Royal China

This DIFC venue serves up decent, no frills Chinese fare, but we’re left wanting more 17 Reviews

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Decked out in regal Chinese reds, this London-based Chinese restaurant looks fit for an emperor, though in reality it serves hearty, enjoyable fare better suited to the proletariat. The menu boasts pricy seafood options and abalone, as well as more straightforward ‘foreigner favourites’, including sweet and sour chicken, roast duck and kung pao chicken. Dodge the pricier variations of duck and instead order the quarter of aromatic duck, which is prepared with aplomb at your table, resulting in no-fuss, tasty pancakes. You’ll like Royal China, but you won’t necessarily love it – those looking for a more memorable experience should probably head to Hakkasan.

By Time Out Dubai staff
Time Out Dubai, 22 March 2012

• Previous reviews
  • 14 August,2011- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 04 July,2011- reviewed by Oliver Robinson

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Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.

User reviews:

Posted by: Paul on 12 Apr ' 13 at 19:56

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Called for a reservation 8 pm Friday to be told first table would be free in three hours. Arrived 1 hour early to find it nearly empty, not unusual.

Plasticised menu with pictures was very helpful. Starter of wasabi prawns was drowned in mayonaise, crab main was bland. Steamed sea bass main was over cooked.

Overpriced and overrated by this year's Time Out award.

Posted by: Shiela on 28 Mar ' 13 at 05:23

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

EZCELLENT Restaurant!!!

Posted by: nagoor yoonus on 13 Mar ' 13 at 18:19

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Edited by TimeOutDubai.com

Fantastic food. specially duck and Dim sums are very Delicious. good value for money. fabulous family location. specially Abhijeeth and staff are friendly and help full staff.can't wait to go back again .

Posted by: nagoor yoonus on 11 Mar ' 13 at 17:20

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Edited by TimeOutDubai.com

fantastic food specially my wife enjoyed the aromatic Duck with pancake.The Duck way the staff are serving to the table superb , and nice family environmental place. good value of money. specially Abhijeeth and staff looked after very well during our dinning also surprise the lovely B'day cake to my wife.and also good cocktail presentation and good food collection on the menu. can't wait to visit once again ROYAL CHINA in DIFC, Dubai

Posted by: Ami on 09 Feb ' 13 at 20:30

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• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Had a disappointing night on Chinese New Year eve. I had been told that there would be a special menu from the chef in London, which was not available when we got into the restaurant. Service was slow, waited 5 mins for food menu, 5 mins for drink menu, 10 mins for order, 10 mins for bill.....( It wasn't busy on the night)
Food was good, but the service put me off.

Posted by: steven on 18 Jun ' 12 at 11:33

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

best food i tried in Dubai. from my opinion, best chinese in town. I will definatly visit and reccommend to all for dinner.

Posted by: Ali on 16 Mar ' 12 at 18:48

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• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Never encounter such good food.... I tried the Dim Sum Platter which have 4 varieties and 8 pieces of dim-sums, their signature Aromatic Duck is a must in every occasions... plus the beverage menu was extensive, I ordered a cocktail called Asian Fusion and it really goes well with the food,I can Drink a jug of this !! Overall experience is excellent , thanks for a very well service, Specially to my waiter John and The guy with spiky hair.. best to the chef!!!

Posted by: Jennifer on 12 Feb ' 12 at 06:03

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I went there last night with my bf for his birthday celebration.

Royal China serve an excellent food and service especially the Dim Sum and the peking duck.

We will definitely go back again.
And i would suggest this restaurant for a family dinner / business lunch/dinner.

Posted by: Yu on 25 Jan ' 12 at 13:43

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• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Best Value for quick terrace lunch with dhs 80 and 100

Posted by: jason lee on 04 Jan ' 12 at 19:54

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• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

excellent food, great service, very friendly staff.
must try chefs special beef with asparagus and royal china martini made from dragonfruit

Posted by: Michelle on 17 Nov ' 11 at 05:40

• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

"Best for" Dinner with the girls!

I popped in with my girlfriends last night for dinner and was pleasantly surprised to discover the food was delicious, the staff were super helpful (I asked for a surprise beverage - see below!) and the ambiance was perfect for us as a group.

We ordered what felt like everything on the menu, prawn dim sum's, chicken pastries, duck pancakes - there wasn't a single item on the menu I did not enjoy. I think my favourite item was the prawn and spinach dim sum which were light and delicate.

In addition, we discovered an extensive cocktail menu.. I couldn't choose, so asked for a surprise - for which I received a cocktail with pineapple and red chilli - Delicious and different! A must try!

I'll be back again for sure.

Posted by: tala on 31 Oct ' 11 at 11:52

Great writing for the review!

Who’s is the author?

Posted by: caroline on 21 Oct ' 11 at 14:55

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

EXCELLANT FOOD AND SERVICE ESPECIALLY THE INDIAN GENTLEMAN IN RESTAURANT

SUPER DUCK AND DIMSUM

VERY GREAT

Posted by: koti on 17 Sep ' 11 at 13:36

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

EXCELLANT DUCK AND DIMSUMS than any other restaurant in dubai. I never had such a beautiful Cantonese meal for long in dubai.

Service is better nowt. My first experience was not great. I tried this again after 2 months and they are 100 % better now than before. They will be really great in next 2 months. I am sure.

Only Suggestion is, to keep Royal China on top with competition with Hakkasan, should get some asian staff for service rather than chinese staff which I seen that they dont communicate.

Will definatly reccommend this place for all to visit.

Posted by: Anonymous on 13 Sep ' 11 at 07:08

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Hakkasan isn't even open in Dubai yet!

Royal China serves authentic Chinese cuisine and Hakkasan serves fusion Chinese food - the restuarants are totally different from each other.

Posted by: Shabz on 29 Jul ' 11 at 16:38

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

excellent food, value for money....peking duck is to die for!!! Would defintely go again and the service was great!!

Posted by: Sarah K on 26 Jul ' 11 at 08:40

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Just an update to the above review (not sure when it was done); but the restaurant is now licensed. The service is still patchy but the food (especially the dim sum) was divine, and there was a huge selection to pick from. Some prior knowledge of dim sum/Chinese cuisine might be a plus when picking what to order from the very comprehensive menu. The Peking Duck was worth the wait; lots of duck rolled by the waitresses into pancakes by the table. The chicken pastries and all the steamed dim sum were also delicious.