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Royal China Restaurant
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 3 pm
Mon-Thu, Sun 4:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri-Sat 4:30 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Classy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
49 reviews for Royal China Restaurant
Review Highlights
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48 reviews in English
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Review from Be F.
Oakland, CA
i m surprise about this restaurant. Looks so plain from the outside, but inside has nice decor and good food, it's very Vegas .
I eat many restaurants in the worlds, including Hong Kong, China and ..etc. This one is one of the top.
But the food selection are normal, no Fusion. traditional type , but GOOD !
Approx $25 per person, 4 dishes. -
Review from Jacob J.
First off it's located within a strip mall and usually that is a red flag as far as Chinese restaurants go. At least in my experience, it's almost always the place where they have pictures of food up on the wall and the food is usually mediocre. Not the case here. Someone took the time to set this place up by adding interesting decor, lively elevator music and a token American hostess which sadly only gives that warmth up at the front.
Service on the other hand is cold, no personality or commitment; that's my initial take. My waiter was so tight and stuffy I feel as though he's got a rope tied around his bumpty and because of the restriction he's unable to smile or just be normal. One type of service and no change from that. I stopped in for a lunch special which carried an extravagant expense. I've never paid so much for such a small amount of food. The portions were on the small side and the average entree ran for about ten dollars, lunch menu prices that is. You could get rice, chow mien or do a half and half for an additional charge. The sides were composed of a tasty, small taster salad and hot and sour or Wonton soup. No egg roll! What the fookinese dragons, yo! Well there is a Jack in the Box in the same lot and they do decent egg rolls, for fast food that is.
Oh wait, I believe they do offer vegetarian egg rolls but for $8, whoa crap. How many are given maybe 5, menu doesn't say. Even an appetizer of pot-stickers are $8.18, what nincompoop priced these??? I've had egg rolls, pot-stickers and noodles made at Asian restaurants and I have never seen even the best of places try to pull some high priced shit like this. Its obnoxious that Santa Rosa allows it. Not even in Chinatown Chicago would you find prices like these but I suppose if this place like so many other restaurants here serve with organic ingredients and non-GMO additions then maybe, its okay?
For these kinds of costs I would expect that they could take special requests. I.e. I wanted my rice and entree to be spicy. The waiter didn't even blink, "you can have hot sauce and mix yourself" The way he responded I wanted to just get up and leave. Before writing this review I chose four stars because the food was tasty and the restaurant surroundings are pleasant for dining in. Whilst my experience wasn't the best it could be, I'll leave the rating as is.
Highlights for the usual Santa Rosa diner, unexpected flavors that would thrill your taste buds. I would suspect that because they do not take requests, they keep certain foods half cooked which is why they are able to bust out food quickly. Like mentioned previous, pleasant dining area and food served rather quickly.
I'm still jonesing for an egg roll, maybe I'll suffer a stomach ache and try one of Santa Rosa's Chinese buffets next. -
Review from Trung N.
Wylie, TX
Just came back from here. Interior looked great, dark rosewood foreground. Night blue background. Smooth jazz music permeated the air. No strong bass in the music or blaring brass is something I appreciate during dinner. Table setting looked clean and elegant. Moving onto the decor, I liked their choice of Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night, Cafe Terrace, and Starry Night Over The Rhone. Those paintings added to the relaxing night atmosphere. These paintings also add an illusion of depth to an otherwise modest size room. I say this because seating looked like it is limited to a max of 50. As a result of this, kitchen noise pollution is apparent. Old refrigeration perhaps. A 2-3" solid wood door with jamb seals or double panel sliding glass would snuff the noise pollution. (It did so for my game room at home).
Good timing on the food is probably an effect of the modest dinning room size. The waitstaff benefits from the room size, I noticed my waitress had a view of all the tables from where she stood. Anything I needed was done without the need for me to give a care. Attentiveness is superb here, it's like clockwork. Persona wise, I'd say waitstaff here are like butlers and maids, they're to serve but not chit chat. Not a bad thing since I like quiet dinners where I can hear myself think.
