Visited here with my partner and his mother to celebrate Chinese New Year and overall I really…read moreenjoyed it. I've never been to Pearl of the Orient before, but I really loved their neighbouring bar's food so was happy to try this place out for the special occasion. The food itself was 5 stars, but I'm taking 1 star off due to speed and portion-size. ~ Atmosphere: If you're looking for a fancy night, Pearl of the Orient really gives it. Sleek and classy, this place has all the makings of an upscale restaurant. Probably the poshest Chinese restaurant I've ever been in! ~ Customer Service: The customer service was great, but the speed was really slow. Granted, we came on Chinese New Year which also happened to fall on a Saturday night, so I can't speak for the speed of the service for other times, but we waited over an hour for our food to arrive. As I recall, Ba Orient didn't take as long with the food so it could've been entirely that the kitchen couldn't handle the packed hall of diners, and some of the chefs may have been off themselves to celebrate the New Year. So, the long wait times may possibly not be a regular thing. ~ Food: Absolutely gorgeous. I'll be honest, since I moved to Cardiff from California, I really had to lower my standards on quality Chinese food since there's little to no competition for an authentic Chinese restaurant. However, Pearl of the Orient's food is probably good enough to hold its own even in San Francisco! The Hong Kong stye crispy roasted pork was heavenly and the sea-spiced aubergine was out of this world! The meal was so delicious and you can definitely taste the quality. The only disappointing thing is the portion sizing! I ordered 7 dishes total for 3 people which normally should've been plenty, but everything was in such small portions that we were only filled up when we ordered an extra dessert. Great tasting food, but if you're looking for a Chinese-style "feast", then you definitely need to order a lot more. I would've added more orders on, but with the wait times we decided in the end to not bother. Oh yeah, for the dessert, go for the fried custard buns. OMG! --- Overall, I'm happy to give Pearl of the Orient a try again. It's a tad bit expensive, but in my opinion you're paying an extra surcharge for the magnificent decor and atmosphere. The food is incredible, but you might want to order a lot more than you had originally planned. However, if I come back another time and the horrendous wait is still in effect, I would have to pull the rating down.

I went with a group of friends, the service was a bit slow but the food was a gastronomic feast we…read moreall ordered to much and shared, as is the custom in many south east asian feasts. The flavours unleashed were incredible as you would expect from a middle tier restaurant, you can expect to pay at least £20 a head but it is well worth it, try to avoid to much rice don't buy it just because its what you usually do. The point is to try many different meat, fish and poultry dishes not fill up on rice. The dishes come out on these little trays with fairy light candles to keep them warm a nice touch and practical. I would go as a group of 4 maybe a double date and be spontaneous try many new dishes you've never thought of having the taste is amazing. I would recommend going for special occasions, meals with family members or the introduction to the in-laws or celebrating engagement. If you are going for a birthday party It might take to long for the service, Its your call.

Unless you pressed your nose up against the window, from the outside you have absolutely no idea…read morethat this was a Chinese restaurant. A little Tea Rooms would seem far more appropriate for this quaint, little pebbled building. Like Laura, I wasn't blown away by the food. I had sweet and sour tofu, which though nice I've had better elsewhere. My sister however declared the duck chow mein to be the best she's ever had, so perhaps it all depends on what you've ordered. The staff were all pleasant, however halfway through the meal moved our wine stand at least five foot away from the table. I'm not exactly sure what that was about. Maybe they thought we'd had too much to drink, or perhaps wished to pour the drinks for us? Whatever the case it was decidedly odd (though they did move it straight back to our side, when we asked).

This Chinese food is good but it's not great…read more My egg-fried rice had that strange texture about it that seems like it's been cooked and then reheated. I'm not suggesting that this is what happened. It just wasn't that nice. The main dishes I had of vegetables was good, but lacking a little bit of flavour. The service, though, was really good and I enjoyed my time there - though more because of the service and company than the food.

