A heritage of flavour
From Cantonese and Szechuan kitchens to Torgallmenningen. Meet the people, the craft and the tradition behind every table.
Tradition and history since 1976
Our kitchen draws on the food traditions of Canton and Szechuan. Here, the light elegance of Cantonese cooking meets the rich spice and bold flavours of Szechuan.
Our recipes have been handed down through generations, built on real craft and long-held tradition. Much of the knowledge lives in experience — in the techniques, the timing and a quiet respect for good ingredients.
The food is made from scratch. Stocks simmer for hours, dough is worked by hand, and sauces are balanced with care. It takes time, and that is precisely why it tastes the way we are proud to serve.
A warm welcome awaits
From the moment you step through the door, we want you to feel welcome. We receive you as a guest in our own home, and we hope you will take your time, settle in and feel at ease.
A meal is more than the food on the plate. It is the good conversations, the laughter around the table and the dishes meant to be shared. What we care about is setting the scene for evenings like these, in the heart of Bergen.
My grandmother’s story
Charlotte is the third generation now running China Palace. Her grandmother opened Bergen’s first Chinese restaurant in 1976, and it is her story we tell here.
My grandmother’s name is Hau Fook Tai.
She was an unusual woman for her time: she both owned and ran her own transport company in Hong Kong, and could drive a taxi, bus and lorry herself. Together with my grandfather, the builder Kun Hui, she raised four sons in a Hong Kong marked by unrest in the late 1960s. Rumours of civil war made the future uncertain.
My grandmother made a brave choice: she wanted to find a safer place for her family. Her journey first took her to England, but she did not settle there. She continued to Norway – Stavanger, then Haugesund – before finally arriving in Bergen.
It was in Bergen that everything changed. She asked a taxi driver to take her around the city. When the journey was over, he refused payment. He did not want money for showing a stranger his city – and perhaps it was the first time he had seen a Chinese woman. That small moment of warmth made a deep impression.
My grandmother decided there and then: this is where I want to be.
She slept at the train station that night, and the next day began planning a new life.
Back in Hong Kong, she sold everything she owned to realise her dream: to open Bergen’s first Chinese restaurant. Her father ran a restaurant at home, so she knew what it required. At the time, there were only five places to eat in all of central Bergen.
Our family’s journey in Bergen
In 1976, she opened the first restaurant, Yang Tse Kiang, named after the mighty Yellow River that runs through China.
In 1988, the next generation took over with China Palace.
And in 2023, the third generation continued the family legacy with Ying Ying Restaurant & Lounge.
Today, China Palace and Ying Ying both stand together on the 2nd floor at Torgallmenningen 3A. Owner Charlotte Hui continues the legacy, inspired by her grandmother’s brave choice to pursue new opportunities.
The family also has Bao Ying at Minde, Fageråsveien 1. A place for good meals indoors, outside when the sun is shining, takeaway on the go and convivial themed evenings.
From the kindness of a taxi driver to three generations of restaurant history – this is how our family’s journey in Bergen began.
Food prepared the way it always has been
We believe in balance, between sweet and sour, fierce and mild, crisp and tender. Each dish is composed to find its own calm on the plate.
And we believe in making the food from scratch, every day, the way it has always been made. No shortcuts, only time, craft and care.
The flavours are honest, and much of it is made to be shared. We want you to taste the craft in every bite, and to leave with a reason to come back.
Articles
Small stories from the kitchen and the city, about our dishes, the traditions behind them and the evenings around the table.
Reserve your table
Whether it is a quiet evening for two or a celebration with those closest to you, we look forward to welcoming you. You can reserve easily online, or call us directly.