Inchin's Bamboo Garden — Restaurant in Dublin

We hosted a surprise birthday dinner for my wife at Inchins Bamboo Garden, Dublin, on September 15th with a group of about 20 family and friends. The food was excellent — dishes like Hakka noodles, burnt fried rice, garlic noodles, and Chicken 65 were flavorful and well-prepared. Unfortunately, the service fell far short of expectations and left a sour impression on what was meant to be a special evening.

We reached the restaurant around 8p. Despite reserving a table well in advance and clearly mentioning it was a birthday celebration, tall & fair staff member began reminding me to order food in a rather unfriendly tone as soon as we entered, even though we were still waiting for our group to arrive. I understand the kitchen closes around 9:15pm, but this could have been handled with more courtesy.

When my friends brought a birthday cake, I was immediately pulled aside and told there would be a $25 charge for bringing outside food. While I respect that restaurants may have policies, this should have been communicated at the time of reservation. Same service staff guy kept telling me that its company policy and mentioned I should have ordered cake through them. However, I wasnt told about these options at the time of table reservation & they kept me in the dark. The insistence felt unnecessary, especially given that we ended up cutting the cake outside the restaurant.

During the meal, staff showed little warmth or courtesy — no one acknowledged the birthday, offered to take a group photo, or made the occasion feel special. On the contrary, we were pushed to order more food even when it was obvious we already had plenty left over. When I declined, the bill (with a 21% gratuity already included - $141) was promptly presented with the card machine, which felt rushed. I duly paid & added another $20 as tips.

The final disappointment was when I asked for a disposable knife to cut the cake outside. The same staff member curtly said they didn’t have one, while another staff member later provided one without issue. That contrast spoke volumes about the difference a little courtesy can make.

In total, we spent close to $900, so the $25 cake fee was not the issue — it was the manner in which it was handled and the overall lack of hospitality. No matter how good the food is, service and respect for customers are what create lasting memories. Sadly, this visit...

I had a craving for Szechuan peppercorn chicken and chili garlic noodles, and a quick search led me to Inchin’s Bamboo Garden. It’s a Pan Asian fusion restaurant with a modern vibe, jazz playing in the background, a full bar, and a fairly spacious dining room. The staff were friendly and welcoming, which set a nice tone for the evening.

Fusion restaurants can be unpredictable in terms of flavor profiles, and I came in with an open mind, curious to see the chef’s interpretation. I ordered the Szechuan peppercorn chicken and chili garlic noodles, and while the menu indicated they would be spicy, the server assured me otherwise. He was right — the spice level was fairly mild.

The food came out quickly and was nicely presented. The chicken was served with a bowl of rice and garnished with chopped red peppers. While the dish was flavorful, I did miss that bold peppercorn kick I was hoping for. The chicken pieces were small and dry but worked well enough with the sauces available at the table. However, I felt those sauces didn’t quite elevate the dish as I had hoped.

The chili garlic noodles, which I got with a mix of chicken, lamb, and shrimp for an extra dollar, unfortunately didn’t carry much garlic or chili flavor. Despite the lack of intensity I was looking for, I still appreciated the calm atmosphere, attentive service, and the kitchen’s creative approach to classic dishes.

I’d definitely be open to returning and trying more of the menu. It’s a unique spot with its own twist on Pan Asian cuisine — worth exploring if you’re in the mood for something a...

Disappointing Experience Despite Good Food.

The food is undeniably excellent, which is why I gave a 5 star for it. However, my experience with the service left a lot to be desired. Unfortunately, the phone staff consistently the wrong order, likely due to how noisy the restaurant is. I discovered this only after arriving home and checking my order, which was incorrect.

When I attempted to call and explain the issue, the phone staff hung up mid-conversation, and subsequent attempts to reach them resulted in calls being picked up and disconnected immediately (see call logs attached). Frustrated, I had no choice but to drive back to the restaurant.

At the restaurant, the front team initially showed little interest in resolving the issue, saying they could call the manager but weren’t sure if she'd respond due to how busy they were. Thankfully, another team member eventually got the manager, who was apologetic and humble—earning an additional star from me.

The manager attempted to fix part of the order, but another part of it—Vegetable Manchurian—was left soggy with no resolution offered. To make matters worse, they added chili flakes to the revised order, despite this being explicitly excluded in my original request. I am too tired to go the third time to get the one simple order.

It feels like this new location is already struggling to manage itself. I’d strongly recommend double-checking your order before leaving the restaurant to avoid a frustrating...