Established in 1940 the Confucius Restaurant was an introduction to Chinese food for many people living in Oakland, California. Helpfully, the menu included instructions on using chopsticks.

Located first at 3277 Lakeshore Avenue, it was started by Oscar Bowers, owner of the nearby Oscar’s Lounge. The other owners were Horace Fong and his mother, and a man called Jimmy Duffy.

After Bowers died, the restaurant was relocated in 1950 to 3241 Lakeshore Avenue.

Another member of the Fong family – Norman ‘Bing’ Fong – owned the restaurant from 1965 until 1981. Some customers remember him as the ‘singing waiter’ and others remember the koi fish pond that was located inside the restaurant entrance.

We believe Confucius restaurant, named after the Chinese philosopher Kong Fuzi whose teachings emphasized morality, justice, kindness and loyalty to family, closed in the late 80s.