Food was amazing - recommend getting the crispy truffled beef rice paper rolls and pork belly. Service was a little slow and they forgot to bring out a dish we ordered, but it was a blessing in disguise because we were full anyway.
We had a wonderful lunch at China Doll, they kindly fitted us in and the food and cocktails were delicious! The service was amazing and we knew straight away we were going to have a good time and we did! Everything was perfect and we can’t wait to return next time we come to Sydney!
One of the busy places in the strip. Beautiful location if you want to go on a date :) What is promised on the menu is what you get on the plate. Mount watering chilli wontons, ginger tofu. Good collection of dishes to choose from. Their pork was the best for me. Nice staff as well!
Two for lunch after travelling for 30 hours. Pleasant & efficient staff, backed up by a good menu & wine list. A delightful couple of hours in a great restaurant.
Amazingly delicious and modern Chinese restaurant along the stunning wharf of Woolloomooloo. Celebrated my mums birthday and decided on the $72pp banquet. Included:
• Steamed Scallops with Ginger and Shallots
• Chilli Salt Squid
• Corn and Zucchini cakes
• Salad of Sesame Chicken
• Pork Belly with Chilli Caramel
• Cone Bay Barramundi
• Tea Smoked Duck
• Dessert Platter: Black Sticky Rice, Sago Pudding, Sorbet
The tea smoked duck was a special request and swapped instead for the crispy corn fed chicken.
Service was helpful and friendly and drinks and wine list are a must try. Great location for lunch or dinner for a large group or even just for date night. Can’t wait to come back here again!
Out standing restaurant with service and food the best in the business. We had the banquet menu and were taken on a dining experience like no other in Sydney. Thank you to all the team at China Doll from front of house to kitchen, all are exceptional.
China Doll is elegant, sophisticated and because of it’s location on the Finger Wharf, it’s the perfect location for a long lunch. The food is Asian fusion and it works. The service is attentive and helpful. The highlight dish is the crispy pork belly with chilli caramel and nam pla phrik (pictured). It’s to die for delicious! #chinadoll
Went for the food and stayed for the cocktails. Great place to sit back and relax on a sunny afternoon. The food is packed with flavor and the portions are huge so order accordingly if you're not in a big group. The cocktails go down so well that you're downing them like they're going out of fashion. Do I regret it? Not for a single moment! Would go back in a heartbeat!
China Doll was everything I thought it would be & more — beautiful food, incredible service & the ambiance of the restaurant was fabulous. The ⭐️’s of the evening for me were the deliciousssss Lychee & Rose Spritz cocktail 🍹(the best cocktail I’ve had in a long time) & the sumptuous Cripsy Pork Belly with Chilli Caramel & Nan Pla Phrik. I can’t wait to go back… 💛
— Shout out to our server Brendan who was a legend! Such great service, gave us a laugh or three & made us very comfortable.
Being our first visit, we loved the idea of ordering the banquet which was several small plates. It was a great way to sample lots of things on the menu and allowed us to actually get to dessert for once (which was really delicious)! I personally wasn’t a huge fan of the corn and zucchini fritters, but everything else was top notch. And what a lovely server we had! Great people watching spot and we couldn’t have gotten luckier with perfect weather, allowing us to sit right outside. Next time I’m intent on more seafood - the marron and S &P prawns will be on the list to try for sure!
I had dinner here a few times .I had a wonderful moment every time.The food was absolutely fresh and wonderful. All staff were nice and helpful . Especially I would like to say “thank you “ to William. He is a good waiter . His service was excellent and professional .
I will be back !!!!
This fairly high end restaurant offers a Chinese themed menu with a westernised twist to it. It has a great location along the wharf and is appropriate for family dinners or larger groups as you can try all the dishes and share everything. The ambience is great and the plates/dishes matched the theme of the restaurant. The scallops were fresh and most of the food was delicious and aesthetically presented. However there was a little lack of service (not the waiters fault) due to them being busy and maybe short of staff. Also the dishes are a bit too westernised as the numbing chicken lacked spice and numbing chilli and it was more salty than numbing or spicy. Overall great experience and restaurant however a little bit too westernised/inauthentic for my liking.
I’m biased but this is my favourite restaurant in Australia and Solange is simply the best front of house in the entire World!