Now for the food, I ordered Jasmine tea, egg drop soup, and the Hong Kong combination crispy noodle. The soup tasted good, however I would have preferred egg drop to be thicker. That's just personal taste though. The ingredients in the soup tasted fresh, not canned like some places. Chef used cucumber, which I thought was odd, but he seems to know what he's doing because he peeled off most of the skin (that's where the bitter is) and cut it into smaller slices. Soup serving size was 4 for $8, good value, especially since it tasted great. Since the soup lacked much cornstarch, I'd say it is healthy for you as well.
The Hong Kong crispy noodle came out after I finished a cup of the soup, waitress asked me if I wanted the soup it to-go, damn, she read my mind. Anyhow, the crispy noodle tasted great! It actually had the right of amount of sodium. Any Chinese restaurant that skimp on saltiness for their traditional dishes aren't worth my time. The noodle strands were not thick, and they weren't burnt from the frying process. Another thing they got right, at this point I was ecstatic and the dish was quickly disappearing. The only other place I've been to that got this dish right was Sing Kee, back in TX. But they have skimped on the sodium lately, probably to cater to the non-Asian crowd.
After I finished and got in the car, I saw tons of white lint on my pants. Probably from the cotton napkin, hopefully they'll learn that linen is a better choice.
Jasmine tea, egg drop soup for 4, crispy noodle for 2 (but hey, I'm a glutton, I ate all the noodles and penguin-waddled to the car). Total bill was around $21 pre-tip. -
Review from Brandon J.
Santa Rosa, CA
GREAT food. GREAT prices. GREAT service. My favorite part is they have Dad's Root Beer. NO ONE has dads root beer anymore!!! Love coming here with my Uncle on lunch breaks. Interior is REALLY nice and seems formal but you don't need to be dressed formal.
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Review from rachelle p.
San Francisco, CA
My parents are getting a divorce and this is where they took me for lunch. Because they knew that Royal China's food would somehow soften the blow. Yea, it's that good.
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Review from Brent M.
Rohnert Park, CA
The atmosphere was pleasant and relaxing. The food was served quickly and was really good for the price. Really enjoyed the mongolian beef and manchurian beef. The pork fried rice was excellent. My girlfriend and i enjoyed it and will be coming back for more.
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Review from Kim H.
Petaluma, CA
The food here was the best Chinese food I have had since I moved to Sonoma county. I would recommend this place to anyone.
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Review from Keith C.
Santa Rosa, CA
Great sizzling rice soup. Awesome pot stickers... People are very friendly!! Been going there for years....
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Review from Steve G.
Petaluma, CA
Having read the reviews on Yelp, I was prepared for the strip mall location and the surprisingly tasteful and elegant interior. The restaurant, at 6:00pm on a weekend night, was very busy with both seated customers and takeout orders. Also, due tot he Yelp reviews, we were prepared for the brusqueness of the waiters who were, in our case, efficient, if not friendly. The reason for our first time visit was to try Peking Duck, a dish I had long heard about but never tried. Because it takes special preparation, we ordered it several days ahead as requested and when we arrived and mentioned that we were the couple who had ordered the Peking Duck, we were seated immediately. Nothing happened for quite a while until a waitperson appeared and asked if we wanted anything to drink. It was some time after that when a another waitperson appeared carrying a beautiful whole duck, dark brown, shiny and very appetizing looking. After we had appreciated it, he returned ot the kitchen to prepare it for the table, slicing it carefully into a mound of duck meat that was surprisingly small for the duck we had been shown but it is certainly possible that there just isn't much meat on a Peking Duck. On the other hand, we had been told that it served four.
Never having had Peking Duck before, I don't know what it should taste like but I expected at least that the skin would be crisp. It most certainly was not. There were also large chunks of pure fat in the meat and in the darkened ambiance of the restaurant it was not really possible to separate them from the lean meat. All n all, it was a disappointment.
On the other hand, the people at adjoining tables seemed to be enjoying their meals so it may be that this restaurant does not prepare the more unusual dishes such as Peking Duck very well but the rest of their menu matches the descriptions of others on Yelp.
