East Pearl Chinese Restaurant moves into old Pondok location

There's a new dining establishment in place of the old Pondok Indonesia Restaurant on West Broadway.

This week, I spotted a new sign reading "East Pearl Chinese Restaurant" posted on the second floor in the 900 block, just east of Oak Street.

Hong Kong is sometimes referred to as the Pearl of the East or Pearl of the Orient because it's on the eastern side of the Pearl River Delta.

Pondok closed this summer after 17 years in business. The owner, Catherine Tanurahardja, told the Straight's Craig Takeuchi that she was moving to Bali.

East Pearl Chinese Restaurant faces some stiff competition because it's across the street from Red Ginger Asian Cuisine.

It offers terrific Chinese and Southeast Asian food at very reasonable prices in a room full of wooden sculptures and elegant artwork.

Red Ginger is run by the former owner of Kam's Place, which was a landmark on Davie Street for many years.

Kam's old Davie Village location is now a Banana Leaf restaurant.