Royal Palace Restaurant

Royal Palace is definitely my favorite Chinese restaurant, well, outside of China. This restaurant specializes in Cantonese/Hong Kong fare, and that means you’re treated to fresh produce and ingredients. If you’re into the “fake Chinese” food popularized by chains like Panda Express or Patti’s, you’re not going to get that taste that can only come from thick artificial sauces here. I suppose if I wanted that, I could stay at home and open up a bottle of Lee Kum Kee and slap it on my poor attempts at stirfy. Here, the focus is on freshness and that means a delicate balance between the meats, greens, and sauces. Among their pairings, the seafood is really the star. I mention again that the seafood is really the star at Royal Palace. In fact, most of my favorite dishes here are seafood. Must tries include Black Bean Clams (a mild balance of clams with the spiciness of black beans and fresh peppers), the Seafood Combination (a light dish of shrimp, scallops, calamari with a medley of mushrooms, snow peas and other vegetables), the Fish Fillet (delicately steamed sea bass with a sort of light shoyu and garnish base), the Honey Walnut Shrimp (mayo-citrus covered shrimp served with honey roasted walnuts), steamed Kumu (when available), and of course their black bean and ginger onion lobsters and crabs (for a special treat, try their “supreme sauce” lobster). I agree with other reviewers when they say their dinner combination specials are a value. Here, you’re offered three choices from a menu of 38 and your pick of a Dungeness crab or Maine lobster prepared black bean or ginger onion styles, all for under $40. For the non-seafood fans, my recommendations are the Mongolian Beef, Kau Yuk (pork belly simmered in a shoyu mix), Mushoo Pork (pork and veggies wrapped in soft wrappers), Crispy Chicken, and definitely the Peking Duck, Roast Pork, and Char Siu (better than what you’ll find in Chinatown). Royal Palace is very casual and draws a mixed local, neighborhood, and Chinese crowd. The decor could use some updating. And some of the waitresses could give better service. But I go for the food and the value. Most of the menu is under $10 for generous portions and you’ll find yourself spending more (for less) elsewhere. You’ll sometimes find the place busy with dinner parties (as they have a number of party courses) or lunch buffets (which I’ll say is a hearty deal). The holidays and before or after games at the stadium tend to bring out the crowds. And the restaurant seems like a great place for a family meal after ice skating at Ice Palace. If you find yourself in the Moanalua/Salt Lake area, definitely eat at this gem. more

This is probably one of the best chinese restaurants that i've been to. Their food is good and tastes very authentic and their portions are enormous. I've been there with my family on several occasions for their family style dinner menus which are supposed to serve 10 people - but in reality, you could probably feed 15 people with the amount of food that they give you and all for a price under $150. The food itself is pretty tasty and almost everything you eat has a different, unique flavor to it. their honey walnut shrimp and sweet and sour fish fillet are probably my favorite two dishes - the soups are also very very good. (try it!) The lunch buffet is well worth the price when the food comes fresh from the kitchen. there is a wide selection of food to choose from, even shrimp, and a very delicious tapioca dessert is often featured. At night, if you're not going here for a party, they have a special where you can order a lobster/crab cooked how you like it and 3 other dishes of your choice for under $40. I've never seen a deal better than this at any other chinese restaurant. my family is a big fan of seafood, so this is always perfect for us if its just the four of us. occassionally, there might be a wait on your food if the place is packed and short-handed, but i think it's still pretty worth it. more

Its not extremely high end and its right next to ice skating rink. Its nice in which the food is decent and you can basically walk in wearing anything. Its a common place to go before and after football games because it is right next to the stadium. My family commonly orders off the menu, but once we went for the buffet. It was good food but it was not the best. If your looking for a casual chinese restaurant for a family type placce this would be a good place. Its sort a TGI Fridays Chinese way. Except its a little more rundown then a TGIs more

This restaurant is a very casual place, I’ve gone their with my family in shorts, teeshirt and slippers. However, many large families celebrate special occasions there, so you’ll get a mixed crowd. Their 4 course special, about $35, includes either a Dungeness crab or Maine lobster cooked to your preference, and your choice of three additional dishes. We love the steamed fillet of fish, Chinese style. I've also gone their for their lunch buffet. I would NOT recommend this. The quality was poor and the value wasn't there. Stick with the dinner fare. more

Royal Palace is located in Stadium Mall next to Aloha Stadium. It features authentic Chinese cuisine. A Chinese Buffet is also available. You can dine-in or take out. They have many lunch specials. The food itself can be described as tasteless or too salty. Prices are cheap, but you get what you pay for. more

The Royal Palace Restaurant is a great place to go for good Chinese food. I haven’t been to their buffet line (I think it’s only open for lunch), but I’ve been there for dinner many times. I even had my graduation party there. The food is delicious and mouth-watering. Also, the menu has a large selection, so there’s always something for everyone. (My recommendation – the steamed fish, Mongolian beef, and the crab.) The prices are very reasonable as well. As of this writing, you can get two big dishes and crab for only $28.95, which is a steal for food that delicious. The restaurant itself is clean and pleasant; the generally friendly service staff understand English well, although they speak mainly Chinese. For great Chinese food, go to the Golden Palace Restaurant! more