Ambience 5⭐️ (and I don’t give out 5’s!!), Food generally 4⭐️ and service is 4⭐️
Favourite dishes - the pork belly, the salt&pepper prawns - but you can generally bet on it all being good with “in your face” flavours. And if you’re a ‘people watcher’, it’s one of the best places in town.
High reputation is deserved. Fine dining modern Chinese with good service and great environment. Our first time and a banquet chosen that is actually a degustation. The food could not be any fresher than this.
You really get what you pay for.
China doll - what a wonderful experience. We went on a nice spring day had a lovely seat outside. Service was wonderful they gave us lots of tips on what to order.
Fried rice is a must !
Fabulous is the best way to describe my experience at China Doll.
My bride of 1 hour and I and 7 members of our family went to lunch here on 18/9/18 and the food and service was very very good.
Our party consisted of 2 vegetarians and a vegan and 2 old age pensioners who generally eat meat and two veg, and a couple of people with bland taste and me, who loves to experiment with food. China Doll you met everyone’s needs, and palettes, and truly exceeded my expectations in all aspects.
Our waitress was polite, cheerful, and helpful and attentive yet not encroaching on our frivolity, she almost laughed with members of our party as they pulled the micky out of each other and other patrons, well done young lady, and thank you.
The total bill was a nice surprise, and all in all a very memorable day, thanks for making our special day something to remember.
Friendly staff and impeccable service! Food is exceptional and never a bad dish. Occasionally, they throw in dessert which is a bonus! Never an average meal, and the ambiance and view is 👌
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We went to China doll on a Sunday night for a pre-working week date night. This restaurant was buzzing yet we found a decent seat for two. Service was very good.
As seasoned no-carb advocates we focussed on going rice free this night. The first entre was scallops which was quite unique and felt gingery. My partner loved the dish. The second entre we ordered was Hot Numbing Salt and Pepper Chicken ribs. As the name suggested the dish did not fail to deliver the numbing sensation. Weren’t overly hot in a spicy sense but quite numbing and very fresh and succulent. Yet again my partner was quite satisfied but I wouldn’t opt for this dish again. However, I signed up for the numbing and the dish delivered to promise. So I would not blame the restaurant for this experience.
Lamb Shanks braised w Fermented red bean curd was delicious. The best dish I had that night. We had the Mains we opted for the Slow poached Chicken w Spicy Soy & bang bang. An okay dish – slightly short on salt.
We had lemongrass panna cotta for the dessert which was quite lovely too.
We had a large celebration here with 17 people and could not have been happier. The service was exceptional led by Hazel who was friendly and attentive. Most importantly the food was made with great care and the presentation awesome.
We had the $105 banquet which overall was excellent and worth every cent - the highlights were the Shu Mai and steamed dumplings, along with the pork belly which was sweet and delicious.
The crab was messy but worth the effort, while the desserts were a huge surprise - flavours were incredible.
Definitely a great experience and we will be back.
The food was delicious. Good service, attentive and knowledgeable wait staff he suggested to us instead of getting another whole mains to get half so we can try other dish.
Never a disappointment. The restaurant runs like smooth clockwork. The experience from when we were ushered to table to paying the bill was seamless and wonderful. We frequently go to this restaurant and our favourite is the tea smoked duck pancakes and the numbing pork. Cocktails are delish and one time we didn't like a wine poured for us and we mentioned feedback, they happily replaced with something we preferred. No issues except a big smile on their face. They are customer centric which would contribute greatly to the success of this restaurant. Always the busiest establishment along the Woolloomooloo wharf.
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First visit to China Doll after a long time of wanting to try this place out. Initially, I tried to get a booking for two last year in April, but was advised it was a two week waiting list... so I thought for Valentines day I’d call up super early and get a table for three. Initially I was advised that there would be no outside seating available but as we arrived outside seating was an option which was a plus! It took about 5 minutes for our waiter to order our drinks & another 5 minutes for them to arrive, which by then our oysters came as well. For my first experience with oysters they were a pleasant surprise & I really enjoyed them. The raw wagyu was very nice with the Japanese radish. The prawns & calamari were ok, there was no accompanying dip or sauce which made the prawns slightly bland. The salmon was nice if it hadn’t been overly salted, which killed the experience. Minutes apart (fail) the overly crispy pork belly arrived (why would I enjoy/ want fish & pork belly together?) it was ok, just too crispy. The most disappointing dish on the reduced menu was the dessert- three mini churros, three cherries, three figs, a handful of chopped strawberries and probably the worst chocolate fondue dip I’ve ever tasted. At $135pp ($505 with drinks) it was an ok course. Probably not the best I’ve had with a $500 bill, but it is “China Doll” after all.
