Imperial Chinese
431 S. Broadway
Denver, CO 80238 (303) 698-2800
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
11 Reviews for Imperial Chinese
After reading such great things about the Imperial..my family and I decided to give it a try.
The service was slow and the server barely understood us. We waited a while for the food and it turned out to be just mediocre. I have had much better sesame chicken at Wok Uptown. Imperial's sesame chicken tasted way too salty, like someone pour a whole pint of soy sauce in it. I would recommend Wok Uptown. Their staff is much nicer and actually speaks English.
I had Genghis Khan Ribs, one of the items listed under house specials. What arrives at my table for $15 was essentially a plate of onions and an offensively-small portion of short-rib bones in a bland pepper sauce.
The service was horrendous and our waiter was non-existent after we'd placed our order. I was taken to this restaurant by friends who swear by it who assured me the service I experienced was atypical.
Nonetheless the combination of bones and onions that passed for an entree and mediocre service earns two stars. I would gladly re-review this business provided I don't have to give them any of my own money.
Perhaps from all the hype this restaurant receive, its DEFINITELY over-rated.
Very disappointed from the food spread of what the Restaurant manager has planned for us, with the certain price range we ask for. Banquet Style. They served us 1 dish after another. Clear the dish after we complete that dish. So far like about 9 to 10 different dishes to be shared at least 8 people in a table ~ prices range from $20 to $35 per person.. I believe to accomodate 24 people can be over-daunting or over-whleming?? Duh!!
We had these:
Appetizers:
Peking Duck Steamed Spring Roll
Pork Dumplings
Soup:
Chicken and Shrimp soup
Main Entrees:
Walnut Prawns
Sesame Chicken
Fried Whole Seabass with Schzwen Sauce
Hunan Beef
Nanking Pork Loin
Fried Rice which contain PORK
Dessert:
Ginger Ice-cream
The only good thing, was the Restaurant do provide private rooms for our big group eating.
I only choose to have the main entrees of the chicken, beef, prawns and fish with brown rice since I dont eat PORK.
Nevertheless, I will try it again with hubby so I can finalized it. The next time if I were to visit this restaurant again, I can choose what I really want to eat from this Restaurant rather than what the Manager plans. What can I say, coz I do have expectation if this Restaurant have been getting good reviews all across Colorado.
Perhaps the reviewers have not been outside the US to taste and compare real Chinese food. No offence. I am just being truthfully honest!
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The first time we went here was to take my boyfriend's dad who grew up in Chicago and who has been on the search for good Chinese food ever since he moved. Our second visit was to take my parents for my dad's birthday. We all ordered the family style dinner for $20 per person which gives you soup, appetizers, an entree and ginger ice cream. The wonton soup is a shrimp wonton and very good. The egg drop soup was some of the best we have ever had. For appetizers we had lettuce wraps, egg rolls, cheese wontons, and little ribs. All appetizers were just wonderful. The entrees we shared family style and I was surprised by how much I loved the choices of other members of our families. We had hunan beef, pork loin, pork ribs, sesame chicken, pork fried rice, & seafood bird's nest. My boyfriend's parents said it was the best they have had since they lived in Chicago and used to eat in Chinatown. The atmosphere is very nice with large fish tanks - don't miss the 2 orange parrot fish in the middle of the dinning room. They have "I Love U" tattooed across their sides! The servers rarely let you run out of water. My only complaint is that the room is very loud on a busy Friday night. While it is some of the most expensive Chinese food I've ever had it is definitely some of the best. I asked them about MSG and I'm not sure I got a straght answer, so be careful in that department.
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okay average Chinese food...not the best service.
