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Open for dinner

Local diners have a couple new eating options: one with an Asian flavour and the other focused on Latin American cuisine.Golden Dragon Restaurant opened on Red Deer’s north end on Nov. 17 and La Esperanza Restaurant began serving customers in the city’s downtown on Nov. 5.
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am Leung

Local diners have a couple new eating options: one with an Asian flavour and the other focused on Latin American cuisine.

Golden Dragon Restaurant opened on Red Deer’s north end on Nov. 17 and La Esperanza Restaurant began serving customers in the city’s downtown on Nov. 5.

Golden Dragon is owned by Victor Leung, whose family has a long history in Red Deer’s restaurant industry. His father Sam worked as head cook at the former Golden Palace Restaurant after immigrating to Canada from China nearly 30 years ago. The family subsequently operated North Garden Restaurant and another Golden Dragon Restaurant in Red Deer, as well as Royal City Restaurant in Sylvan Lake.

Leung’s brother Eric currently operates Lucky’s Kitchen in Jackpot Casino.

Sam is head chef at the family’s newest restaurant, which is located at No. 1, 7445 50th Ave. — the former site of Cheers North.

“We’ve done pretty major renovations,” said Leung, adding that the 5,300-square-foot premises can hold up to 250 people.

The north side location has already proven to be a good one for lunchtime traffic, with many people who work at industrial and commercial businesses in the area stopping in, he said.

Others have been coming in because they’re familiar with Sam’s cooking.

“We’ve had so many loyal customers following my dad throughout the years,” said Leung, noting that many are of Chinese descent.

He explained that his father prepares authentic Chinese dishes like barbecue duck and crispy chicken, although Western Chinese food like chicken balls and ginger beef are also on the menu.

“That’s going to be the majority of our revenue is the Western Chinese food,” said Leung, adding that Western items like steak sandwiches and hamburgers are also served.

Buffet service is available at lunch and dinner, he said, with food delivered to customers as well.

Sam learned to cook in China and Hong Kong, but also worked at restaurants in Vancouver and Calgary before settling in Red Deer.

Golden Dragon Restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

Daisy Espinal and her friend Dora Juarez are the owners of La Esperanza, which is located at 5020 Ross St.

“It’s Salvadorian and Mexican food, basically,” said Danny Crespo, Espinal’s son and manager of the restaurant.

Visitors will find familiar options like tacos and burritos, he said.

“But we also have different foods that other people might not have ever tried.

“We’re trying to vary our options.”

Espinal has operated a number of businesses in the past, including a restaurant, said Crespo. Juarez has also worked in the food industry.

Both women, and Crespo, live in Calgary and travel to Red Deer every day. He said they felt the Central Alberta city presented a good market opportunity.

Esperanza, he added, translates roughly into “Hope.”

The restaurant has seven tables, so customers can eat in or take their food out. It’s already attracting many downtown workers for lunch.

“A lot of people like the food.”

La Esperanza is open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. But its weekend hours could change, depending on customer demand, said Crespo.

Previous businesses at the location have included O’Fallon’s Bake Shoppe & Eatery and Señor Taco.

hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com