Indo-Chinese Flavour
Reviews consistently describe the food as desi or Indian-style Chinese, including Mumbai-style Indo-Chinese dishes.
China Town Restaurant, Abu Hail, Dubai
Abu Hail
China Town Restaurant in Abu Hail, Dubai serves affordable Indo-Chinese comfort food in generous portions. Regulars return for dishes such as hot and sour soup and crispy beef, while the relaxed, no-frills setting suits diners who value flavour and price over polished decor.
Reputation Score
4.1
★★★★☆
495 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Generous Portions
Several diners say the portions are filling; one found a huge sizzler portion was enough for two people.
Soup Favourite
The chicken hot and sour soup is repeatedly recommended, with reviewers praising its tanginess, spice and generous serving style.
Affordable Meals
Customers regularly describe the prices as affordable or competitive, making the restaurant appealing for straightforward comfort food.
Longstanding Appeal
Some customers have returned for years and value the familiar taste and unpretentious atmosphere.
Parking Available
One reviewer specifically noted that the restaurant has plenty of parking spaces.
Quiet Evenings
The restaurant can feel private and quiet at night, which may suit a low-key meal.
What to Eat at China Town Restaurant, Abu Hail, Dubai How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For China Town Restaurant, Abu Hail, Dubai, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of China Town Restaurant, Abu Hail, Dubai, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 1
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Crispy beef Net +2
“Whether it's the Manchurian, hot & sour soup, crispy beef, or schezwan noodles — everything is full of flavor, cooked fresh, and served hot.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Whether it's the Manchurian, hot & sour soup, crispy beef, or schezwan noodles — everything is full of flavor, cooked fresh, and served hot.”June 2025
“One of the BEST indo-chinese restaurants in Dubai! We go their to especially eat their Drums of Heaven and Crispy Beef.”February 2026
Honorable mentions (23)
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Beef sizzler Net +1
“The beef sizzler was quite impressive — it was juicy, soft, and sizzling, with a delightful scent.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The beef sizzler was quite impressive — it was juicy, soft, and sizzling, with a delightful scent.”October 2023
-
Chicken hot and sour soup Net +1
“Love the Chicken Hot and Sour Soup. Absolutely a must try.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Love the Chicken Hot and Sour Soup. Absolutely a must try.”August 2024
-
Chicken lollipop Net +1
“Chicken Lollipop – crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and served with a tangy dip that adds a punch of flavor.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Chicken Lollipop – crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and served with a tangy dip that adds a punch of flavor.”June 2025
-
Chicken sizzlers Net +1
“Highly recommended dishes: Chicken Sizzlers – absolutely mouthwatering! Perfectly grilled with just the right amount of spice and a smoky aroma that makes your mouth water before the first bite.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Highly recommended dishes: Chicken Sizzlers – absolutely mouthwatering! Perfectly grilled with just the right amount of spice and a smoky aroma that makes your mouth water before the first bite.”June 2025
-
Chili chicken Net +1
“Tasty food as usual, the usual fried rice and chili chicken and chili fish is yummy. Also one of the places that makes Chill baby corn.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Tasty food as usual, the usual fried rice and chili chicken and chili fish is yummy. Also one of the places that makes Chill baby corn.”May 2021
-
Chili fish Net +1
“Tasty food as usual, the usual fried rice and chili chicken and chili fish is yummy. Also one of the places that makes Chill baby corn.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Tasty food as usual, the usual fried rice and chili chicken and chili fish is yummy. Also one of the places that makes Chill baby corn.”May 2021
-
China town special fried rice Net +1
“China town special fried rice(this one is a keeper)”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“China town special fried rice(this one is a keeper)”January 2022
-
Chizwan lamb noodle Net +1
“I had chizwan lamb noodle it was very delicious”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I had chizwan lamb noodle it was very delicious”January 2025
-
Drums of heaven Net +1
“One of the BEST indo-chinese restaurants in Dubai! We go their to especially eat their Drums of Heaven and Crispy Beef.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“One of the BEST indo-chinese restaurants in Dubai! We go their to especially eat their Drums of Heaven and Crispy Beef.”February 2026
-
Fish fillets Net +1
“Fish Fillets – tender, flaky, and cooked to perfection. They melt in your mouth!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Fish Fillets – tender, flaky, and cooked to perfection. They melt in your mouth!”June 2025
-
Hakka noodles from china Net +1
“I had the pleasure of dining at China Town recently, and I have to admit that the Hakka noodles from China were good not so spicy. The noodles had an amazing taste combination and were cooked to perfection.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I had the pleasure of dining at China Town recently, and I have to admit that the Hakka noodles from China were good not so spicy. The noodles had an amazing taste combination and were cooked to perfection.”October 2023
-
Hot & sour soup Net +1
“Whether it's the Manchurian, hot & sour soup, crispy beef, or schezwan noodles — everything is full of flavor, cooked fresh, and served hot.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Whether it's the Manchurian, hot & sour soup, crispy beef, or schezwan noodles — everything is full of flavor, cooked fresh, and served hot.”June 2025
