Chin's was one of the many already established Chinese restaurants that jumped on the Pop Polynesian bandwagon to help bring in customers.

Chin's was the oldest Chinese restaurant in Western New York, established in 1933. Paul G.E. Wong purchased the business in 1949 and ran it as a family business until he retired in 1977. The family continued to run it for several years afterward until the closing in 2018.

They specialized in Cantonese cuisine, but postcards from around 1977 show their exterior lounge and advertising highlighting "Chin's Islander Lounge Chinese Polynesian also American Foods and Exotic Drinks".

Their earlier Red Dragon logo from 1950s menus appears to have been replaced with the Polynesian emphasis.

Today, as of 2025, the space is home to Coco Bar & Bistro (French food and burgers).

Additionally, Chin's appears to have had two younger sister restaurants with the same name at the other end of Lake Erie, in Cleveland, Ohio (one at 3042 St. Clair Avenue and one at 10613 Euclid Avenue).

Details

Type

Bar & Restaurant

Address

Buffalo, New York, United States

Closed?

Yes (Permanently)