If it weren't for the service this would be a one star rating to be honest. Our servers were super polite and attentive. The interior of the restaurant is actually very beautiful and ornate. Very clean and well appointed. As far as the food goes it wasn't great at all. First we ordered a few apps . First the chicken teriyaki for my toddler, but when it came out we didn't know what to make of it. It was skewers of chicken that had been deep fried, no sauce or anything resembling teriyaki. Then came the egg flower soup which was super gelatinous and almost tasted congealed. The potstickers were very run of the mill but not the worst. The vegetable tempura was heavily battered and greasy . As for entrees, the Mongolian beef combo had hardly any beef and it was overflowing with onions. The beef that was on the plate was super chewy, almost like chewing fat. The beef and broccoli was mediocre at best, the broccoli was soggy and the beef was the same as the Mongolian beef, chewy. The orange chicken and sesame chicken tasted basically like something you can buy bagged frozen at the grocery store with a sauce packet. The spring rolls that came with the dinner combos were also super soggy on the inside and nobody ate them. We were hoping for better quality because the Yelp rating was high, but we were sadly disappointed. Also, side note there's alcohol on the menu but they don't have a liquor license to serve it. read more

I'll define with three words, delicious, authentic and fast!! We ordered first some Oolong Tea. For appetizer we ordered the Shao Mai and for entree the beef and string beans. Everything was absolutely delicious and the service was great. The place is super clean and ornate with beautiful Chinese decor with soft music in the background. I'm coming back! read more

Won't return! It's super pricey and food didn't taste that good. Seems like they rushed on food. Will not return to this establishment.

It looks a little sketchy from the outside, but the interior is beautiful. There never seems to be a ton of people inside but the service the few times I have been has been great! We always order a ton of food and it's always taste great. They have a ton of menu options and great combos. It's not too bad on the wallet either. If I want actually Chinese food, this is where I go. It seems to be the only place in Parkland area other than you run of the mill teriyaki spot. I would reccomend it. It's not the most amazing food, but it tastes good and the service is good. read more

Ordered take-out roast pork fried rice when I got to the restaurant late at night. I love the interior decor but it was straight up empty besides the one employee at the front. The fried rice is a pretty simple dish with meat and veggies. They took my order quickly and without any issue. After about ten minutes, the order was ready and it was hot to the touch--perfect! They actually gave a ton of fried rice, probably enough to feed two people or more but I finished it in one go because I was hungry ‍ Everything about the fried rice reminds me of how it's supposed to taste, so it's a 5/5! read more

Forbidden City - roast pork fried rice, stuffed to the brim and in a deep takeout box - Chinese Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

They are extremely friendly. Respectful, check on you In good time. Very clean and. Great service. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Save your money, it is not worth the price they are charging. Very little flavor, almost like frozen Chinese food from the grocery store. It was eatable, but not enjoyable. Will not try again. Also, absolutely NO condiments with a $60+ dollar order. read more

*It's places like these that push me further and further from my dream of being a male swimsuit model. Came here after a long week of working for "the man" and I can say, "Forbidden City" does not disappoint. We got the Salt and Pepper ribs, Orange Chicken and a full-size order of chowmein. I am ashamed to say it, I have ordered the ribs here more times then the number of red lights you probably pass on the way to work. The ribs were amazing, they were even fried with garlic, onion, and spices. I honestly couldn't stop eating these. The orange chicken tasted like real oranges were used and chicken was fresh. The chowmein was really good as well, it had a hint of garlic flavor and the vegetables were fresh. Honestly, I cannot wait to go back! PROS: - Food - Service - Clean CONS: - Portion size - Price read more