Yang's Chinese is a restaurant I remember very well since visiting as a child. I remember not even…read moretrying Chinese food before so I was skeptic. But as soon as I tried the food in this place I ended up wanted more. Especially those prawn crackers, I honestly think they have the best prawn crackers ever. As far as the prices go they are extremely reasonable per person. Roughly spending around £12 plus drinks. Now the restaurant is a buffet so it has a set price and now it's all you can eat. They also offer a take away option. You can order over the phone and get it delivered or go and pick it up. The food is just as good as they would serve it in the restaurant. Definitely go and visit New Yang's Chinese is Barry. It is definitely the best Chinese restaurant in that area. I could really go for a prawn cracker now...

Fantastic, tasty food whether you choose to eat from the menu or from the buffet…read more Wide selection of foods for both those who eat meat and vegetarians. Buffet food is constantly replenished. Good selection of Chinese beers as well as both alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. You can order food to takeaway also. We enjoy the food so much that we have just changed from our regular chinese takeaway to here. You pay a bit more for it but the quality is worth it. They will happily create something that isn't on the menu for you. I recently wanted to order a mixed seafood dish but did not see one on the menu. They happily created a plentiful one for me without question. Staff are excellent, always friendly and are attentive without crowding you. Excellent place for a quiet meal or for a large gathering.

Lee Garden is a popular Chinese and Thai Food Restaurant that offers a really impressive range of…read morefood including; Peking, Cantonese, Szechuan Chinese food as well as Thai and Malaysian cuisine. Whilst it's pleasant enough to eat in, I have mainly patronised them by using the take out menu, especially when trying to accommodate the tastes a large group of people. They have the most extensive menu for far Eastern food that I'm aware of in Cardiff, and so it's a no brainer who I recommend when we are trying to order for five or more people... it cuts down on the quibbling! The fact that they are open seven days a week also makes them pretty dependable. Being popular, they get pretty busy at the weekends and so delivery times can be erratic. They give a 15% reduction in price for collections, and they tend to process your order a lot quicker if you collect in person. I advise everyone to pick up their food if possible, especially if it's a large order. I've only eaten in once and enjoyed the experience. We needed a table for two at 8.30 on a Saturday night, and luckily didn't have to wait too long, despite not making a reservation. We wouldn't have been so lucky if there had been more of us. It's probably best to book on any night of the week, and is definitely advisable at the weekend. There's two numbers to call: 02920 462388 02920 486288 Unfortunately, there's no website, which, considering the extent of their menu, would be really useful. They have a well printed, four leaf take away menu that you can call in and collect when you are passing.

If you're a Chinese place on the same road as The Swallow, your business model has to revolve…read morearound one of two things if you're going to survive: being so mind-blowingly exceptional at what you do that you actually manage to surpass The Swallow, or offering customers something that The Swallow doesn't. Lee Garden opts for the latter choice, providing a menu that offers an extensive range of dishes that veer away from the standard Chinese fare of noodles + rice + lemon chicken. Instead, they have a menu that, besides the standards, also offers a selection of less anglicised Oriental dishes. If you are looking for a standard Chinese, and know exactly what you want, go for The Swallow. The food's better there. If you're a little more daring and want to take your tastebuds on a test drive of some new flavours, try the Lee Garden. Even if you don't enjoy the food, you can at least say you've tried it.

Cardiff has a couple of really good Chinese restaurants, and the Riverside Cantonese is one of…read morethem. Take no notice of the slightly plain-looking exterior, because inside it's quite smart, very friendly and serves great food every time. Their crispy duck is delicious, as is the grilled satay chicken - and besides many meat dishes they also have some lovely fish mains on the menu, including dishes with Monkfish, Scallops and Red Snapper - and plenty of veggie options. Apart from offering a varied menu, they also have a number of Set Menus which are good for sharing - offering excellent value. I've only ever eaten here in the evening, and didn't realise until reading other reviews that they also serve dim sum in the afternoons - so that's now on my list of things to try sometime!

