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About
The Imperial China Restaurant offers the most exquisite Chinese food and an extensive menu is offered both in the restaurant and as a take away. New Forest locals have come to accept the friendly, discreet service as the 'norm', but no-one visiting Imperial China fails to comment on the high quality of the food no matter how many times they have eaten there !
PRICE RANGE
US$20 - US$100
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, After-hours
CUISINES
Chinese, Asian, Healthy
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Reviews (710)
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708 results
Traveller rating
455
163
45
22
23
Traveller type
Time of year
LanguageEnglish
Traveller rating
455
163
45
22
23
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All reviews prawn toast crispy beef pancakes king prawns ribs mixed starter chinese restaurant set meal new forest take away between courses lovely meal visited this restaurant takeaway szechuan
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Reviewed today

Usual excellent quality and friendly staff. We have been customers of IC for over 20 years, through the ups and downs and various managements. Billy and his crew are always pleased to see you and the service is fairly relaxed but very professional.

Date of visit: November 2023
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Reviewed 3 weeks ago

Have been going here for many years. But this time I was so ill only a few hours after eating. Cannot possibly go there again. My friend also was unwell.

Date of visit: November 2023
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Reviewed 23 September 2023

We last ate here a couple of years ago and all aspects were excellent. How things can change! We now understand that the Management has changed since then. On entering, the reception area looked 'upmarket' and gave expectations of good things to come. Sadly no....Our greeting was less than cordial with no smile or warmth. Having passed through the screens, which section off the reception area, we were faced with an 'old factory-style canteen' area. There was absolutely no ambience, plastic table clothes, bright pink walls, stark lighting and unsmiling service. We ordered sizzling chicken (£14) and lamb (£17) dishes, with ginger and spring onion, and, albeit portions were plentiful, the meat was 'chewy' and flavours not to the delight anticipated. We lived in Hong Kong and Singapore for six years so have a more than average experience of Chinese food. No soy sauce or chopsticks were offered. A small Chardonnay (£6) and a non-alcoholic beer (£3), plain rice (£5) and 10% service charge made the bill total £50.71 . We are not the 'complaining type' but felt overcharged for a disappointing experience.More

Date of visit: September 2023
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Reviewed 10 September 2023 via mobile

Visited as a family of 4 with 2 teens. Its hard to find a Chinese restaurant where its possible to eat in and I hadn't done this for years. The decor is a little dated but the staff and food make up for it. The...teens were most impressed with the lazy Susan on the table. We all ate from the set menu and there was so much food - ordering for 3 would have left us with plenty of food. Everything was delicious. The only let down was the cola which was awful like some supermarket own- brand. When we hot home I realised I had not asked for chopsticks which would have added much amusement to our evening. Perhaps these could be put on the table? We had a thoroughly enjoyable evening and wi return.More

Date of visit: August 2023
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Reviewed 3 August 2023

This was a fantastic meal, fresh and full of flavour. We had alot of food and it was all excellent. I would highly recommend this place. Bill was very reasonable too and service excellent and friendly

Date of visit: August 2023
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Reviewed 2 August 2023

Really friendly service, the food was beautifully prepared and just right amount for two of us. They also participate in the Go New Forest discount scheme so gave 10% off.

Date of visit: August 2023
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Reviewed 17 July 2023 via mobile

Lovely place. Great taste. Good service. Right at the beautiful street of lyndhurst. Enjoyed every bit with my family.

Date of visit: July 2023
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Reviewed 14 July 2023

Thoroughly enjoyable meal. Great food, excellent service and the manager made my daughter’s first visit to a Chinese restaurant a memorable one with lots of nice touches. Thank you.

Date of visit: July 2023
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Reviewed 24 June 2023

This is our favourite Chinese restaurant in the area and we tend to book a table envy year to celebrate our wedding anniversary; this year was our 40th ! We had special hors d'oeuvres with prawn toast, vegetable spring rolls, hot ribs, chicken satays and...seaweed. This was followed by aromatic crispy duck with 6 pancakes and then sweet & sour king prawns plus a sizzling dish of fillet steak in sweet and piquant sauce. The chef also presented us with a lovely chocolate dessert with Happy 40th Anniversary on it which was a nice touch by the management; we will definitely be back next year.More

Date of visit: June 2023
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Reviewed 30 May 2023

We always book a meal in this restaurant when we stay in Lyndhurst for the weekend as the food is so good. The restaurant has changed hands several times in the past few years, but the food has always been good and this time around...did not disappoint. We always go for one of the set meals and it has everything and they are not offended if you change out some of the dishes for other dishes and easily accommodate. The staff are lovely, very attentive and always with a smile. Restaurant is very deceiving from the front outside, it looks like a run down Chinese take-away, but once inside it goes way back into a very large restaurant with lots of space, you are not on top of one another.More

Date of visit: May 2023
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Reviewed 28 March 2023 via mobile

We had a takeaway from here following a day out in the Forest. It was the best Chinese takeaway we’ve had for years, I’d highly recommend. We were greeted with a really warm welcome, the waiting area for takeaway was comfortable & the service was...pretty quick. The restaurant looked lovely, we would’ve sat in if we didn’t have our dog with us. We’ll definitely be back!More

Date of visit: March 2023
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Reviewed 13 March 2023

We popped in as we were staying at the Crown Manor House Hotel for my 50th Birthday weekend. The food and service was great! Had a lovely meal.

Date of visit: March 2023
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Reviewed 15 February 2023

On St Valentine's Day we met family members for lunch: we live in Winchester and they were staying in the New Forest. We booked for a 12.30 table and much to our surprise were the only people in the place until they closed at 2.00....Sad for the restaurant but lovely for us. The food was excellent with a good choice of the different Chinese styles including a few Szechuan dishes. Service was pleasant and unfussy and both the man and the woman spoke really good English, so no confusion at all! Overall an excellent choice for a good meal in pleasant surroundings.More

Date of visit: February 2023
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed 15 February 2023

One Tuesday lunchtime, sadly this place was empty except for our party of four. Yet the service was pitched just right. not too attentive but ready when needed, topping up water glasses and so on. Menu was interesting and we all found something to like,...including some fiery Szechuan. Pricing was fair We don't often go to Lyndhurst but would certainly revisit Imperial China when we doMore

Date of visit: February 2023
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed 5 January 2023

my husband and i popped in on the off chance of a table on a Thursday night between Christmas and New year. Luckily we managed to get a table for 2. The food was absolutely delicious, particularly reccommend the Shredded chilli beef.

Date of visit: December 2022
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Questions & Answers
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russbrimson
1 August 2017|
AnswerShow all 6 answers
Response from ClaireBT72 | Reviewed this property |
Unfortunately not it has two shallow steps to the front so wheelchair user would need to be assisted into the restaurant.
1
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Arielle B
13 February 2015|
AnswerShow all 8 answers
Response from pricestuart01 | Reviewed this property |
yes but ask
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IMPERIAL CHINA, Lyndhurst - Updated 2023 Restaurant Reviews, Menu & Prices - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Imperial China

Yes, Imperial China offers takeaway services.

Yes, Imperial China is taking precautions against COVID-19. A full list is available within the "safety precautions" section of this page.

Imperial China is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4.5
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4.5