We visited Columbus' oldest Chinese restaurant
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The front entrance to Ding Ho at 120 Phillipi Road. Photo: Alissa Widman Neese/Axios
After Hilltop restaurant Ding Ho recently went viral on a food blogger's TikTok, we had to see what all the fuss was about.
Catch up quick: The Cantonese eatery opened in 1956. It's one of two local restaurants (along with Wing's in Bexley) credited with popularizing Wor Sue Gai, a boneless chicken dish.
- Owners of both restaurants say their ancestors worked at a former Bexley restaurant where the dish was invented in the early 1900s.
Fun fact: "Ding Ho" translates to "the best" in English.
Dig in: The TikTok video shows how the dish is made by simmering whole chickens that are deboned, breaded and fried.
- The chicken is topped with nuts, scallions and a homemade gravy, then served on a bed of lettuce with fried rice.
💠My thought bubble: After trying the dish for the first time, there's no mistaking that it's Midwestern. The meal is Chinese comfort food at a fair price ($10.25)
- The savory gravy confused and surprised my palate, as I usually opt for tangy dishes like sweet and sour chicken.
- It would fit just fine alongside mashed potatoes instead of fried rice.
Best bites: Another highlight was the wonton soup ($3.75) with generous portions of pork, and the restaurant is also known for its thick, crispy egg rolls ($2.75).
Stop by: Noon-7pm Sunday, 11am-7pm Monday and 11am-9pm Tuesday-Saturday, 120 Phillipi Road.
