Imperial China in New Forest

Wonderful food served by attentive staff, probably one of the best Chinese meals that I have ever had

One word. Wonderful!!! Exceptional food, expertly cooked and served with attentive, but unobtrusive, care. Of particular note were the soups (so easy to get wrong) and the prawn dishes (so easy to overcook) both were perfection.

Fantastic staff and service and one of the best Chinese meals I’ve ever had. Great flavours, fantastic quality food. Would definitely go back!

The lady serving us was friendly and very efficient, especially as she was the only member of staff in the restaurant! We had the beef with blackbean sauce & chillis, mixed house curry and chicken noodles. The food was served quickly and was delicious. Would certainly return to eat here again if we were in Lyndhurst.

The food was really lovely, piping hot and tasty. We had the crispy beef and breaded chicken. You get a lot of food for your money

Arriving very late at our hotel, we found no food available, we travelled into town and found this lovely restaurant. The lady who greeted us explained they were near to closing time too, but was more than happy to assure we had dinner. She seated us at a lovely table, talked about dishes and our food arrived super fast, piping hot and beautifully presented. It was incredibly delicious and I cannot thank her enough for being so welcoming and caring. If you visit the area, please go visit this wonderful restaurant.

We first visited when last in the New Forest during Covid and loved the food. Didn’t disappoint this time either. We had the set menu which was delicious and great value

Superb meal. If you are in Lyndhurst, go there for dinner!

Arrived we got seated, 15 mins later still waiting to be served, not even offered a drink ! One person serving the other who knows what she was doing ! Restaurant did not look that clean, my opinion AVOID !!!

Very good food. Just be prepared to deal with moody staff. A Chinese friend once said that good Chinese restaurants have moody staff, so she was right.

Great restaurant with excellent food. Went for set menu and it was lovely. Too much food though as we couldn’t finish it all

Really excellent food and a fantastic menu

Iv been going here for years, its a fantastic place to be and you feel right at home. I can recommend the crispy Chicken as a starter, salt and pepper ribs and chicken curry!

Excellent dinner with a great range of vegetarian options. We had the hot sour soup, sweet corn soup, singapore curry noodles, and spicy Szechwan tofu and veggies. We are big fans of seitan (mock duck) and they were cheerful and accommodating to add mock duck where we requested it. Restaurant was quite empty and could use some better ambience but the waitress was super friendly, cheerful, polite and attentive. She even put in our additional takeaway order just a bit later so it would be warm when we finished dinner to carry to our hotel for another family member. We are going back for lunch today! Great restaurant in Lyndhurst.

I had been to this restaurant on expenses many years ago, and told my unadventurous children that we needed to go back as we were staying in the New Forest. They agreed, and didn't regret it at all! The food is SO good. I am wearing a CGM at the moment to monitor glucose, and incredibly NO GLUCOSE SPIKE. The food tasted natural and delicious - not over-sugared or chemical. There was a lot left over, and the lovely waitress offered to box it up for us - so we've had it a second night in a row. Highly recommended.

Its a great restaurant with many great foods and very caring waiters, it has a massive massive variety of excellent foods, with over 140 delicious foods and dishes

Very expensive (£400 for 6 people - 2 of them children) service was poor, we weren’t made to feel welcome at all! The restaurant was dated and the food was just ok! Such a shame as this all made for a disappointing evening!

Me and my partner often go here when we get an evening from our children. The food is always spot on! Table service is excellent. It's on the pricier side of Chinese restaurants in the New Forest but with Imperial China you get what you pay for, proper table service, tasty food that is plentiful. I would recommend to anyone that loves a Chinese who hasn't had the experience before of Imperial China's value through quality service and quality food 👌

Came down from Northamptonshire for a walikng trip in the New Forest. Came across this little restaurant as staying in Lyndhurst. Food was absolutely top notch! Staff really friendly and was amenable to my order. 5 stars!!!!

We wen to Lyndhurst for the new year weekend staying at the Crown Hotel (wish we hadn't) the high point was this restaurant without doubt, we went on two consecutive nights and indeed told the staff that they could make a fortune should they ever decide to come to Looe in Cornwall and start up there, and they would!!! Best ever Chinese meal we have had, my Wife agrees, I actually spoiled the meal on the second night by adding a curry sauce to the special chow mien, as I would usually do, and it spoiled the natural flavour of the meal. cannot praise the restaurant or the service levels enough, it's almost worth the horrible A35 drive from Cornwall to Lyndhurst for another evening ...

