Northmead: Blue Dragon Chinese restaurant to close
A much loved western Sydney Chinese restaurant owner has made a painful decision that he admits no amount of fried rice could reverse.
Parramatta
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After more than three decades, Blue Dragon restaurant owner Billy Ng is putting down the wok that has whipped up dishes for Parramatta Eels legends, multi-generational families or anyone with a penchant for Chinese fare.
Exorbitant rent at the Northmead Plaza restaurant has forced the popular Mr Ng to close the restaurant by the end of March.
“I feel very upset. You can imagine how much fried rice I have to sell!” he said.
“I am 65 years old now, it’s the time I should retire. I really can’t work for the landlord.”
Mr Ng, who proudly hasn’t changed the decor of the restaurant since it opened in November 1986, has garnered a legion of fans including Eels great Peter Sterling and rugby league commentator Ray Warren, who is partial to the salt and pepper prawns.
“I look after everyone and I treat everyone like my friend, like my family,’’ Mr Ng said.
The West Pennant Hills resident, who migrated to Australia from Hong Kong in 1974, first worked at the Panda in Parramatta before opening Blue Dragon.
He married his wife Polly in 1988. Their two daughters Krystal, 29, and Tiffany, 26, have grown up in the “institution” that is Blue Dragon.
“We’ve had customers who come in every week without fail, ordering their same takeaway order or special off-menu dish for years,’’ Tiffany said.
“We’ve celebrated Chinese New Year every year with an incredible lion dance and firecracker display. And birthdays are not complete without a picture with the giant sword used to cut the cake.”
Along with conquering diners’ cravings over the lazy Susan, Mr Ng has donated to organisations such as schools and sports teams.
Such a rapport has left Mr Ng feeling sentimental and unsure of his retirement plans.
“I really haven’t got any idea what (I’ll do) because it’s a very sudden decision that I made a couple of weeks ago,’’ he said.
“I really enjoyed looking after my clients but rent is high, I should take a break.”
Mr Ng is legally blind and has had almost 20 operations on his eyes but you wouldn't know it from his effervescent personality.
“Everyone who comes in, I say hello and look after them,” he said.