-
Manchow soup Net +1
“Manchow Soup – warm, comforting, and loaded with bold spices and veggies. An ideal starter that sets the tone for the rest of the meal.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Manchow Soup – warm, comforting, and loaded with bold spices and veggies. An ideal starter that sets the tone for the rest of the meal.”June 2025
-
Manchurian Net +1
“Whether it's the Manchurian, hot & sour soup, crispy beef, or schezwan noodles — everything is full of flavor, cooked fresh, and served hot.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Whether it's the Manchurian, hot & sour soup, crispy beef, or schezwan noodles — everything is full of flavor, cooked fresh, and served hot.”June 2025
-
Office combos Net +1
“On my first visit, I ordered their traditional Hakka noodles and special Chinatown noodles, and on my second, I ordered their office combos. The food was excellent. Even while I preferred the office combo, their specialty noodles were a close second.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“On my first visit, I ordered their traditional Hakka noodles and special Chinatown noodles, and on my second, I ordered their office combos. The food was excellent. Even while I preferred the office combo, their specialty noodles were a close second.”March 2023
-
Schezwan chkn fried rice Net +1
“My all time fav. Dishes Are The schezwan chkn fried rice, hot and sour soup and chicken manchurian. I ensure to have food from here whenever I am in Abuhail area. 😄”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My all time fav. Dishes Are The schezwan chkn fried rice, hot and sour soup and chicken manchurian. I ensure to have food from here whenever I am in Abuhail area. 😄”March 2022
-
Shezwan chicken noodles Net +1
“The food has good quantity and quality also. The best item was shezwan chicken noodles.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food has good quantity and quality also. The best item was shezwan chicken noodles.”August 2023
-
Special chinatown noodles Net +1
“On my first visit, I ordered their traditional Hakka noodles and special Chinatown noodles, and on my second, I ordered their office combos. The food was excellent. Even while I preferred the office combo, their specialty noodles were a close second.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“On my first visit, I ordered their traditional Hakka noodles and special Chinatown noodles, and on my second, I ordered their office combos. The food was excellent. Even while I preferred the office combo, their specialty noodles were a close second.”March 2023
-
Traditional hakka noodles Net +1
“On my first visit, I ordered their traditional Hakka noodles and special Chinatown noodles, and on my second, I ordered their office combos. The food was excellent. Even while I preferred the office combo, their specialty noodles were a close second.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“On my first visit, I ordered their traditional Hakka noodles and special Chinatown noodles, and on my second, I ordered their office combos. The food was excellent. Even while I preferred the office combo, their specialty noodles were a close second.”March 2023
-
Chicken manchurian Net 0
Mixed feedback
“My all time fav. Dishes Are The schezwan chkn fried rice, hot and sour soup and chicken manchurian. I ensure to have food from here whenever I am in Abuhail area. 😄”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“My all time fav. Dishes Are The schezwan chkn fried rice, hot and sour soup and chicken manchurian. I ensure to have food from here whenever I am in Abuhail area. 😄”March 2022
-
Crispy chicken Net 0
Mixed feedback
“The crispy chicken is an absolute standout—perfectly cooked with a spicy kick that's just right, adding a delightful zing to your palate.”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“The crispy chicken is an absolute standout—perfectly cooked with a spicy kick that's just right, adding a delightful zing to your palate.”June 2024
-
Honey chilli chicken Net 0
Mixed feedback
“Honey chilli chicken( in thick sauce would be better)”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“Honey chilli chicken( in thick sauce would be better)”January 2022
-
Schezwan noodles Net 0
Mixed feedback
“Whether it's the Manchurian, hot & sour soup, crispy beef, or schezwan noodles — everything is full of flavor, cooked fresh, and served hot.”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“Whether it's the Manchurian, hot & sour soup, crispy beef, or schezwan noodles — everything is full of flavor, cooked fresh, and served hot.”June 2025
What to Avoid (3)
Food 3
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Ch manchaw soup Net −1
“Ordered ch shezwan fried rice and ch manchaw soup but don't know which cook is that who made manchaw soup taste less, waste of money and no fork & spoon in delivery......”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Ordered ch shezwan fried rice and ch manchaw soup but don't know which cook is that who made manchaw soup taste less, waste of money and no fork & spoon in delivery......”June 2025
-
Chicken balls Net −1
“The chicken balls also didn't seem fresh and had a noticeable fish sauce smell. We actually went early expecting freshly prepared food, but it felt like we were served leftovers instead.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The chicken balls also didn't seem fresh and had a noticeable fish sauce smell. We actually went early expecting freshly prepared food, but it felt like we were served leftovers instead.”July 2026
-
Chicken fried rice Net −1
“The chicken fried rice was lacking in flavor and the chicken itself was scarce, making it a challenge to find within the dish.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The chicken fried rice was lacking in flavor and the chicken itself was scarce, making it a challenge to find within the dish.”March 2024
Tips for a Better Visit
Choose Dine-In. For the freshest experience, favour dine-in and main courses over takeaway, sides and starters.
