Montana is full of hidden gems that make skipping the stereotypical tourist traps totally worth it, and Butte’s Pekin Noodle Parlor is a perfect example. Sitting inside a brick building in the town’s way smaller-than-it-used-to-be Chinatown, this unassuming spot has been serving up Chinese-American classics—and occasionally American sandwiches and steak—since 1911, making it the oldest continuously operating Chinese restaurant in the United States.
When you go inside and see the vintage orange-booth cubicles, you get rolled back in time to when Butte’s Chinatown bustled with miners chasing gold. The building itself has worn many hats….like a gambling hall to herbal dispensary, and maybe even a misunderstood “brothel” rumor because of the curtained booths. Today, Danny Wong (aka Ding Kuen Tam) runs the Parlor, keeping the flavors and the history alive, proving that Montana isn’t just about big skies and rivers—it’s also about discovering the interesting stories you only find in the tiniest corners…if you know where to look.
Pretty cool.
Feature photo: Public Domain
