By Emma de Witt

I walk into the familiar restaurant and am immediately filled with smells of sizzling fried rice and other delicious Chinese food cooking in the back. I look around and notice all the beautiful traditional Chinese lamps and the stained glass surrounding me. For my family, Tiki-Tiki on Patterson Avenue has been a favorite for years. My grandparents have been taking my mom and uncle there since they were kids, and my parents keep the tradition going by taking me and my sister there frequently. I have strong memories of our family going there since I was little, as well as always ordering from there on Christmas Eve. When it comes to Tiki-Tiki, I only have positive feedback and memories of this place. The restaurant opened in 1976 and has stayed in the very same spot all of these years. 

The service of this restaurant is one of the key aspects of why people keep coming back. The staff that work there are always kind and helpful, greeting people with a smile and offering assistance with anything. The food delivery is always received on time, all ready to go. Everything is neatly organized within the takeout box, and it arrives ready to eat.

With the food being consistently delicious, my family is never disappointed with our order. When we go there, we usually order General Tso’s chicken, a plate of spicy orange chicken with fried rice. We also usually get Buddha’s Delight, a saucy vegetable mix with perfect fried tofu, roasted corn and other assorted cooked vegetables. The egg rolls are also a favorite, with mini shrimp, spicy sauce, and rice on the inside. Some of their other best-loved dishes are the pasta and meat-filled dumplings with light soy sauce, and the spicy shredded chicken with the favored roasted vegetables. For customers who want to lean on the healthier side of the menu, Tiki-Tiki’s menu has a modern “revolution diet,” which consists of the same flavorful food, but not fried and wrapped in a lettuce bowl. 

Another main aspect that Tiki-Tiki is known for, are their loyal customers. The customers continue to dine here, always looking forward to the next visit. The customer’s loyalty to this family-owned environment is what makes Tiki Tiki such a warm and welcoming place. When I go with my family, we always sit in the same booth and are instantly comforted by the dimmed lights and the soft traditional Chinese music playing in the background. Talking to some other Richmonders who also enjoy this Chinese cuisine, everyone seems to have shared opinions about this truly magnificent place. “I go there with my grandma every time she’s in town. We love it so much; their chicken fried rice is amazing,” says Annabel Eastep (‘23). My sister Hannah de Witt (‘27) says, “the steak on stick is my favorite dish, and I love to order it every time we go.”

As my family orders from Tiki-Tiki quite frequently, we have known most of the owners throughout the years. Yun Gou is the current owner and recently transferred to the new ownership position this year. Every time we dine there, they are commended on their consistent and amazing service. Other Collegiate students are also fans. Georgia McManus says (‘23), “Their chow mein is to die for! Especially their roast pork.” Walker Clemans (‘22) adds, “General Tso’s chicken was gas.” 

My grandma Vicky Schiff has been dining at Tiki-Tiki since 1976, and she says that “my absolute favorite aspect about Tiki-Tiki is that their food is consistently good; we have ordered there at least once a month for about 50 years now, and it is amazing every time.” 

All photos by Emma de Witt.