Summary: Try this place but be warned about Peking Duck.. -
Review from Camden R.
Santa Rosa, CA
Royal China has the best Chinese food in Santa Rosa. Hands down. I have never had a poor meal here, there is no lack in service, and the lunch price is quite reasonable. I like their Szechuan beef but have also tried their curry chicken, basil chicken, Mongolian lamb, (I could go on for another 10 dishes) etc. Never have any of them disappointed. Their lunch includes soup, a small salad, and what seems to be the perfect portion of food to leave you satisfied.
The dinner options are slightly less of a great deal but not terrible by any means. I suggest just going for their lunch as you get quite a bit more food for the price.
Overall a great spot and one of my favorite places to eat in Santa Rosa -
Review from Prashanth R.
Irvine, CA
My chinese friends hated me for not taking them here earlier. This restaurant changed their idea of a chinese restaurants in the US not actually tasting like authentic chinese food.
They have really good veggie and seafood items. Really good curries.. You'll love it.. -
Review from Kimberly G.
Santa Rosa, CA
There are many Chinese restaurants, but I this is the best restaurant in this area.
They cook everything to perfection. For example, one of my favorite things to order is vegetable fried rice. Each vegetable is cooked just right and the dish is seasoned well.
I've never had anything I didn't like here; but my favorite dishes are the Seafood Clay Pot, Spicy String Beans Chicken, and Prawns with Lobster Sauce. They give good amounts of meat/seafood too!
I've been there for lunch once, but their lunch portions are enough to fill up one person, but not enough to share.
Next time you are craving Chinese food, give this place a try!!! -
Review from Windy S.
Santa Rosa, CA
Great Wor Wonton Soup, very delicate dumplings and tender chicken with fresh veggies! The ambiance is nice and service is great. It's my Chinese take-out go-to!
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Review from Lynne M.
Santa Rosa, CA
Love this place. Has Manchurian Beef which locally I have found only at Dynasty in RP. Won ton soup excellent. Chow Mein one of better ones. Only do take out. Decor inside very nice.
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Review from Steven F.
Santa Rosa, CA
Royal China:
My wife and I have been coming here for years. The best Chinese food ever..... Portions are really small for the money. A dinner for two with one tall beer usually costs us about $60.00 to $75.00, spendy!! We have had good luck with all the waiters and waitresses but I have to agree with everyone who has ripped on Tina. One thing that really stands out, when you order wor wonton soup for a party of two you get two shrimp in the soup, if you come in with a party of three you get three shrimp, and so on, cheap.... Because the food is so good we will continue to go back. Until we find better.. -
Review from Alexis E.
Cotati, CA
Best Chinese food ever! Fresh and delicious! I live in Cotati and my husband and I drive all the way across town for this place - well worth it!
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Review from None N.
San Francisco, CA
*****************First of all, Ross is a food critic/friend/pimp/lover of the owner, so his review is bias*********************** He has reviewed this place many other times in other publications and probably gets free food from Tina. Please disregard his review.
Royal China used to be a mom and pop, hole in the wall joint way back in the day, but they have tried to transform themselves into a PF Chang's. That's like a fat lady trying to fit into a size 2 dress with the rolls hanging out calling themselves Giselle. With whatever you do, you can't be something that you are not.
They have raised their prices because they can. Tina knows people will pay for it. Higher prices should translate into better quality and decent portions right? WRONG. So what gives?
With the clientele being so loyal, they can do whatever the hell they want and people will still come back. It's quite sad actually. You are actually paying for the cheesy and tacky renovation job. The food has gotten progressively worse over the years while the portions have become Jenny Craig sized. (2 or 3 bites of deep fried bulls*it, if you will).
I also witnessed something very silly. As one of the waiters were striking up a conversation with one of the customers, the owner Tina got upset. It seemed like she wanted the spotlight to herself. She wanted praise and acknowledgment from the customer, but her waiter got it instead. In that instance, I could tell she was not a very genuine person. That smile on her face? She's happy because all of you are willing to pay for those poor excuses for Chinese food.
