- Chinese Food
- Chinese Restaurant
- Washington
- San Juan County
- Friday Harbor
- Chinese Restaurant in Spring Street
- China Pearl Restaurant [UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT]
China Pearl Restaurant [UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT] Photos
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Hours
Monday, ClosedTuesday, 12:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday, 12:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday, 12:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday, 12:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday, 12:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday, 12:00 AM - 9:00 PM
About China Pearl Restaurant [UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT]
Located at 51 Spring St, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, USA, the China Pearl Restaurant is embarking on a new chapter, operating . This development signals a significant effort to revitalize a long-standing establishment that holds nostalgic value for many in the community. For inquiries or to place an order, the restaurant can be reached at (360) 378-5254 or +1 360-378-5254. The new management aims to bring back the quality and experience that made China Pearl a favorite in its heyday, offering a diverse Asian culinary experience.
As an "Asian restaurant with a variety of options," China Pearl Restaurant extends beyond traditional Chinese fare to include elements of Japanese cuisine, specifically Sushi and Teriyaki. This broader scope makes it a versatile dining choice for those in Friday Harbor and visitors to the San Juan Islands looking for diverse Asian flavors. The menu is expected to encompass classic Chinese dishes, such as the positively reviewed Egg Flower Soup, praised for its nice broth and choice of ingredients, and Sweet and Sour Chicken, noted for its soft and moist texture with a delicious sauce. The Chicken Chow Mein has also been highlighted as a standout dish within a combo meal. While aiming for variety, the focus under new management appears to be on improving the core quality of each offering, addressing past declines, and re-establishing a reputation for delicious food across its varied menu.
The environment of China Pearl Restaurant, under its new management, seems to be undergoing a positive transformation. While no specific architectural details are provided, the sentiment from a returning customer suggests a significant improvement from its previous state. The atmosphere is likely designed to be welcoming and comfortable, typical of a local community restaurant that serves a diverse clientele, including both residents and tourists. The effort put in by the new owners indicates a commitment to creating a pleasant dining space. For a multi-cuisine establishment like China Pearl, the interior might feature a blend of design elements that reflect both Chinese and Japanese aesthetics, creating a cohesive yet varied ambiance. The goal is to provide a clean, inviting, and functional space where diners can enjoy their meals, whether they're looking for a quick bite before a ferry ride or a leisurely dinner.
Service at China Pearl Restaurant is a key area where new management is making a noticeable impact. Positive feedback highlights the staff as "nice, and helpful; all things good servers are." This indicates a focus on attentive and courteous service, crucial for rebuilding customer trust and loyalty. However, it's also noted that during peak times, such as a "busy long weekend," service can be "noticeably slow," with instances of only one waitress handling all tables. This suggests that while the intent for good service is there, operational challenges may arise during high-demand periods. For customers pressed for time, such as those catching a ferry, this could be a concern. Despite these occasional challenges, the general effort to provide a pleasant service experience is evident. The restaurant offers dine-in options, allowing customers to sit and enjoy their meals, and likely provides take-out service for convenience, though this is not explicitly detailed. The new management's commitment to improving overall service is a continuous process, aiming to provide a seamless experience for every guest.
Key features of the revitalized China Pearl Restaurant include its multi-cuisine offering, providing a range of Chinese, Japanese, Sushi, and Teriyaki options, which is a significant draw for a diverse customer base in Friday Harbor. The restaurant's historical significance to the local community, with customers recalling it as a "favorite restaurant 20 years ago," is a powerful feature that the new management can leverage by restoring its former glory. The improved food quality, particularly dishes like the Egg Flower Soup and Sweet and Sour Chicken, signifies a commitment to culinary excellence. Even with minor personal preferences noted by reviewers, the overall taste and preparation are seen as greatly improved. The positive reception of the Chicken Chow Mein also points to reliable staples on the menu. The dedication of the new owners to put in the necessary "work" to reverse the restaurant's previous decline is a defining characteristic, showing a genuine effort to deliver a better dining experience.
From a promotional standpoint, the primary promotional message for China Pearl Restaurant is the explicit announcement of . This serves as a direct invitation for former patrons to revisit and for new customers to give the refreshed establishment a try. The positive early reviews, especially from long-time community members who note the significant improvements, act as powerful word-of-mouth marketing. These testimonials highlight the turnaround and build confidence in the new direction. While no specific promotional deals or campaigns are mentioned, the inherent promotion comes from the renewed focus on quality food and improved service. Highlighting popular dishes like the improved Egg Flower Soup and Sweet and Sour Chicken, or the notable Chicken Chow Mein, can attract diners. Furthermore, the restaurant's diverse menu, including Sushi and Teriyaki, can be promoted to appeal to a wider audience. Given its location in a tourist-friendly area like the San Juan Islands, capturing the attention of visitors seeking a quick and satisfying Asian meal before ferry travel is also a key promotional opportunity, even if service speed needs consistency during peak times. The ultimate promotion will be the consistent delivery of a positive dining experience that encourages repeat visits and positive recommendations.