See all

This restaurant had been closed for a long period of time and recently reopened as Forbidden City. Have had a few other friends recently tell me the place was really good, so decided to give it a try. My party and I went on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. Unfortunately, my party of 3 were the only ones there. The restaurant is very nicely decorated with the typical Chinese ambiance. The menu was also very typical of the selections available to choose from. My party had the sesame chicken, sweet and sour chicken, bbq pork, edamame, and hot tea. The sesame chicken, edamame was good, but a little disappointed by the amount of breading on the sweet and sour chicken, as it was like where is (Waldo) chicken. The bbq pork was nice, but a few slices were kind of dry and chewy. Compared to the previous Chinese restaurant at this location it is 100 times better, but I would rate it as average. read more

See all

An absolutely perfect example of old school American-Chinese food. The Family meals are huge and we always have leftovers for days. If you are looking for that menu/experience that is hard to find anymore, this is the place. We highly recommend it. read more

Service was good, restaurant was extremely clean and the food was pretty good. My husband ordered his favorite Almond chicken and almost ate the whole plate himself. I got some pictures but they are after we were finished eating. read more

See all

This is the second time I came here, I never returning again. I would leave a 0 star of if I can. Fried rice is bland with lack of soya sauce and my shi mai tastes like it's out of the bag from freezer. read more

Forbidden City - Freezer bag dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

See all

Ordered for pickup on Christmas Eve. -Effective on the phone -Efficient in person 4 stars instead of 5 because.... NO FORTUNE COOKIES?!?! (I'm not sure if they were out or just don't offer them) The food was standard (we ordered a lot) but good quality. My favorite was the special fried rice- huge pieces of shrimp! They didn't put chop sticks in the bag either, which was a slight disappointment. Would eat here again but won't go out of the way to do so. read more

Forbidden City - Chinese Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Drove 12 miles to get here and they're closed. No update on their website, Yelp, Google maps or social media. Door sign indicates closed Mon... but today is Tues ‍. read more

Forbidden City - Chinese Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

I've only ordered once so far, but it was all delicious. Pork fried rice, Mongolian beef, and Sesame chicken are my first orders from all new places. Usually one item is mediocre or worse, but they hit all three on the nose. The beef and chicken dishes both came with a side of white rice, and it didn't dry up and make me want to throw it out the next day (so often I feel like white rice starts off almost dry and becomes inedible the next day). Fried rice was still tasting fresh as leftovers 3 days after I ordered too. I think I paid almost $25 more ordering it through a third party delivery service with fees, and that's before tip. I wont do that again now that I compared pricing, but I don't begrudge the bill because the food was great, I'll just drive there and pick it up next time. I have liked sesame chicken slightly more at one place, but nothing really matters to me more than the joy of liking every dish I order, so I will be ordering from here until something goes wrong and my little soul is crushed :) read more

**A Timeless Culinary Haven:** Nestled in the heart of Parkland, our family embarked on a culinary journey back in time. From the moment we stepped inside, the nostalgic ambiance enveloped us in its warm embrace. The decor exuded an old-world charm, reminiscent of a bygone era, transporting us to a place where tradition meets familiarity. The attentive service further enhanced our experience. The staff's genuine warmth and eagerness to accommodate our preferences created an atmosphere of comfort and belonging. Their knowledge and recommendations added a personal touch to our dining adventure. However, it was the exquisite flavors that truly stole the spotlight. Each dish presented a symphony of authentic Chinese tastes, skillfully crafted to perfection. From the delicate noodles to the aromatic fried rice and savory Almond Chicken, every bite carried the essence of culinary mastery. The use of fresh, high-quality ingredients was evident in every dish, elevating our dining experience to unparalleled heights. In an era where trends come and go, Forbidden City remains a timeless treasure, preserving the art of Chinese cuisine with unwavering dedication. Our family left with contented hearts and satisfied palates, already planning our return to this culinary haven that encapsulates the essence of Chinese culinary tradition. read more

We had one dining experience here so far... it was good basic Chinese cuisine. I had kung pao chicken which is my favorite... the chicken was breaded... which is highly unusual for kung pao. Flavor was good, portion was very large. Great for take home. Everyone in our party enjoyed their meal. Service was good, food arrived quickly. Restaurant could use some updating. Dark... And the parking lot is tricky to access. read more

