Lee's Den Restaurant At 8100 South Main St.

[spiderroller]

On 7/16/2009 at 8:43 AM, tomlaf said:

In the 1970's there was a Chinese restaurant, Cathay House I think, around the 6600 block of S. Main near Dryden or Southgate intersection. It a big space and had very high ceilings, maybe 20-30 high, odd for a restaurant. There were windows high on the walls on 2 sides, like a person could look into the restaurant and monitor activities. I always wondered what had been there originally. It seems like it could have been a casino in prior to a restaurant. I have heard that there was a casino out in that area either on Main, or just off it in the 40's or 50's. Does anyone recall Cathay House and/or know what was in that location prior to Cathay House

I remember a "Lee's Den" on South Main.... some of the best Chinese Food ever in Houston.... ate there many times as a child with my parents.

I haven't read this whole thread... but... will always remember the Shakey's Pizza on Bellaire Blvd. (now Enterprise Car Rental, and next to Baskin Robbins and Dunkin Donuts which are STILL there!)...... and...... Alfie's Fish & Chips... there were many Alfie's all over town, but we spent many a childhood asking for extra "chips" at the one in the strip center behind the Dunkin Donuts on Bellaire Blvd. Come to think of it.. right across the street where there is a big bank (in front of Bellaire Post Office)... was... Kip's Big Boy!

[Chal C]

I remember both the Lee's Den and Cathay House restaurants. When I was very young my Dad worked at Lee's Den as a waiter, and one of his best friends left Lee's Den to take a job at the Cathay House. 

Later, when Dad became an electrician he would moonlight doing electrical work for the owner at Lee's Den where I sometimes went as his helper. He did a little at Cathay House, too, but I did not help him there. 

I do not know of the origins of either building, but do remember the food Daddy brought home from work quite often. Memories are often skewered by time, but to this day  I  have never eaten egg rolls as good as those were.