Forbidden City Restaurant — Restaurant in North Island

This restaurant has giving me a great curiosity and challenged me to have a lunch here:

Why someone named a restaurant a FORBIDDEN CITY? It's very COOL like a movie title, but it's not.

It have a neon sign when open, even in the afternoon. It's weird but interesting for me!

the interior was not very inviting but at the same time very authentic??

And then.. Serving an authentic chinese peking duck as a recommended menu??

Some of the so-called Halal food wasn't leave a good impressions but okay I give it a try.

I came with my wife on her birthday because she's craving peking duck from a long time, and we growing curiosity in this restaurant together.

We ordered Roasted duck and Corn soup. The soup arrived first. My impressions is positive. The flavour was balanced. When you put some soy sauce and chilli oil, it hits different!! It was very perfect because we eating when outside is rainy so it warm our mouth, head and body.

The roasted pecking duck became our "main course", along with the rice. We are very overwhelmed with the flavour. It's juicy, delicious, crispy skin... We could never want anything more than this!! The last bite still feel it's was first bite.. What an experience.

When we finished and wanna pay, I never expected this: they selling the chilli oil!! Chilli oil here is very mandatory and never skip this on every meals here.

Forbidden City is a proof that your restaurant doesn't have to be a gimmicky interior and striking sign to be a good restaurant. The name itself, the food, is enough reason to you why you should stop here and go home with the stuffed stomach. Very...

Delicious halal Chinese food - smart decision to cater to an ever rising muslim population in the Wellington region. We are very thankful!!

Food wise:

4/5 of the food we ordered were top notch Crispy Duck Siew Mai Mapo Tofu Chicken Fried Rice

The beef noodle soup was good but not great, slightly more bland BUT when you add the chilli oil and soy sauce it was AMAZING.

I would recommend putting the Chilli oil in everything haha and get some extra to take home! (They sell them in small containers at the counter)

Service wise: Fast service - food arrived quick. However staff and (potentially owner - I’m not sure who the owner is) could do with being a bit more friendly - we were a group of ladies (hijabis) and non hijabis, and they just stared at us the entire time, no smile no nothing. They also started cleaning the table very quickly and taking dishes without asking us first - I mean I get that some restaurants do this, I personally dont like it but anyway if you had to, at least ask first not just take items on the table before asking? There were not many customers at all and it wasn’t rush hour so there was absolutely no reason to be rushing us.

But despite this - because of the food,...

My favorite Chinese restaurant which is halal!

It’s not the easy to find a halal Chinese restaurant in Wellington and the surrounding areas so this one instantly become my fave!

My family and I love the duck menu, be it crispy roast duck as well as pecking duck. We usually order the fish, sweet and sour or steam one, as well as the soup as appetizers. My fave is chicken and corn as well as hot and sour soups. Don’t forget to try the braised eggplants and crispy fried tofu, as well as dumplings and chicken wings. The fried rice is also lovely.

The portions are big enough to share for 2-3 people.

The price is moderate, might be a bit higher than other Chinese restaurant but this one is halal, so it’s a big advantage for us Muslims.

The service is fast. Some staff are friendly, some are less friendly, but they are very efficient.

Parking spots are available but it can easily be filled up during rush hours.

Check out the opening hours as they are close for lunch on Monday, but open for dinner if not mistaken.

Happy to be...