Let's face it. There are other options in the North Bay. Please don't be sheep and flock here.
Royal China is masquerading as a fancy schmancy joint but in reality, it's no better than Panda Express or the Chinese fast food places all over the city of SF. Open your eyes folks. -
Review from Monique E.
Santa Rosa, CA
Really quick. The decor is wonderful, the food is just ok and the service is terrible. I do like that when u walk in you no longer feel like you're in a strip mall. Good thing!
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Review from OKAY O.
Sebastopol, CA
The food here is good but rather overpriced. Lunch quality is also less than perfect when compared to the dinner menu. Also, what kind of Chinese restaurant fails at fried rice and chow mein? Even the standard hole-in-the-walls in the city have decent offerings of these staples. I believe this is intentional because these tend to be cheaper items and they wouldn't be able to get away with not having them as options and they certainly can't charge 10-12 dollars for them either (as they do most of the other dishes).
SIDE NOTE: TRY THE CANTON IN PETALUMA IF YOU CAN. THEY ARE OUTSTANDING, AUTHENTIC, VEGETARIAN FRIENDLY, HAVE DIM SUM, AND THEY ARE VERY REASONABLY PRICED COMPARED TO THIS PLACE.
Royal China strong points are the following:
Chinese eggplant
Orange chicken**
Sesame chicken**
Wonton soup
A wings dish called "chicken drumstick" is also quite delicious.
** NOTE: Despite the tasty gravy on the breaded/fried dishes, there is more breading than meat by a long shot.
Sadly, I won't be going back anymore. We've dropped major cash here on a frequent basis and get the crap treatment from the owner, Tina, every single time. Ironically, she has the wait staff shi**ing in their pants with fear and they are beyond polite.
Simply put, I can no longer overlook the fact that she is just about THE rudest person I've ever had the displeasure of dealing with in this context. Time after time, I've dismissed it because the food is decent and/or because she seems pre-occupied- or maybe that's just her personality.
Well, the excuses well has run dry and I can find much better Chinese food with a smile elsewhere. To add insult to injury, we've had to watch her be friendly to other customers while we sat there dissatisfied with her disdain towards us. We tip at 20%, go there frequently-- and treat the wait staff very well. So what gives?
I'm not the type to set off alarms about things like this until I've absolutely had it. What's more unfortunate is that I believe this problem stems from homophobia. -
Review from Don L.
Santa Rosa, CA
I love this place. I eat here at least 4 times a month for dinner and lunch and it is always good. The service is great and the food is way above all the other Chinese restaurants in the area. The prices are also very reasonable for the quality of food you get. They always use fresh ingredients and I have never been disappointed in any of the dishes. My favorites are the Chinese tacos, Princess prawns, Walnut prawns, Curry chicken and many others.
Try this place you wont be disappointed!!! -
Review from Dave F.
Santa Rosa, CA
Obviously there has been an attack on this site, likely by a disgruntled employee. But the food and service at Royal China continues to be some of the best anywhere. It compares very well with any Asian food in Sonoma County. And for me, if I were asked to name the top ten dishes I have eaten, Royal China's Walnut prawns would be there. The Mongolian chicken is also at the top of the list as well.
Personally, I like the wonton soup, though it IS simple and delicate...it may not be everyone's choice.
The prices? meh Lots of restaurants seem to have lost sight of the recession for some reason.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/18/2008
I have been enjoying Royal China for maybe 4 or 5 years and they have always been consistently… Read more »
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2/18/2008
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Review from Kentiya H.
Santa Rosa, CA
Always, always, always SO good.
VERY close to my house, alright prices and very quick. -
Review from Marlene T.
Cotati, CA
I have been going to the Royal China since 1989 or 1990 when they opened. Yes, I was young but we lived around the corner within walking distance. It quickly became my mother's favorite place (and she is quite picky about food sometimes) so I was doing a lot of walking back and forth for take out.
I was worried when I moved away from Sonoma County for several years and came back to see they had remodeled. I preferred the time when it was a little more homey, casual and less artsy ... but it has grown on me. Each to their own.
