Bistro Na's — Restaurant in Temple City

Recommended dishes: -Crispy shrimp (small size for $16.95); according to the worker taking our order, the small comes with 8 shrimp while larger size comes with 12. I thought it would be reminiscent of the Cantonese style walnut shrimp, but it's really different. The shrimp are headless but fried within the shell and cooked with dried chili peppers. There's a light spice, but the crispiness and that crackle as you bite into the shrimp is what you remember most about the dish (at least in my opinion). Unfortunately we only got 7 shrimp while the last one only had fried shell portions - but highly recommend because it's slightly sweet, mildly spicy with good taste and flavor.

-Na's braised pork belly (small for $16.95; you can order medium and large size for this dish). Dish comes with some bamboo shoots and mushroom. If you like pork belly in general - or just meat - you'll really appreciate this dish. Even my sister thought it was one of the best dishes and she normally doesn't eat this. Very flavorful, very heavy - taste was spot on and you can taste the sugar mixed with the savory-ness of the meat to really delight your palate. This would go best with rice.

-Spinach with sesame sauce ($7.95 for a small); this was really interesting and I actually liked the overall taste. Didn't taste like a vegetable at all, but almost like a sweet and savory cookie. Very fragrant and something I wouldn't mind trying again.

The other dishes that we ordered were all underwhelming and not items I'd try again.

-Na's prime angus rib ($46.95) - this is their signature dish, which we had very high hopes for. Looked good, but tasted pretty awful for something that we paid around fifty bucks for. Comes with a black pepper sauce and a Thai sweet chili sauce, both of which didn't suit the meat at all. The rib came with the bone for presentation; meat was super dry and was not flavorful or tender.

-Scallion pancakes ($6.95) - even the frozen ones from the supermarket taste better than this. Not sure if it's because the pancakes are open at the ends, but there was no flavor and very chewy. Tasted kind of like we were eating dough.

-Old Beijing noodles ($15.95) - noodles come out in a wok where the worker will mix it thoroughly before presenting the bowls to each guest. He plated enough for four bowls and there was still a small amount in the wok that didn't get plated (good enough for maybe half a bowl), but it was taken away swiftly - that was a kick to my gut because it probably went into the trash. Noodles were alright. There was very little pork belly that we could see, but I liked that the noodles were handmade. Noodles were a bit too soft in my opinion and had more oily taste and didn't have any "wok hei".

-Milky cheese ($5.95) - several people commented on this dessert being super special. In the menu, it comes with some syrup on the side, but the dish presented was just the fish itself. Basically a panna cotta although this fish has cheese, milk and caramel. It was pretty light and creamy. Interesting flavor and having it come in the shape of a fish is cute, but I don't think I'd order it again.

We also got an order of birthday noodles (comes with some vegetables and an egg) for my mom on the house, which was super nice. The noodle seems like it's the same as the one from the Beijing noodle dish. I actually liked this one more because it was light but still had good flavor.

Service was alright. For a Michelin star restaurant, nobody came by to refill our water or check up on us until we flagged somebody down. There was a lot of people walking back and forth, but it seemed like they always had a destination and weren't in the lobby area...

I like what I ordered.

Sometimes I do think Chinese food is too oily even though Chinese food has a huge variety comparing to any other food from different countries in the world wide.

However I like this restaurant because of the vibe—clean, but remains Chinese aesthetic culture.

The exterior may seem modest, but inside you’re transported into a grand imperial hall with red and gold décor, ornate wood paneling, jade accents, and private dining rooms—seating groups of 10–14.

The dining space feels spacious and elegant, evoking Qing Dynasty opulence without a hint of pretension.

Culinary Highlights • Imperial Manchu Cuisine – Rooted in Beijing royal traditions, led by Chef Tian Yong, whose pedigree includes cooking at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the renowned Grand Mansion.

• Signature Crispy Shrimp – A guest favorite: jumbo prawns in crisp batter. Absolutely “bomb,” and many say it’s a must-try.

• Beijing Zhajiang Noodles – Rich and savory, also highly recommended by patrons.

• Peking Duck / Beijing Roast Duck – Considered among the area’s best. Shelves out quickly—reserve at least a week in advance.

• Seasonal Exotic Dishes – Including Emperor’s Jar Soup, king crab prepared multiple ways, crispy meatballs with black fungus & jalapeños, triple-onion spicy chicken in chile oil, and steamed pork with preserved mustard greens—showcasing palace-level refinement.

• Vegetarian & Lighter Sides – Stir-fried pea sprouts, okra, tofu-skin salad, organic asparagus salad—perfect for balancing the rich dishes.

Accolades & Recognition • Earned a Michelin star in 2019 and retained it again in 2021; it lost the star in December 2022 but remains a premier fine‑Chinese‑dining destination.

👍 Pros • Stunning, immersive atmosphere. • Great for special occasions or group dining.

👎 Cons Common dishes that could be found anywhere else than might be better.

I do think there are so many amazing Chinese food that really need a great person to make it happen, and change the oily, messy, and a little boring impression of Chinese food.

Overall I liked this restaurant. It just could be better. If you’re seeking an elevated Chinese dining experience reminiscent of an imperial feast, Bistro Na’s in Temple City delivers. The sophisticated décor, impeccable service, and standout dishes like crispy shrimp and Beijing duck make it a top-tier spot. It’s best enjoyed during a celebration, family gathering, or when treating...

My family and I booked a private room and were told there was a $600 minimum spend, plus an added 20% gratuity and $100 deposit. All very reasonable things to apply to a large reservation. Upon arriving for our reservation, they were quite busy for a weeknight. Beautiful restaurant space but overall the food was mediocre. We ordered 10 dishes a la carte and 2 Peking ducks. When I was ordering I wasn’t asked whether I’d like a medium or large portion of a dish. The server was assuming and ringing in large portions automatically. Then I started stating this and that’s only when it was rung in accordingly.

Food:

The two Peking ducks were a bit dry. Skin was chewy. We were offered to have the bones prepared two ways, soup or fried. We got one each. They did not mention this was an extra added charge of $20/dish. I saw this added on the bill afterwards. Typically in the past when I’ve ordered Peking duck this was part of the whole price.

Steamed red snapper. Not at all worth it. The presentation was not appealing. It looked insanely butchered. The texture of the fish seemed like it was not fresh, I only had two bites. This was $78/# and it was a 5.5# whole fish. That’s a $429 dish that was poorly executed. My family loves whole fish and I was so disappointed this was the outcome :(

Na’s secret tofu. Way too eggy and stiff texture.

Crispy Shrimp. The sauce was too sweet, but it was nicely fried.

Crispy Scallops. This dish had a nice flavor profile, the green peppercorns, fresh chilis and garlic were good. Although it threw me off that they added fried tofu in this. I’ve never seen scallops served cut in half. I know scallops are a premium item, but this dish felt like they were clearly skimping. $68.

Drunken Chicken. Chewy and presentation was not nice. The flavor was pleasant though.

Food highlights:

Okra in seasoning - Prepared perfectly. Nice, crisp okra and the sauce at the bottom was beautifully balanced. Everyone raved about this too.

Stew crab meat and fish maw - It did’t come hot, but this was absolutely delicious.

Service:

Polite, and efficient, but didn’t feel warm nor genuine. The added charges without the transparency is not nice. I let the server know they need to notify their guests prior. I was excited to come take my family here for some time. We opted not to order dessert.

Unfortunately, I won’t be returning nor...