Bad things - entrance to parking lot sucks, you can't get thru from Walgreens or Baskin Robbins, and from Pacific Ave you take your life in your hands! Great things - the cleanliness, the service, the food, the decor and ambiance. Definitely recommend. I can't wait to try more challenging dishes. I always go with the easiest dish for a new place and if they screw that up then not coming back. So I got sweet and sour chicken with rice, it comes with an egg roll and bowl of soup/salad of your choice. I did the wonton soup. The sweet and sour chicken and rice just what you expect. The soup broth was delicious the wontons a little chewy but not bad. The egg roll - the wrapper was crispy but the filling very bland. It could do with some spices or more veggies. I don't think there was any meat in it. The waiters and decor were great. Definitely nice place for a date or family meal. The tables were placed well far apart in this age of covid so that was nice. The place was also VERY CLEAN. Not an ounce of dust or dirt to be seen. read more

Forbidden City - Wonton soup - Chinese Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

See all

We ate here the other day, not impressed with our entrée but definitely would order their appetizers as take out... these apps are wonderful and very reasonably priced. If you do decide to dine in, keep in mind they don't have their liquor license yet, so just soft drinks are offered. One thing I'll say, the place is VERY clean... the smell of bleach is very predominant. read more

I saw a cockroach in my chair And there was a nose ring in my food And then there was hair in my husband's food And my hair is brown, but it was blonde hair and my husband And there's a bunch of homeless people there read more

At first I was skeptical about going to this place because many Asian restaurants have let me down out here. To my surprise the taste this restaurant offers is legit. If you love Asian cuisine, then you should definitely check out this restaurant read more

Forbidden City - That hot and sour soup ‍ - Chinese Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Unfortunately the food was underwhelming. It may be what we ordered. The egg foo Yung was burnt and I could taste the flour in the sauce.The spring rolls had no flavor. The low mein was just ok.. The fried rice was not fried . It was like regular white rice with peas ,meat etc. But no great fried rice flavor. Disappointed because really want to find an authentic traditional Chinese Restaurant read more

The restaurant itself is beautiful, the food is good and tonight we found out they do hotpot which is awesome. But unfortunately we weren't ready to do hotpot. Enjoyed the salt and pepper ribs and garlic green beans. If you have a large party of people this place can accommodate you easily. Definitely going bac read more

Forbidden City - Spring rolls and Rangoon - Chinese Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Great little gem in the rough. Well appointed decor inside. Had the family dinner for two with a friend. Deep broth flavor in the wonton soup, duck sauce for egg rolls and two entrees(Mongolian beef and almond chicken). Comes with fried rice, lo mein and garlic veggies. Food came out super quickly as did the check and the boot. Hence my one star dock. Place closes at 9. And they don't mess around. We got there at 815. Waitress over at 825p saying kitchen closes in 5 mins. Although we had been seated for two mins we spent almost ten waiting to be seated in an empty restaurant with no staff up front. Rant over. The food was worth it. Tons of left overs too! read more

Great deal, good food. Would definitely order here again. The family deal is a lot of food for the price.

A friend recommended this place, have been searching for a Chinese food restaurant in the Tacoma area. Came in close to their closing time, and was greated immediately. Our server Amber was super friendly and recommended dishes that where go-to's by most customers. We chose steam pot stickers, sweet and sour chicken, Mongolian beef (VERY GOOD) and General Tso's chicken. The menu is very vast with lots of options, we will be returning for the hot pot style menu options. read more

See all

Made Togo for family dinner delicious. portion is not big as I expected but compared to price it's reasonable portion.

Love!! Portions, food, service is so good. get those green beans and u will not regret it i promise. read more

Forbidden City - Chinese Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Really nice, CLEAN, Great food at a good price. Plenty of parking in the rear of the building.