Ah, the 'Ol Imp Chin....an annual event for my family on Chinese NY (CNY)...they host a lion dance with TWO Lions, and they have lovely food and great service. We only come here 2-3x/year because it's a longer drive for us (well really long from California) and 'cause of the price-
We used to rent the back room, but our family is too big to fit now so we are always in the middle of the excitement. It's AWEsome 'cause there's 5 other vegetarians in our group of 18 so when they deliver our food they pile it on that huge lazy susan and it rolls around like a conveyor belt - there's tons of delicious veggie dishes to choose from.....fat noodles, veggie dumplings, chinese broccoli, mu shu, scallion pancakes.....
Maybe it's all of the family memories, but I just love this place, from the beautiful fish in the aquariums to the carved wooden display cases.
Food wise, you can pick anything and be happy. Seriously, I have played menu roulette here many times and never been disappointed.
Epicure Highlight:: Get the Sesame Tofu even if you're NOt veg- all of the meat-eaters at the table scarf this one up as quickly as the veg-heads- despite being tofu, it's somehow magically crunchy and sesame-y, they get the seeds to stick to the side of it with a quick batter dip or something-served with a sweet/spicy sauce, (strangely) with halved cherry tomatoes- I don't get why the tomatoes are included but you're not going to have room for them anyway, you're eating crunchy, spicy, sweet, yummy tofu.
On the meat end of the deal....My husband has had the duck, the whole fish with ginger, garlic and scallion sauce (excellent!!) , and multiple beef dishes- he reports back that they are prepared well and of good quality.
I would happily pay the price to eat here again, it's got great service, clean and nicely decorated interiors, and excellent food. Good Chinese is hard to come by in Colorado but this place knows what they're doing- I wish them hundreds of years of success.
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Once upon a time, I could look forward to the Sizzling Black Pepper Steak and an order of Imperial Rolls as a special treat. I knew I would be attended by a professional server who would efficiently, unobtrusively provide me with whatever I needed.
Now, the entrees disappoint and the servers have been replaced with the new Denver Waitstaff: those who sneer at your every request and belittle you for your questions.
Sigh.
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I love chinese, but maybe I just prefer to order in. I think the Imperial is a bit overpriced. Bok Choy, cabbage ya'll, was 9.25. Cabbage!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The sizzling rice soup was very bland. The Mu shu was ok, the sesame shrimp was outstanding. If I am going to go eat out, I will go here, but I still will order Wok Uptown any day! Oh, they did have 3 fish that said I heart U in sharpee. At first I thought it was neat, but then I felt sad :( It was slow to get food, so at least they make it to order. I love Bok Choy.
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My office ordered food from here for one of our lunchtime meetings. I have never been inside the restaurant, so this review is based only on the food.
I have generally had pretty decent luck with ordering tofu entrees from Chinese, Thai, and Japanese restaurants.
I ordered their Hot and Sour Tofu. Simply put... it was the worst Tofu entree I ever ordered from an Asian restaurant.
The hot and sour sauce that it came in was fine. But the tofu seemed like it was barely cooked and it was actually slimy! It honestly, seemed like it was "soft" tofu pulled right out of one those containers you get in the store where it is packed in water, and then placed directly in my container of hot and sour sauce. It sure didnt taste like it was cooked... let alone marinated in the sauce.
If this is how they prepare all their tofu dishes at Imperial Chinese... I would never order another one... or for that matter... ever eat their food again. Now I admit, I have only had their food once... and it was a free meal... If my office doesnt order from them again, I would be perfectly fine with that.
I think I am being pretty generous by giving them 2 stars.
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The Imperial is probably one of the best Chinese Restaurants in Denver. The inside is relatively plush, with interesting lighted aquariums. Reservations can be made for groups of about 10+ in private rooms if you would like privacy for a small event. Free public parking makes access very easy.
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This handsomely appointed sprawling Chinese eatery on South Broadway has consistently garnered raves for its savory and skillfully prepared Chinese dishes. Its days of glory are a little tired, but that hasn't stopped the masses from filing the place noon and night.
You'll likely be satisfied with the standard choices (the sesame chicken is the bomb), but try the Chinese-style seafood gumbo for a mouth-watering pleasure ride. Service is easygoing, but efficient.
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