Check Soup. If ordering vegetarian soup, confirm the bowl at the table: one customer received chicken soup despite confirming it was vegetarian.
Avoid Early Evening. One recent review advises avoiding early evening after a wrong dish and stale-tasting chicken balls; busier rush hours were suggested instead.
Share Portions. Consider sharing half portions or a large dish: one reviewer said half a portion can be enough for one person, or two light eaters.
Allow Waiting. Allow extra time during busy meals; one diner reported a 30-minute wait and felt 10–15 minutes would be better.
Expect Spice. Ask about spice levels if needed: reviewers found the food adaptable, while another underestimated the spice in a meal.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Abu hail - Deira - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Abu hail - Deira, Dubai
| Mon | 11:30 AM – 4:00 PM, 6:30 PM – 11:40 PM |
| Tue | 11:30 AM – 4:00 PM, 6:30 PM – 11:40 PM |
| Wed | 11:30 AM – 4:00 PM, 6:30 PM – 11:40 PM |
| Thu | 11:30 AM – 4:00 PM, 6:30 PM – 11:40 PM |
| Fri | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, 6:30 PM – 11:40 PM |
| Sat | 11:30 AM – 4:00 PM, 6:30 PM – 11:40 PM |
| Sun | 11:30 AM – 4:00 PM, 6:30 PM – 11:40 PM |
Common Concerns
Washroom Odour
Multiple reviews mention a strong WC smell, including an unpleasant odour on entering and a washroom that was difficult to use.
Dated Interior
Reviewers describe old furniture, harsh lighting and a ceiling needing repairs, so the ambience may disappoint.
Order Mistakes
Customers report receiving chicken soup instead of vegetable soup and a different sauce-based dish than the Honey Chilli Chicken ordered.
Inconsistent Quality
Some visits have produced hard chicken, bland noodles, scarce chicken in fried rice or cold pieces in Manchurian.
Delivery Omissions
A delivery review reported that cutlery was not included with the order.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
China Town Restaurant is a long-running Abu Hail choice for desi or Indo-Chinese food rather than strictly traditional Chinese cooking. The menu has plenty of familiar comfort-food options, but the dishes most often praised are hot and sour soup, crispy beef, fried rice and sizzlers. Portions are usually described as generous, and some reviewers say half portions can feed one person comfortably or two light eaters.
Value is a major part of the appeal. Customers call the prices affordable or competitive, and several long-time diners return for the familiar taste. The food can be bold and spicy, though reviewers also say spice can be adjusted.
Service feedback is mixed: many describe staff as friendly, prompt and helpful, while others report dismissive responses, missing chicken in noodles or incorrect soup orders. Delivery has also had occasional omissions, including missing cutlery. The main trade-off is the setting.
Reviews mention dated furniture, harsh lighting, maintenance issues and a strong washroom or WC smell. If ambience matters, this may not be the easiest sell; if flavour, filling portions and price come first, it remains worth considering. Dine-in is recommended over takeaway, and one review notes plenty of parking.
Early-evening freshness and order accuracy have drawn criticism, so checking dishes when they arrive is sensible.