The food was amazing, service was attentive, I am floored this place doesn't have a line out the door. Great food, great atmosphere, love it! read more

Amazing food and portions. THE BEST crab rangoons in the PNW. Really cool inside as well.

My wife , brother in law and I went here. Food came out at very timely manner. Our waitress was very good . I wish I knew her name. We got: Three combos: Sesame chicken (brother in law) 7.5/10 : has crunchy parts and soggy part, right amount of sesame seeds, plate was hot General Tsos chicken (me) 6/10 chicken could definitely be juicer. Flavor was good Almond chicken (wife) 6/10: crunchy , but soggy at end. Chicken could be juicier and a little bit more flavor The combos also came with egg flower soup: B.I.L: thicker than he is use too. Wife: I loved it Me : SO GOOD spring rolls B.I.L : no complaints Wife: I love them Me: really bready Rice: B.I.L: they chose the good rice Wife: FIRE ; it was really good Me: I loved the rice Appetizers: Pot stickers B.I.L: Good Wife: FIRE Me: yummmyyt Sesame Balls B.I.L: Delicious . I wish I had more. Me: I ate them all it was good Wife : FIRE Cheese crab rangoons Wife 8/10 B.IL.: they were pretty good Me : more cheesseeeee read more

Forbidden City - Chinese Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Food and service are outstanding! We ordered D from the Dinner combo choices. Everyone liked everything on the table. Server was new but very attentive and helpful. Will definitely be back. read more

Super kind and very open to request for change ups and the quality of the food is amazing it's the best takeout I've had and the best service I've had read more

Let's start with the good. This restaurant looks wonderful. Lots of cultural art and decor, this place has classic Chinese feel. The employees were welcoming and friendly, and very quick to fulfill our needs. As for the food, the portions were huge, and looked delicious. Sadly, the flavors and textures did not hit the mark. Miles from it to be honest. The food was hot but tasted and chewed as if it was old. Very little flavor in our dishes and my whole family was just left wanting. This was my first visit, so there is a good chance we might give it another shot, but flavor like that at a slightly higher price point makes it a tough decision. Give them a chance. Maybe we just came at a bad day. I sure hope so, cause this place could be a real gem in our city. read more

Super sweet hostess greeted me right away. Fast service! They don't include any sauces or utinsels but they ask if you want them at check out, I love that, less wasteful. Kind of sketchy looking parking but they do have cameras pointed at the cars. The egg foo young! $13 Plump fried egg patties (3), white rice, and delicious gravy. Gravy had just enough spice but not salty at all. The patties are filled with a lot of white meat chicken, peas, onions, bean sprouts, carrot, and a little red bell pepper. I wish they put it on a bed of shredded cabbage like I've seen at other restaurants but seriously this was almost perfect egg foo young imo. Definitely saving this place in my collection! Thank you! read more

See all

Fantastic food and service!! I travel a lot all over the world for work and this was one of the best Chinese restaurants I've eaten at! I had the Kung Pao Chicken and we ordered Cheese Rangoon and potstickers for appetizers. Fresh food, good service, clean restaurant with neat decor. read more

Forbidden City - Kung Pao Chicken - Chinese Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

The servers are very nice and attentive. The service is always fast and friendly. Everything both food which was delicious and customer service here are worth a visit. I also love the ambiance of the place it has a super cool traditionally Asian style. read more

Some of the best Chinese we have ever had and it was super affordable. We left with happy tummies and plenty of lunch leftovers. Do yourself favor and give this place a go, you will not be disappointed! read more

Forbidden City - Family meal and we added the Almond Chicken.... best gravy I have ever had. - Chinese Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

The food was terrible. I had plastic in my hot boiling soup! 20$ for a non flavorful burning hot soup that smelled of a bad odor. I refused to eat it and the most the waiter did was give a 12% discount. read more

Forbidden City - The burning hot soup with no way of cooling it down. - Chinese Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

See all