Spectacular vegetarian options. The food is a joy. It's not often an initail mouthful gives a tingle on the bavck of one's neck.It does here!

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.

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.

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.

Went for dinner here and was very impressed with the whole experience

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.

Nice quiet restaurant with lots of vegan options too. Very good prices and portions, and quick and friendly service.

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

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.

excellent dishes, solid prices and the fastest takeaway times i’ve seen.

Nice food a bit quiet, great starters.

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

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.

Had takeaway from here. Food was lovely

Tasty food, lovely welcome, great at osphere, we had the set course for 2 so ate like a king and queen. Also because it was my wife's birthday they helped us to celebrate that, amazing place and great people.

Great vegan menu and understanding staff, we had the mock duck pancakes, vegetable fried rice and deep fried tofu with spring onion and ginger, everything was great and no complaints!

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.

We have been eating at and from Imperial Chinese frequently for a few years now and we absolutely love this place. Whenever we have visitors we take them there. The food is so tasty, the service is great both eating in and take away. The take away is super quick too. I am so busy eating I forget to photograph the food! :-)

Advertised to open at 5pm, stood outside until 5:10 and kept being told to wait. Terrible! Went somewhere else with better service!

It's one of the worst Chinese takeaway

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.

I hate to leave a bad review as opposed to supporting a business but honestly was one of the worst Chinese Iv had.

Lovely atmosphere, attentive staff and great food made for a super evening.

Excellent food, polite & friendly staff no doubt we will go there again and again

Nice staff. Food was delicious. Thank you. Prices were reasonable too.

Great takeaways! We are always popping in

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!

Excellent service and great Wonton Soup.

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.

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....

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,...

Lovely Valentine meal this evening !! Great variety with very friendly staff !!

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.

Really tasty takeaway food and very friendly and helpful staff, particularly as there were a few vegans in the party

Avoid. I became very unwell with stomach cramps and being violently sick 3 hours after eating tofu at this restaurant.

As annual visitors to Lyndhurst we know there is a wide selection of eateries to choose from in the village. Possibly because it is not the most prepossessing exterior and being sited next to a busy junction we'd never actually been in. This time we...

I picked up a takeaway from here last night as the takeaway I usually use, Fuchi in Totton, was closed. I’ve been a regular customer at the imperial China for the last 20 years, more so before It changed hands when Gary left. It was...

Lovely food one of the nicest I have had

Driven past this Chinese many times and always wanted to try it. Sadly everything was really bland and tastless. Seems they cover this up with SPICE .. LOTS of Spice; hotter than ANY Chinese I have ever had. The mixed veg was fresh though, but again bland and tastless.

Best Chinese I've ever had, fantastic stuff!

We passed this place earlier on in the day and decided to try it for an evening meal. The outside doesnt look very enticing, but, i can tell you, we were so glad we went in!. Tables nicely spaced, everything exceptionally clean, good quality furnishings/decor....

Had a take away, chicken and pork, really nice.

Been here many times and never disappointed with what I get. Food and service are always great and it's not too hard to get to etc

Not good. This used to be a lovely restaurant but not now unfortunately. The food was okay, but with bright lights, the staff dressed like they’re on their way home from the gym and old beer barrels sitting in the main foyer as well as...

Had a fantastic meal and service was great

We rang ahead to check there was a table, but we were early in the evening so it was quiet when we arrived. The waitress welcomed us, gave us menus, checked about any allergies, and gave us time to choose what to eat. The menu...

We decided to go here on the off chance while visiting Lyndhurst one evening. We were seated. The staff were pleasant and friendly. The menu is not like the takeaway menu. You almost have to build your own dishes, which can get a bit confusing....

Amazing food great atmosphere JK Powerflush UK LTD 👍

Really fast service, nice food and good portions!

Food very tasty with good portion sizes.Friendly service.

This used to be a "treat" restaurant... Unfortunately it doesn't feel much of a treat anymore. An unhealthy number of hygiene stars greet you as you walk in to boot. Went there for a takeaway at 9pm on a Saturday. The place was unfortunately dead. Am glad we weren't eating in! The food was good. The crispy lettuce start (sorry used to be the crispy lettuce starter) was good but bring back the lettuce!! Duck for pancakes, lamb for lettuce!! All in all, the food was good. I do struggle to justify Restaurant prices for a takeaway but living where we do, it's our closest and I appreciate they are operating out of a restaurant so there are additional overheads. Hopefully the next review will see a better hygiene rating and a busier restaurant.

