Royal East
Cambridge, MA 02139-3510
Phone: (617) 661-1660
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- Windsor Street
- Best of Citysearch:
- Chinese Food 2007, Chinese Food 2005
- Hours:
- Sun-Thu 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm
Editorial Review for Royal East – by Eric Grossman
The Scene
A favorite of local chefs and fussy foodies in search of fiery Szechuan and Cantonese specialties, Royal East sits quietly on Cambridge's Main St., between Central and Kendall Squares. After being greeted at the door by tanks full of live fish, crabs and lobsters, patrons head into the large, simply appointed dining room. Huge circular tables, complete with a giant Lazy Susan, are ideal for groups, and dutiful servers keep water glasses filled despite an occasional language barrier.
The Food
The kitchen's exceptionally lengthy menu allows room for Western favorites (sweet and sour pork, shrimp lo mein), but most patrons wisely opt for hard-to-find regional specialties like suan la chow show (hot and sour wonton soup) and Cantonese-style fried chicken. Aficionados of Chinese cuisine swear by house specialties like salt-and-pepper pork chops and intricately prepared Peking duck. Dessert options usually begin and end with fresh fruit like plump lychees.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Save MoneyBargain luncheon combination plates are served weekdays until 3pm and cost about $5 each.
User Reviews for Royal East
12/11/2007 Posted by asianfoodaddict
I have to disagree with the previous reviewer. I have been going to the Royal East ever since it opened (and even before when it was Colleen's Peking Duck.) I eat there on average once or twice a week. I have NEVER seen a dead fish in the fish tanks. Occasionally I see a fish that is not actively swimming around, but to give the impression that there are dead fish in the tanks is absurd. This restaurant has phenomenal seafood dishes ranging from salt and pepper cooked live shrimp (when available) to traditionally prepared Alaskan King Crab. They get these items when in season and available, along with live scallops, live giant clam and more. They almost always have Dungeness Crab (delicious in the salt and ppper combination) and steamed sole with ginger and scallions, two tremenous dishes. Even their chicken wings are the best I have ever had. and, by the way, I have never experienced an unpleaant odor in the restaurant other than that time when one of my friends joined me after two hour of basketball practice.
Pros: Great seafood, specials and the chicken wings are to die for!
Cons: no dim sum, only a hot air hand dryer in the men's room, no paper towels
11/18/2007 Posted by 2tia
Went there but did not make it all the way through the inner door to eat - there were dead and merserably dying fish in the tanks and the smell was outrageous. Can't comment on the food or service but I wouldn't order the fish!
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