I didn’t get the feeling the anticipation around this restaurant opening would drag on like some of them can sometimes. A few weeks ago we told you Savannah favorite E-Tang Chinese restaurant would be opening a 2nd location on Whitaker Street downtown. At the time we were told it would be “a couple of weeks.”

Well, it took about 2 more weeks than that, but the wait is over. E-Tang Dim Sum on Whitaker Street is now open.

I had lunch there on Wednesday with co-owner David Chen. He’s excited to bring this expansion to Savannah. The menu is different than what you will find at their Ogelthorpe Street location. We didn’t count items, but it is probably smaller.

The focus in this spot will be their Dim Sum. 17 items make up that menu. It will be available 7 days a week beginning at 9am. Yes, 9am. He’s calling it “Chinese Brunch” and he’s hoping it will catch on.

The full menu they will offer at 10 Whitaker Street will begin at 11am every day and run through 9pm. There are no plans to stay open beyond 9pm right now.

Their soup dumplings-which are fantastic-‘made the trip’, if you will. As did a number of their more popular dishes from their first location.

The restaurant (Formerly occupied by CO-Asian cuisine) has been remodeled. The bar remains.

The food is just as delicious. My favorite today was probably the Pork Wonton Soup. Fabulous pork dumplings in a delicious broth. The Scallops in Garlic Sauce were equally as fantastic.

Those of you who love noodles and ramen should know David and his business partners are currently building out downtown Savannah’s 3rd location. He tells me E-Tang Noodle Bar is about 80 percent completed. It will be at 41 Whitaker Street, in the space formerly occupied by Persopolis, directly across the street from Circa 1875. Yes, a hop across the lane from the very popular Flock to the Wok.

E-Tang Noodle Bar is still a few weeks away yet. In fact, David tells me he flew to Texas over the weekend specifically to try a chef candidate’s soup.

I suspect the Dim Sum location will do well primarly with tourists, while their original location on the other end of downtown Savannah will continue to serve primarily locals.

The E-Tang empire isn’t done expanding yet. Those of you in Bluffton will be happy to know that you are about a month or so away from their 4th location in Okatie, South Carolina. And yes, we’ve mentioned it here before, E-Tang has plans for Pooler. In fact, a space has been secured, but we aren’t at liberty to discuss it yet because they aren’t exactly sure what their plans are for the space. Safe to say, however, we believe E-Tang will be coming to Pooler in the new year.

That’s a lot of eating and liking. Enjoy!

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