China Diner in downtown Reno to reopen as Asian bistro
Johnathan L. Wright
The stir-fry is gone. Long live the stir-fry!
China Diner -- the Chinese spot in downtown Reno that served folks won ton soup and kung pao chicken and pork chow mein for more than 20 years -- is going to reopen as an Asian bistro under new owners, according to the culinary word on the street.
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For many years, China Diner was famously open until 3 a.m. daily, drawing night owls and college students and patrons disgorged by downtown bars for combination plates beneath strident fluorescent lights.
(As Rosa Rosales lamented in Reno Foodies on Facebook, "Now what am I supposed to do when I'm drunk and wanting Chinese in the middle of the night?!")
From the street at 1 a.m., the scene framed by the diner's large windows resembled a Reno version of "Nighthawks," with a Chinese twist.
China Diner closed about two months ago. Although it was known as a Chinese fast food spot that did brisk business in take-out general's chicken, the restaurant also offered more traditional dishes like congee, roast duck noodle soup and fiery mapo doufu.
(I liked the mapo doufu, but my standard order was pot stickers, steamed not fried, and a heaping snarl of Singpore noodles, extra curry, among the best in town.)
Renovations to the restaurant's space at 275 West St. already have begun, though as of Feb. 1, 2018, the China Diner sign remains (more buzz: the name is going to change).
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Johnathan L. Wright is the food and drink editor of RGJ Media. Join @RGJTaste on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.