China Pearl Restaurant [UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT] Location
51 Spring St, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, USA
Customer Reviews
I am quite happy. I haven't been back to this place in 10 years since it began its original decline, but I can tell the new owners have put the work in! It's a far cry from what I remember, and that makes me so glad. This was my favorite restaurant 20 years ago when I was young. Starting with the staff, rather pleased with them. They were nice, and helpful; all things good servers are. Little more to say on that. I had the Egg Flower Soup and Sweet and Sour Chicken. The soup has a nice broth and I loved the choice of ingredients, though I wish they were chopped a little smaller so they fit on the spoon better. The chicken was soft, not dry, and the sweet & sour sauce was delicious. Wish the breaded part was a little crispy, but the taste was still great. My very minor complaints would only be personal taste; I'm sure there are people who would ask for the opposite. Overall I am very pleased with the food and will definitely be returning for it. I cleaned my plates, which I think says enough! Wishing the new business owners good luck.
If you’re looking for an Asian restaurant with a variety of options like Chinese, Japanese, Sushi, and Teriyaki, this spot offers a decent range of choices. We stopped in hoping to grab a quick meal before catching the ferry back to the mainland, especially since we’ve visited the San Juan Islands several times and hadn’t tried Asian cuisine here before. Unfortunately, it seems we may have caught them on an off day during a busy long weekend. The service was noticeably slow, with only one waitress handling all the tables, and she was not the friendliest. We were really hoping to get our food sooner rather than later, but the wait felt longer than expected. As for the food, it was just okay—nothing particularly memorable or worth raving about. We went with a combo meal, and the Chicken Chow Mein stood out as the highlight of the meal, but the rest was fairly average. It’s a decent spot if you’re craving Asian food and are in the area, but based on our experience, it may not be the best choice if you’re pressed for time or looking for standout flavors. Hopefully, it was just a busy day, but the overall experience could have been better.
The food is really good, fresh. Most chinese joints all pretty much taste the same but the dishes here are of a better quality and aren't just drenched in sauce for flavor. The Korean short ribs and spicy Korean fried chicken are favorites for sure, and the lady(owner?) That is always there is super nice.
Friday Harbor was hopping. The streets were full of cars and tourists were staring at ads in front of the real estate office and dreaming about island life. I had a bit of business to take care of up by the airport, so I was able to stay out of the bustle. Once my business was done, I was hungry. I had heard that there were new owners at China Pearl. Why not give that place a try? The sign outside advertises Chinese food, sushi and teriyaki. The menu also offers some polynesian options. This Asian smorgasbord is prepared by Koreans. I was trying to figure out what direction to go when I spotted something on the Appetiser menu - A pupu platter. I'm a sucker for variety, so that was perfect. The waitress laughed a little when I ordered that and a California roll. The California Roll came out first. It looked perfect. Everything looked fresh and properly formed into a roll of rice and goodies. The first bite was a mixed event. On the one hand, the flavors were perfect. On the other hand, the rice was slightly undercooked. I was willing to overlook the flaw while I got ready for the pupu platter. When it came, I realized why the waitress laughed. There was a lot of food on the little wooden tray. Egg rolls, fried wontons, gyoza, a drumette and flat from a chicken wing, char siu pork and a couple of beef skewers. The beef already had grill marks on it, so I didn't worry about the fact that the little grill in the middle was not lit. Since most of the food was fried, it was a real shame that the fryer oil was burnt. Everything tasted like KFC on a bad day. The char siu pork was over cooked and under flavored. Then, I went for the skewers and realized that they were cold. I looked into the grill. It did not even have any fuel in it that could be lit to warm the meat. I ate everything up, but I was not thrilled about it. I was the only customer in the place, so the staff decided there was no reason to come out of the back. I had to go up to the cash register to pay my bill. I forked over a lot of money for the disappointing meal and headed for the ferry to go home.
For anyone looking at these reviews, you REALLY need to look at the ones from the last one year, as any of the older ones are for a totally different restaurant (same name, sadly, but different owner/menu). The new China Pearl is phenomenal. It has some of the best veggie Mushu I've ever had (and I spend most of the year based in Asia), and the owners are incredibly kind. Tell them what kind of dishes you usually like, and then ask them for their recommendations: they will never steer you wrong. Tasty, friendly, and reasonably priced considering the very large portion size. When I'm in town I go here two to three times a week, literally. 🤣 I don't actually understand the negative reviews here but maybe there are some items that are less awesome on the menu? Possible as potentially it is a but of a large menu. I'm vegetarian so I can't comment on the meat, but my Korean partner loves their Korean dishes.
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