The food has stayed wonderful even if the pricing went up a little. I do really recommend their lunch, it's a great deal for the quality of their food. Don't get me wrong dinner is great too, you just get way more bang for buck when you go at lunch time. It's always packed then, so you may have to wait a few minutes but I've always been able to make it back to work within my hour (if the commute is within 20 minutes each way). The lunch is served very quickly, although the service from the waiters may seem brisk, it's just them being efficient.
It has remained a favorite place of my family's despite where we move. We don't eat there as much as we used to (don't live incredibly close to it) but I think it's a true testament to say this restaurant has been there for a long time and is still attracting tons of people.
I've always specifically loved their mu shu pork and the light salad they serve. And it's safe to say their overall food is good.
Oh, one thing to note is that I don't like are the glasses they serve you with the beer. My hands are kind of small and the short thick square glasses prove a bit awkward for my mouth and hands to get the hang of. I've never bothered to ask for a different kind of glass though, I usually forget, but that's worth a try if you don't like the glass. The guys I go with never seem to be bothered with it. -
Review from Kate B.
Albany, CA
Not bad. There isn't much in the way of Chinese food in Santa Rosa but this place is pretty good. I wouldn't drive all the way up here for the place but since I work nearby, I come here occasionally. It is most likely the best Chinese food in the Santa Rosa area.
The decor is quite nice with Van Gogh prints on the walls. The service is prompt and the food is typical americanized Chinese food but of pretty good quality. If you want Chinese food in Santa Rosa, this is where I would recommend. -
Review from Lana K.
San Francisco, CA
Best hot and sour soup in Santa Rosa. Vegeterian spring rolls are very good but pricy. Usually we go with Mongolian beef but wanna try Mongolian chicken next time. Portions are more than decent.
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Review from J J.
Santa Rosa, CA
I personally have had very good food and service here. I work nearby and so have eaten lunch (take-out) from here many times, as well as dinner a few times with my wife. The service inside the restaurant has always been good, if brusque.
The food has routinely been very good, definitely a step above your average chinese restaurant. The Kung Pao chicken and Mongolian chicken are by far my favorites. The Mongolian Chicken could be sprinkled across a dirt road and I would gladly eat it. Absolutely delicious.
Also good, but expensive, is the Asparagus with Black Bean sauce. The rice is always done well, not too dry or stale, and the Chow Mein is also excellent. I did not like chow mein until I ate it here.
The only bad thing that has ever happened here is once we were served water that tasted slightly like soap. Might have been soap, might have been lemon juice or some other random thing, but we were fine and didn't complain. -
Review from Tiffanie K.
Rohnert Park, CA
I am so excited I live right across the street from this place! From the outside it looks dark, small and like nothing. But the inside is warm, nice and the food and service is great!
I will be returning! -
Review from Kimberly A.
Rohnert Park, CA
I went here for dinner and I thought the food was really good. Dinner is sort of overpriced so when I return it will definitely be for lunch.
Service needs some work but other than that I thought it was great. -
Review from Rhonda H.
Santa Rosa, CA
Royal China has the best Chinese food I've ever had!!
I had the crab won tons and the orange chicken - Phenomenal!
And the ambiance is swanky - very nicely decorated - which makes this place great for a date with the fella (or lady).
Definitely check it out! -
Review from Matt I.
Los Altos, CA
Overall, this restaurant is okay, not the best, not traditional Chinese food and service was poor.
Food, its tastes good, however, it is not traditional Chinese food. However I must say their hot and sour soup is great!
Indoor, it was dimly lit, and did not look Chinese at all, rather European. In addition, it felt like it had a dirty look to the restaurant.
service. It's something I felt bad about paying for. The workers that served us were rude and very unprofessional. When I say this, the waiters kept hitting glasses, plates when putting plates on the table and spilling food over. Also, I felt that they were pushing us to get out. Like a hurry up push, even ,though no one else was there and waiting.
I took 2 stars off because of these issues.
