Royal China Bandra — Restaurant in Mumbai

Having lived in Navi Mumbai all the time, all of it was technically one big colony. So we decided to hop into the first AC bus that came our way and zoom off to a place we felt like alighting at. When we reached Turner Road we saw this beautiful Rolex clock tower and decided to get down to take a pic. And that's where we saw this - ROYAL CHINA.

Context setting out of the way, time for the review.

Ambiance (5/5): It probably was the romantic restaurant we never searched for but found anyway! Set up in Bandra in a way that you would hardly recognize it as a restaurant. It somehow reminded my of Harry Potter's Diagon Alley. There but unnoticed. The ambiance was, in a capsule, serene. The atmosphere was ambient with peace punctuated with soft music. The lighting was just perfect. You could see that a lot of thought has gone into designing the interiors. The chairs fairly spaced out and the tables at the right height. The design was very subtle - far from the loud ideas in so many other restaurants. The place almost keeps you from not wanting to go out!

Food (3/5): Me and my fiancee - the pure non-vegetarians that we were, hogged on some fine gourmet cuisine. Lobster, prawns and Fukien Fried rice. The rice was a bit drier than expected but was tasty nonetheless. the Lobster was Spiiiiccccyyy and so tasty that the taste still lingers on. The quantity is decent and not exactly what you would call a mouthful. But this is a premium restaurant and you should know to expect more quality and less quantity as is always the norm.

Service(5/5): iPad for a Menu card!!! That was some shocker! Impressed. The geek in me just held on to the iPad for sometime and played around with it and the guys there didn't say a word, didn't giggle and didn't even bother me. They just gave me the iPad and let me be! After I got bored with the thing, don't know how, the steward was there in a jiffy. Was very polite and patient. Helped us understand every dish we inquired about. Have to admit that this was one of the very few places where people other than the chef were aware about what they were serving. You have to wait but you wouldn't mind. It ain't a place you want to get served too quickly. Take your time. Ease yourself in and digest every moment.

Value For Money (4/5) : The prices are steep. Not a place you would go to for a weekend dinner. Paid almost 2800 bucks for 2 of us. But the overall experience was amazing, calm, romantic and a huge relief from the otherwise loud restaurants. Walked out with the satisfaction of having paid for good food and a pleasant experience; And well a smile on fiancee's face too!

Recommend? (Yes - With that someone special) For a premium gourmet experience, a musical and romantic outing and a truly royal treatment, I recommend...

Royal China – Bandra West, Mumbai 📍 2nd Floor, Damian House, 14 Hill Rd, near Mehboob Studio, Ranwar, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050 🍽️ Cuisine Royal China is a celebrated destination for authentic Chinese and Cantonese cuisine. The menu offers a rich variety of: Dim sums (steamed, pan-fried, or deep-fried) Soups, noodles, and fried rice Seafood and chicken specialties A balance of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options Emphasis on bold Pan-Asian and Cantonese flavors prepared with finesse If you enjoy elevated, traditional Chinese food with contemporary plating, this is a must-visit. 🌆 Ambience The ambience at Royal China Bandra is distinctly premium and fine-dining: Elegant interiors with stylish décor Dim lighting creates a cozy, intimate atmosphere – perfect for date nights or upscale dinners A bar/lounge section adds a modern, laid-back vibe Described by guests as: “Cute and cozy”, “High class”, “Excellent ambiance”, “Great for special occasions” It feels both refined and welcoming — a perfect blend for a leisurely, indulgent meal. 🧑‍🍳 What We Tried 🥟 Singapore Black Pepper Chicken Dumpling A flavorful dim sum packed with juicy chicken, bold black pepper heat, and delicate skin — aromatic and satisfying. 🍗 Sautéed Chicken in Hot Bean Sauce A spicy, umami-rich dish with tender chicken pieces tossed in a savory fermented bean paste — great with steamed rice. 🔥 Flaming Chicken in Superior Sauce Visually dramatic and full of flavor. Served sizzling with a tangy-spicy "superior" sauce — a must-try if you love bold flavors. 🍚 Royal China Lotus Leaf Rice (Chicken) Sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf, gently steamed and infused with earthy aroma — stuffed with chunks of chicken. Comforting and fragrant. 🍫 Chocolate Dome A visually striking dessert — crack open the shell to reveal rich, gooey, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate. Perfect finale. 🍹 Drinks We Tried Cranberry Lime – Refreshing, tart, and citrusy with a clean finish Yuzu Viking – A zingy blend featuring Japanese yuzu, offering citrus complexity with a twist ⭐ Overall Experience: 10/10 Food: Authentic, high-quality, beautifully plated Ambience: Elegant, relaxed, and memorable Service: Attentive and courteous – staff guide you through the menu and serve with a smile Value: Premium pricing, but worth every rupee for the experience

If you're in Bandra and looking for top-notch Chinese or Pan-Asian cuisine, Royal China is an absolute must-visit. Whether it's a casual dinner, special occasion, or a foodie adventure — this spot delivers on...

So we went here for dinner yesterday and had extremely high expectations from this place as it was highly recommended in terms of taste and ambiance. Our friends reached on time-7:30pm and we had to endure the miserable traffic within bandra and reached at 8:15pm. The place was packed, loud, one cannot even hear the person sitting besides. The servers were on the edge as the place was packed, orders getting bombarded and the fact that the next reservation begins at 10:30pm. We ordered the dimsums in a soy gravy which was served kinda cold, we barely had finished and we already had someone who was standing behind us to take our plates, it felt like sitting at an udipi joint. The plates that were given to us were not even clean????.....we ordered our mains, flat noodles, the honey glazed lotus stems, bockchoy, morning glory, and the exotic vegetable that was in a black bean gravy...here's the thing....every thing was sweet, this was not Chinese food, this was Indianised chinese food, the same kinds you get at any other restaurant that serves chinese food, the gravy, the noodles, everything had a very distinct sweet taste and I have eaten food in foshan, shanghai and trust me, this was an insult to the word chinese food, we had the serves hovering over our heads wondering when we would finish, I was having a conversation with my friend and see my half empty plate getting picked up. I had to literally tell the staff "I am still eating". They kept the plate down, I lost my appetite and finally gave in. They promptly packed the remaining food eager to see us leave as there were people waiting outside. To spend close to 10,000/- and be treated like this...I would go to a smaller place that has soul, warmth and the heart to serve good food with a smile...I am never coming here in my life ever again...just another overhyped bandra place which is trending due to shitty influencers and...