Royal China Delhi: Where Cantonese Flavours Meet Effortless Class at The Chanakya
By Payal Sahni | Travel Links Live Top 5 Travel Trade Travel luxury Magazine Travel Links
There are restaurants that make a conscious effort to look luxurious. And then there are restaurants that simply have that quality about them. Royal China at The Chanakya, Delhi, is one of those places.
We recently visited Royal China for a Travel Links hospitality and food review, and what stayed with me was not just the food, but the feeling of the evening. The restaurant was bustling, friends and families were coming in, tables were occupied, conversations were flowing and there was a lovely sense of energy around us.
Yet, somehow, it never felt chaotic. It felt confident. And perhaps that is what I liked most about Royal China.
A little China in the heart of Delhi
Situated at The Chanakya in Chanakyapuri, Royal China has created an elegant dining space that brings a distinct Chinese character into one of Delhi’s most sophisticated neighbourhoods.
The interiors are classy without being excessive. There are beautiful red lanterns, touches of red and gold, Chinese-inspired artwork and detailing, along with a contemporary dining environment that keeps everything feeling polished rather than overly themed. The restaurant itself describes its approach as traditional Cantonese cuisine with a modern twist, and that balance is reflected not just on the plate but in the overall experience. It is the kind of ambience that works equally well for a family lunch, a business meeting, a leisurely dim sum afternoon or an evening with friends over cocktails and food. And during our visit, it was clear that Royal China attracts all of them.
The woman behind Royal China
There is an interesting story behind the brand too.
Royal China was founded in 2010 by Aashita Relan, who set out to bring a more authentic Cantonese dining experience to Delhi at a time when much of what was commonly called Chinese food in India was really Indian-Chinese cuisine. Her interest in Cantonese food and her experiences with Chinese dining overseas helped shape the concept of Royal China. That original idea seems to have stayed at the heart of the restaurant: authentic flavours, quality ingredients and a dining experience that feels special without becoming intimidating.
If you love dim sum, this is your place
Ask a Delhi food lover about Royal China and chances are the conversation will quickly move to dim sum.
And for good reason. The menu has an impressive range of steamed, baked, grilled and fried dim sums, including prawn har gow, siu mai, chicken and chive dumplings, Shanghai soup dumplings, seafood dumplings in chilli oil, crystal dumplings, mushroom dumplings and several bao options.
There is also an unlimited dim sum brunch every Monday and Tuesday, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
This is clearly one of Royal China’s strongest draws and makes it a particularly attractive option for people looking for a proper dim sum lunch in Delhi rather than the usual casual Chinese meal. And personally, I think dim sum is best enjoyed exactly this way — slowly, with friends, sharing different varieties and ordering one more basket even though you have already said you are full.
Our evening at Royal China
Our Travel Links visit was more than just a dim sum experience. We were there to explore the food, cocktails and hospitality, and the evening unfolded beautifully. We started with cocktails, including the Jungle Bird, which was a fun way to begin the meal.
We tried spring rolls and a variety of momos and dumplings, and it was one of those meals where sharing makes everything more enjoyable. There was something different in every bite — different fillings, textures and seasonings. But one of the dishes I particularly enjoyed was the Smoked Garlic Fish.
The combination of delicate fish with the smoky garlic flavour gave the dish a wonderful depth. It was flavourful without being unnecessarily heavy, and for anyone who enjoys Chinese seafood in Delhi, this is the kind of preparation worth looking out for.
Royal China’s menu certainly gives seafood lovers plenty of choice. The restaurant’s current menu includes lobster, prawns, squid, fish and a variety of seafood dumplings and preparations.
And then came the Chocolate Bomb. I have to talk about dessert.
When the warm chocolate meets the ice cream and starts melting together, it is difficult not to go back for another spoonful. It was rich, indulgent and beautifully comforting.
The chocolate slowly melting with the ice cream created exactly the kind of hot-and-cold combination that makes a dessert memorable. We had already eaten quite a bit, but somehow there was always room for another bite.
Some desserts are photographed. Some desserts are discussed. And some simply disappear from the plate.
This one disappeared.
What makes Royal China different?
Delhi has no shortage of restaurants serving Asian and Chinese food. So what makes a restaurant like Royal China continue to stand out? For me, it is the combination. The food has an identity. The ambience has an identity. And the service ties the two together.
Royal China does not feel like it is chasing a trend. It has been around long enough to have its own following, yet the restaurant still feels contemporary and relevant.
The Chanakya location also adds to the experience. The restaurant has a 100-seater setting, a cocktail and wine bar, and a menu of more than 200 dishes, while the interiors combine darker tones with red and gold accents and Chinese-inspired design elements. But statistics aside, what matters when you are actually sitting there is much simpler. Do you feel comfortable? Does the food make you want another bite? Does the service make the evening easier? And do you leave thinking you would come back? For me, Royal China scored well on all four.
A place for more than just a meal
One of the things I noticed during our visit was the mix of people. There were families enjoying lunch, friends catching up and diners clearly there for a more leisurely evening. That gives Royal China a very different character from a restaurant that is primarily about occasion dining. You could come dressed up for an evening out.Or you could simply come because you are craving dim sum.
And perhaps that is why Royal China has remained such a recognisable name among fine dining Chinese restaurants in Delhi.
The Travel Links take
Our hospitality reviews are never only about whether we liked a particular dish. We look at the complete experience — the setting, food, service, hospitality and whether the restaurant gives you a reason to return.
At Royal China, the answer for us was yes. I enjoyed the relaxed sophistication of the space, the energy of the dining room, the variety of dim sum and seafood, the cocktails and, of course, that memorable Chocolate Bomb. But more than anything, I enjoyed the fact that the evening felt natural.There was no need for Royal China to prove that it was classy. It simply felt that way.
If you are looking for authentic Cantonese cuisine in Delhi, a good dim sum lunch in Chanakyapuri, Chinese seafood, cocktails with Asian flavours or simply a polished restaurant for an evening with friends and family, Royal China at The Chanakya is certainly worth putting on your list.
For us, it was a very enjoyable Travel Links hospitality review — good food, good company, warm hospitality and an evening that ended on a very sweet note.
Travel Links take on it..
Food: ★★★★½
Ambience: ★★★★½
Hospitality: ★★★★½
Overall Experience: ★★★★½
Must try: Smoked Garlic Fish, assorted dim sums and momos, Jungle Bird cocktail and Chocolate Bomb.
Best for: Dim sum lunches, family dining, business lunches, friends’ evenings, seafood lovers and sophisticated Chinese dining in Delhi.
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