Restaurant de Chinese Muur — Restaurant in Bronckhorst

This was an interesting experience, as a Chinese customer at a so-called Chinese restaurant in the east of Netherlands.

First off, based on the location and the demographic of people who eat here, I can understand how it has such high reviews.

However, if a restaurant like this existed in a major city and was reviewed by actual Chinese customers, it would be closer to 1-2 stars.

We didn’t have a reservation, so we were allowed to walk-in which was great. Upon opening the menu, I quickly realized this is one of those Chinese restaurants for Dutch people, meaning the menu is catered to Dutch taste. Which is some weird blend of Indonesian - Chinese - Dutch cuisine. It’s actually disappointing that a large group of people who eat here will think this is Chinese food, when it is absolutely not at all. Restaurants like this give the wrong and incorrect impression of Chinese food, and that is upsetting.

We ordered a chicken stir fry dish, and a shrimp stir fry dish. The rest of the menu was filled with Indonesian rice tables, which is certainly NOT Chinese food. Then lots of ketchup curry, which does not exist in Chinese cuisine.

When the food came out, I asked the waiter for chopsticks, as any Asian person would. He gave me some long winded lecture about how he is Dutch and not Chinese, and refused to give me chopsticks. Another waitress came over and apologized for him, and handed us chopsticks to eat with.

Overall, a bizarre experience with bizarre food.

If you’re Dutch and do not have a sense of taste of Chinese cuisine, I’m sure this restaurant will suit your needs.

If you’re a foodie with any experience of Chinese kitchens, please do not waste...

Ben jij nog wel trots op de plaatselijk Chinees?

Babi pangang is inmiddels even Hollands als boerenkool en hutspot.

De volgende keer wanneer je een Chinees-Indisch restaurant binnenloopt kun je vragen naar de 'Nederlandse babi pangang'. Je hoort het goed: dit gerecht is toegevoegd aan de Inventaris Immaterieel Erfgoed Nederland.

Veel gerechten bij Chinees-Indische restaurants in Nederland zijn aangepast aan het Nederlandse publiek of zijn zelfs volledig Nederlands. Zo ook babi pangang. Dit gerecht heeft niets met China te maken. Sterker nog: babi pangang is Indonesisch en betekent letterlijk 'geroosterd varkensvlees'. Denk nou niet gelijk dat dit gerecht in Indonesië wél op de kaart staat.

Het aantal chinees Indische restaurants in Nederland loopt in een behoorlijk tempo achteruit. Maar vandaag was ik in Zelhem in de prachtige Achterhoek. De plaatselijke Chinees draagt de naam ‘Restaurant de Chinese Muur’. En druk dat het was. Er was eigenlijk geen tafeltje vrij. En als er een tafel vrij kwam dan zaten er na een paar minuten alweer mensen aan om te bestellen en te eten. In het afhaal gedeelte was het al net zo druk. Ten tijden dat ik aanwezig was schommelde het aantal eigenlijk continu tussen de 8 en 12 mensen die kwamen bestellen en afhandelen. Het was duidelijk Zelhem is nog steeds trots op de...

Came here when on vacation and it was awesome. They were really accommodating and nice. When they found out we were from America they asked if we’d like to have our food like american Chinese food or not, which I though was very nice of them. I ordered off the menu and it was great. If I was in the area again...