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Wah Kee, the Chinese noodle restaurant in the Gateway Mall at the top of Willy Street, is closing after 35 years so its owner can retire.

Albert Ng, 69, said the restaurant's last day will be July 31, when it will be open for lunch and dinner.

"It's been a long time," said Ng, who will stay in Madison, and intends to take a break and then travel to California to visit his 94-year-old mother. He also has a trip to Hong Hong planned to see family.

Ng's father, Wai Ming Ng, and mother, Sau Fong Chu, opened the restaurant in a little building on Park Street in 1984. It had just five tables, and they counted change for their loyal customers on an abacus, according to Wah Kee's menu.

Wah Kee, which moved to 600 Williamson St. in 1987, is most famous for its homemade Cantonese wonton noodles.

Lots of the restaurant's noodle dishes are oily, but Ng said he uses vegetable oil and has never cooked with trans fats.

The menu includes more than a dozen appetizers, fish and seafood dishes, two dozen noodle dishes, about 40 tong mein and lo mein selections, fried rice and other classic Chinese dishes.