East Pearl Chinese restaurant — Restaurant in Athens

As a tourist, when I asked how much the bottle of water was, the waitress almost shouted angrily saying that the bottle of water was cheap, that I should not think about the price in my own currency but should think about it in euros. She was trying to embarrass me in front of all the other customers in the restaurant. But I did not feel embarrassed. I just felt sorry for such a good Chinese restaurant which could do much better. Of course I knew the water was cheap!!! I just did not want it!!! Do I not have the right to not to drink your bottle of water??? I had my own bottles of water in my bag. Buying another one would be a burden to me as I knew I could not drink it and would have to take it away in order not to waste is. Or should I take it for granted that the priced bottle of water was supposed to be wasted just for you to earn the money? If you wanted tips, just say it, and I will tip you if you could truly provide "service", instead of getting the money you did not deserve in this way. This is not what fair business should be. Look at Hong Kong, look at Shanghai, where business has been far more mature, fair, and transparent, and people there have more sense of serving because they are making money by this. What makes thing worse was when I paid the bill, I told the cashier I did not open the bottle of water, she still let me pay the...

If I could give this place 10 stars I would. This was the best Chinese feed I’ve had, and I feel like we are spoiled for choice down under. After a 6 week Europe trip from Australia, my partner and I were craving some Chinese. After tossing up a few places which had good reviews, we decided to settle on the East Pearl. Upon entering an empty restaurant, we feared we may had made a mistake. Little did we know what lay ahead. We ordered the hot and sour soup (deliciously spicy, tangy and sweet), chicken wings (meaty, juicy, crispy with sweet chilli sauce), prawn and chive dumplings (fresh and a nice crunch), pork dumplings (bready, saucy and meaty), sweet and sour pork (a great portion, with real pork, and the best sweet and sour sauce I’ve had), chicken fried rice (standard, and duck pancakes. The duck pancakes arrived via cart, with the chef wheeling them out and carving right at our table. The pancakes seemed to be cooked fresh in house, not the store bought ones that are reheated/steamed. The duck was so juicy and tender, very little fat, and generous serving of cucumber, spring onions, and hoisin sauce.

Bravo, a wonderful feed and credit to the chefs. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Total bill was 80 euro for all this plus drinks, which is incredible value -...

Tucked away in the bustling heart of Athens, just steps from Syntagma Square, East Pearl delivers an unexpectedly take on classic Chinese cuisine. We walked in with no expectations and left thoroughly impressed.

The standout was the steamed fish—a dish that's deceptively simple but often mishandled. At East Pearl, it was executed to perfection. The fish was tender, delicate, with just the right amount of moisture. The seasoning struck a balance—light enough to let the freshness of the fish shine, yet rich with traditional Chinese aromatics like scallion. Every bite felt thoughtfully composed.

We also ordered snow peas, and while they may seem like a side note, they were anything but. Crisp, vibrant, and clearly fresh, they had that satisfying snap and were lightly seasoned to preserve their natural sweetness.

Last but not least, the maixuewang hot pot. A must order.

In a city where Chinese cuisine can be hit-or-miss, East Pearl stands out. It's rare to find such careful preparation and attention to detail, especially in a tourist-heavy area like Syntagma. Whether you're a local looking for a reliable go-to or a visitor craving something beyond kebab and moussaka, this place deserves a spot...