Royal Orchid

Mid-price Thai Dubai Marina 1 Reviews

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From Time Out Dubai Eating Out 2009

While Royal Orchid’s location may not be truly ‘regal’ – it’s set inside a shopping mall, albeit one overlooking Dubai Marina – the staff are charismatic, and the food is of a high standard. You have a choice of three areas to set up camp: on either of the two levels inside, on a table within the mall promenade (if you want to feel like you’re dining in a shopping centre), or outside, gazing at the million-dirham yachts.

We know which we’d go for. As well as an appetising range of shakes (the Bangkok fizz is a mojito without the sauce), the menu lists a special ‘chef’s wok’ option, in which you can make up your own dish by choosing the meat, veg, sauces and rice or noodles separately.

However, the less creative will find plenty to choose from on the Chinese, Malaysian and Thai menu, with the broccoli and almond dim sum and lettuce wraps with Beijing duck and pine-nuts proving especially flavoursome. Be warned: portion sizes can be gut-busting, although staff are more than happy to pack a doggy bag.

And, if you end up sitting inside, this may in fact be no bad thing, since, no matter how cosy the decor, there are surely better places to enjoy Asian food as good as this.

• Previous reviews
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Jeremy Lawrence
  • 12 March,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 30 April,2006- reviewed by Time Out Dubai
  • 14 November,2005- reviewed by Matthew Lee
  • 01 October,2004- reviewed by Matthew Lee

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