Spring Egg Roll, Fry Shrimps served with homemade sweet n sour sauce, and Chinese Hot-Mustard, all this is followed by Chicken Chow Mein, Combination Fried Rice, and Beef Broccoli Certified Angus.

This selection was made for diners who prefer the finer Certified Angus Beef, and with Three dinners you get to enjoy the General Tso’s Chicken that is mildly spiced, unless specified.

The First Chinese Family Combo to have Certified Angus Beef ®, in this foodie circle the Beef and Broccoli dish is finally to be included as part of the combination meal.  Other options which include Certified Angus Beef® is for a four-person Family dinner Combination #2, where the Mongolian Certified Angus Beef® is included.

Established in 1973, Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant is the oldest and most authentic Thai and traditional Chinese-American eatery in Las Vegas, Nevada.  We were the first Thai restaurant to be a 100% Certified Angus Beef® Licensee, as well as the first Chinese Restaurant in November 2011.  We are open from 11:30am to 9:30pm, for lunch and dinner, dark on Wednesdays.  The average entrée is $16 and most patrons order family style.  

To view a complete Best Chinese family dinners menu, click here.  In addition to dining in, we offer takeout, and delivery, where we also cater the entire Las Vegas Valley.  Patrons can Call: 702-247-4120, Click Chinese Food, or come on in, we are located at:  3505 S Valley View Blvd. Las Vegas, Nevada 89103, just a ½ mile West of the Sphere