However, i did give it 3 stars since I did like the food they offered, with more options compared to other competitors in the area. Also, other competitors in the area seemed to be a lot more dirty, and not actually run by a Chinese worker. -
Review from Robin C.
Santa Rosa, CA
This is the best Chinese restaurant in Sonoma County. The food is so good, and the service is fantastic. I alway sget the half duck, shrimp chow mein, sweet & sour pork, green beans, and occasionally an appetizer. The portions are proper and that feeds about six people! Love this place!
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Review from Amara S.
Rohnert Park, CA
My favorite Chinese restaurant. Clean and fresh. Lots of flavor. NO MSG. Beautifully designed inside. A little pricey but worth it. The crab stuffed wontons are like gold. Delicious!
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Review from Lynnette C.
Santa Rosa, CA
This is the first place I EVER ate Chinese food, on a date with my now husband 20 years ago! I can't swear it's under the same ownership, but we continue to enjoy eating here! The food is always fresh and HOT, right out of the kitchen. Never a complaint, which is more than I can say for ANY restaurant around here!
We love to treat our kids to take-out now that they have kids of their own, and it's always a hit! Take out is GREAT and FAST! -
Review from Hiro R.
Bellevue, WA
I have been one of many repeaters of this restaurant for more than 10 years. Their food has been very good all the time so I keep coming back for both lunch and dinner.
My favorite dishes are Walnut prawns, Manchurian beef, War won ton soup, Mu shu pork, Combination fried rice and some more. Recently I gave a try to the most fancy dish, Peking duck when my in-laws visited us. It required 24 hours advance notice and the price was not cheap, but the food convinced all of us that it was worth making reservation and paying the price. It was way better than the same dish at a famous Chinese restaurant in San Francisco. That is certainly a good one to try for your special occasions. -
Review from Kela M.
Santa Rosa, CA
Best Chinese food I've ever had and I've had a lot of Chinese food! Favs include House Special Chicken(or shrimp) and Veggies - Hunan Style. Hot and Sour Soup, Pot Stickers. Great Iced Tea too! I'd practically go every day if I could. Decor is a little weird, and staff is sometimes indifferent, but very prompt and the food never fails!
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Review from Danielle R.
Santa Rosa, CA
Love the lunch specials! For an average of $8 it's definitely worth it! My favorite is the chicken and fresh vegetables or the sesame chicken!!
Can get a little pricy for dinner!! -
Review from C J.
Santa Rosa, CA
I have been going to Royal China for 8 years now and I am still not sick of their food. You gotta get the Thai Basil Chicken or the Mongolian Chicken!
Service staff is always quick if you are in a hurry for lunch, count on being in and out in about 30 minutes. -
Review from lily l.
Long Beach, CA
I thought this would be a great place because of the ratings on yelp, I live by yelp, but this was not a pleasant experience!
TERRIBLE SERVICE!! It's as if service staff are the customers. There was a dreadful long wait for the appetizers! The servers apparently do not like to refill water and kept on forgetting when I asked. They did not mind bring sodas and beer/wine to tables, but they DO NOT REFILL WATER!
Later to add to that, when I was eating my left overs, I found a piece of hair in my food. When I called the restaurant with my concern, they simply said that was my own hair. Let me add that my hair is light brown NOT black! The lady on the phone who claims to be manager simply said that too me with no further explanation or apology!! -
Review from Mandy L.
Royal China is a touchy subject for me. Before their remodel last year it was incredible. Great food at an incredible price. Now though, the portions are smaller, more expensive and slightly under the food quality of before. It is a good place to eat, fairly decent service. I have found the hot and sour soup to be yucky lately, something about it has tasted off the last few times we have ordered it. Hard to put my finger on what the issue is. Overall, it is one of the better places for Chinese food in Santa Rosa. The new decor is really nice.
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Review from Grover G.
San Francisco, CA
I love royal china, frequently go there for lunch. The food is tasty, fresh and served hot. The price is right, service is good - what more can you ask for. Mongolian Chicken, Chili basil chicken and kung pao beef are my favorites. If you haven't been you are missing out. One of the best chinese restaurants north of San Francisco.
