Royal China (Canary Riverside) - (Near , london)

4 /5 Killa: Food was ok I would give a 6/10 they are popular as they were very busy, good summer spot for sure the view is probably amazing, food could have been hotter but the portion size is good and is worth the price. The service could have been better I feel they weren’t very friendly but they were polite and well dressed with great grooming standards. Would go again with a large group as I think that’s what their speciality is, also I think they could play some nice music at a low level

5 /5 Nina Dova: We were lucky enough to get right on time for the Dim Sum which were spectacular! We also had the pork noodles and the wonton soup. We ended the meal with the custard buns and mango/ grapefruit dessert. The staff were also lovely and the service was excellent. Definitely coming back soon!

3 /5 Travelling Doc: Around a 10-minute walk from Jubilee Place in Canary Wharf (even cutting through Cabot Place), Royal China is usually a convenient spot in the area. We visited on the second day of Chinese New Year, so the restaurant was understandably busy. However, the experience felt quite disorganised from the start. Although we arrived only 10 minutes late, we were left waiting a further 10 minutes for our table. When booking, we had noted that we would be bringing a baby pram/buggy, but this hadn’t been recorded in their system. Staffing levels were clearly stretched — the bartender mentioned that several staff had returned to China for the celebrations. We brought a bottle of champagne and asked about corkage. There seemed to be confusion: initially we were told £30, later clarified as £30 for wine and £50 for champagne. This was eventually confirmed a few days later with an email from head office. We were also advised that, due to it being a busy week, we could pay corkage in cash so it wouldn’t appear on the bill — which felt a bit questionable. Service was slow throughout the evening. We arrived around 19:00, but our champagne wasn’t served until 19:15–19:20, about 25 minutes after arrival. The bartender did apologise and explained they were understaffed. The whole duck arrived at 19:24. The flavour was good, but the skin was lukewarm, as if it had been sitting before service — enjoyable, but not excellent. The rice accompaniment only arrived after the duck had already been served. Our vegetable dish came at 20:19 — almost an hour after the duck and 90 minutes after we had been seated. It tasted good, but the pacing of dishes was completely out of sync. By this point, it felt like courses were being sent out sporadically rather than cohesively. There was such a long gap afterwards that we eventually cancelled the beef ho fun. The whole seabass arrived at 20:22, nearly an hour after the duck and about 90 minutes after we sat down and ordered. It was actually excellent — perfectly cooked — but again, the wait took away from the experience. Dessert (pancakes with black bean paste) arrived at 21:02, over two hours after we had been seated. It was average and slightly oily. The staff were friendly and warmly greeting guests with “Happy Chinese New Year,” which was appreciated. Unfortunately, despite the festive atmosphere, this wasn’t the best place to celebrate CNY. The food quality had potential, but the disorganisation and pacing issues significantly detracted from the overall experience.

4 /5 Minkee Chong: This remains one of my absolute places for dim sum in the city, and for good reason: the food is simply outstanding. Every dish is executed with real skill—fresh, perfectly seasoned, and as close to top-tier Hong Kong standards as you’ll find in London. The riverside location and stylish décor are bonuses, and little touches like individual hand-sanitiser bottles on every table show they care about the details that matter.Yes, the staff aren’t going to win warmth awards—they’re efficient and professional rather than chatty or overly smiley—but that’s part of the authentic Cantonese dim-sum experience. You’re here for the food, not a friendship bracelet. If you genuinely love proper dim sum and want some of the most authentic, high-quality versions in London, this is a must-visit. Just don’t come expecting Michelin-level hand-holding. Come hungry, order generously, and enjoy some of the best baskets in town.

5 /5 Christine Kim: We went for the all-you-can-eat dim sum lunch special midweek in January and the place was busy. Thanks to Ken’s patience (little did he know how much we can eat!), we were able to enjoy as much as we liked and everything was to the usual Royal China standard.