The exterior decoration provides some clue as to what to expect inside at the Riverside Cantonese…read moreRestaurant. It is incredibly well maintained, despite the general dilapidated look of the immediate area surrounding it. I would go so far as to say that this is the best Chinese restaurant in Cardiff, it's certainly my favourite. Renowned for their inexpensive dim sum on a Sunday, getting a seat can be pretty tricky. But they serve dim sum every night - you just have to ask for the special menu. The staff are great, they'll stop to have a laugh and joke if you are inclined to get conversational, but regardless of this the service is prompt. They really know what they're doing. The interior is light and airy with well spaced tables and decent décor. It's easy to spot a well cared for restaurant, and the food always corresponds to the standards

Having also reviewed 'The Happy Gathering', awarding it with 5 stars, I personally consider this to…read morebe a close 2nd place in terms of the best Chinese restaurant in Cardiff. Situated in a slightly run down spot (no disrespect to the local residents), Yang's sticks out like a bit of a sore thumb. With its sleek exterior and bright red logo, this restaurant portrays itself well as a classy establishment. Inside, the interior is designed very tastefully, and although modern, it maintains a distinct air of Chinese authenticity. There's a relaxing ambience inside, which is aided by the fact that it isn't crammed by masses of people. The food here is absolutely delicious, with exceptionally high standards of presentation and taste guaranteed. This restaurant does slightly suffer from itss location, although it really is highly recommended to all those who love good chinese food.

This good value Chinese restaurant offers decent enough food, generous portions, and all the dishes…read moreyou'd expect to see at a Chinese (though it would be nice if it also included a few surprises). The only time I've eaten there, however, it was really, really quiet. And I mean so quiet that we felt 'watched over' by the waiting staff during our meal. You couldn't fault them for their friendliness or attentiveness, but I just want to remain inconspicuous when I'm eating, rather than ending up being the centre of attention! There was one other couple eating, and they finished half way through our meal - so we were marooned in the middle of the restaurant as the only customers! I felt a bit sorry for the staff, really, who looked like they were all waiting for something to do. I would probably choose to come on a Saturday night next time, in the hope it would be busier - but to be honest I'd probably just head for a more popular Chinese such as the Riverside Cantonese - safe in the knowledge that it's generally bustling and has more atmosphere.

I can only describe this as the worse takeaway meal I have experienced…read more had a meal a few months ago that was not good then you put a leaflet through the door so thought would give you another try big mistake ribs over cooked curry awful pork in ginger and spring onion very sweet most thrown in bin

We have had delivery several times Each time the food has been excellent!…read moreThe only problem is the driver doesn't have credit card capability, so you must have cash available.

I don't choose to go out for Chinese very often, because it's not my favourite cuisine, and a lot…read moreof Cardiff's Chinese restaurants seem to serve up fairly bland, mediocre cuisine - with the exception of a handful such as the Riverside Cantonese and Happy Gathering. I'm fairly sure authentic Chinese food shouldn't be like that, but short of travelling to China for some first hand experience I'm hardly an expert reviewer. Unfortunately, however, the Bozan Chinese seems to be one of the mediocre crew, serving up passable but unexceptional Chinese food - but what does go in its favour are the cheap-ish prices and the staff, who are very sweet and attentive. Personally, I'd far rather go for Japanese or just about any other cuisine than Chinese, and I can't see me rushing back here in a hurry, but for a cheap, filling meal in friendly surrounds it's not bad.

Bo Zan is a typical Chinese restaurant that offers the 'all you can eat option' at £6.00 on a…read moreSunday and £11.50 on Friday and Saturday night. Prices in general are pretty keen, essentially the equivalent of low end takeaway prices with half added again. This means that most of the main courses off the normal menu are around the £6.00 to £7.00 mark. Bo Zan is better than the 'all you can eat' restaurants in the centre of town, but as with all eateries that adopt this rather questionable practice, which to my mind equates to the discount store directive of 'stack 'em high, and shift 'em quick', cooking in such quantities at a really frenetic pace inevitably means that standards drop below that of food made with more care and consideration. I've eaten here before, and I will doubtless eat here again. The food is definitely passable, and allows large groups, with people from different income groups, to all eat out together. The Bo Zan is a great leveller in this respect. I recommend avoiding the weekends entirely, and ordering ff the menu. The food is usually better that way!