Excellent food. Exemplary service. You need to go - it is back to its brilliant best.

Good quality food but brought down by small portions and being the most expensive Chinese I've seen in my life. Massively overpriced.

Long wait for the food. Over charged for the drinks.

We have been through the ups and downs of Imperial China over the last 16+ years. It was originally superb under Gary’s care, then a rough patch with staffing problems and now back to excellent with lovely people and superb food. Billy and his team...

Lovely food but very slow service. Waitresses looked confused and was over charged for drinks.

Excellent food, quick and polite service. Staff remained professional even when another excessively rude customer bolted out the door and didn't pay! Customer then came back hurling abuse and shouting. Even after all of this our meal was absolutely fantastic. I hope the staff were not disheartened by the drivel of the other cretin that refused to pay.

Good food, good service. Our favourite Chinese restaurant

Sat us under the music speaker and next to 4 adults and 3 young children when rest of restaurant empty. This changed and soon more people with children (screaming) arrived. Service very slow. Ordered drinks and the 1st drinks arrived after 5 mins. Ordered second...

Me and my partner dined at the Imperial China last month and had a fried rice, dumplings, sizzling chicken and two drinks. The bill was around £41 which was definitely not worth the amount of food which was served (Come on, this is not even...

Went here for a birthday dinner and was not disappointed. The food was superb. The crispy beef was proper, actual chunks of tender beef to die for. The crispy pineapple fritters although a challenge to eat after all the other food were superb. This place deserves its reputation. Really really good food and will be back for more.

I’m currently away on business and I found this little gem of a Chinese restaurant. I ordered to a prawn curry to take away its the best curry I have had to date 😃 thankyou

Visited this restaurant as a party of 4 on the 12th Feb after reading reviews and looking at the menu The menu on the web site stated set meal for 4 £63 Which we thought was a bargain however when we looked at the menu...

Very rushed .. plastic found in the meal and kitchen tissue found in the food aswell. Feel absolutely awful threw most away will not come back here. Please avoid

Oh wow. Everything was tasty, especially the squid Kung po.

We had a lovely lunch here. The food was so fresh and delicious and cooked really quickly. Every item we ordered tasted wonderful. The lady who served us was also lovely. Really great lunch. Definitely recommended.

Perfect chinese food.hot tasty and a good variety.lovely relaxed service not rushed in any way.a must visit on every trip

Made a big order for a celebration with family and was really please the food was all amazing. Really quick to cook and friendly staff on arrival. Everyone said how lovely the food was and we would definitely recommend Imperial China restaurant or takeaway

Very friendly and welcoming staff who ensured that we were very well looked after throughout our meal.The food was delicious and of very high quality, was piping hot and was exceptionally fresh. Good quality wines. Generally the best Chinese meal we have had in a...

We had the set menu, the service was fab and the food was amazing. Very enjoyable and would definately recommend a visit

Food is much better than others around, I always find everything is perfectly cooked. Unfortunately portions are really small, prices are more expensive than competitors especially if having a takeaway. Service usually good but have found it to be slow on a weekend. Staff not very knowledgable said they didn’t serve certain drinks when it was on display I eventually had to show them. questions about dishes was not answered. I would return but it’s more of a special occasion rather than my regular Chinese. I would visit more often if takeaway prices was reduced or portions larger.

Excellent food and service thoroughly recommend this restaurant.

We really enjoyed our food but beware not to order too many starters or you wont even make it to the main courses. The portions are big. Really varied menu and really fast and polite service. They even give you a create your own option.

Don't be put off by the lack of paint and updating is required to the property! Service good, food excellent

Managed to get an early table, but were told that it was needed again at 8pm. That would have been OK without a rush, but the wait time between some courses made us feel rushed towards the end. Not our fault, but down to slow...

Our last visit was two years ago and as it said under new management we were a bit concerned. No need food excellent, service fast and friendly. Looking forward to our next trip back.

We were very surprised at the superior quality of the food we were served, it was clear that lots of effort had gone into the taste and presentation. We both agreed that the Honey Ribs and Lemon Chicken were the best we have tasted in...

Lovely amazing food. Staff were very friendly and polite. Visited on a Tuesday evening. Will visit again.

Typical Chinese restaurant, the food was excellent and the service great. A good menu and fairly priced. I'd recommend this place.

The worst service I have experienced from a restaurant in over 30 years. I would never return. Staff misinformed me and asked what I wanted several times. I finally requested my money back and left absolutely fuming with anger at the way I had been treated. Disgraceful. It won't allow zero stars.