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The Spot: lovely wharf, lovely atmosphere. It did get a bit dim and rrromantic (roll the 'r') as the sun set; almost TOO dark for a group of friends trying to make eye contact and chat, but I wouldn't call it a con if you wanted some flattering lighting on a date night. But wow finding the bathroom was like finding your way out of an escape room. I literally felt my way along the walls like a dunce and only when I noticed the tell-tale graze marks on the floor did I find the source of the swinging door. Btw, it's a push on the wall that has the M/F sign on it.
The Service: I loved our waitress, a great personality with fantastic recommendations. I'm allergic to some preservatives in alcohol and she and the chefs went above and beyond to try to accommodate, even so far as to offer to remove preservatives from the food (which I am not allergic to, God forbid). At times it was hard to get her attention, but that was due to the business of the restaurant and no fault of hers. The food also arrived in perfect time - enough to get excited for them, but not long enough to want to glance over our shoulder at neighbouring tables with envy.
The Food: a caveat - I loved everything. We had the NZ King Salmon Sashimi; the sashimi was juicy and melty, the ginger was light and fragrant, and the apples added a nice crunch. Then we had the Prawn and Green Bean Steamed Dumplings; the dumplings were pockets of flavour (and not the cheap explosion of sweet/sour/chilli/salt kind), and bursting at the seams with plump filling. The Vegetable San Chow Bau was perhaps the least exciting; it was nice but nothing outstanding. The Eggplant and Tofu had an amazing sauce, and the tofu was sticky and chewy, something I had never tried before and was an unexpected treat to my texture-mongering self. The Tea Smoked Duck blew me away and was possibly my favourite out of the mains; the smokiness was not shy but it was balanced perfectly by floral notes and succulent, crunchy skin. The Penang Curry was mouth-wateringly good; meat that falls apart at the touch is nothing new nowadays, but THIS ONE. There didn't look to be much liquid in the bowl, but it was soaked into the beef like a sponge. P.s. the mains came with generous servings of jasmine rice. For dessert we had the Black Sticky Rice, Sago Pudding and White Chocolate and Green Tea Lamington - we ate them in this order from least to most sweet. The Black Sticky Rice was my personal favourite; not too sweet, fantastic crunchy elements and a slightly zesty undertone. The other two were also stunning desserts, the lamington being the most unique out of the three.
The Drinks: really really interesting selection of cocktails - I didn't have any because of the preservatives issue, but my friends loved theirs.
I would come back in a heartbeat if I was celebrating a special occasion and felt like some fancy asian. I'd like to emphasise that their flavours were outstanding but not in that fraudulent way that I see a lot of other hip asian-fusion restaurants do where they pack each dish with as much sweet+spice+salt+zest as they can to overwhelm your senses into thinking you're eating something amazing. This place is confident in what they're doing and don't try to hide behind decadent flavours or presentation.
Wow! Don’t even know where to start. The food was absolutely amazing, service was fantastic, and the location of the restaurant is beautiful. We had the “hot numbing chicken ribs” and the pork and peanut san choy bao to start with - couldn’t get enough of them! Then we had the green curry with flathead which was just delicious - so light and tasty. Our host was wonderful - the complimentary desserts and drink at the end of the meal were a lovely touch. The homemade sorbets and ice creams, and the sago was beautiful. We walked away very full but very satisfied and sooo happy with the experience we had. Not a cheap night out but worth every cent!
Good service, pretty damn good dishes, good scenery. Highly recommend it for a special event. The price is not too expensive. The location is easy to get to.
Great location and service, I can see why this place is always full.
Firstly food is great, perhaps 4.5++ for Western Taste pallet.
The dishes are light and nicely presented. Great for large groups and extensive selection of wine.
From asian POV the dishes lacked asian zap/ flavor, & Seafood is a bit tad overcooked. Particularly calamari and fish. Although it taste amazing, to break in 4.5+ space you need to hit the spot.
Pork belly was really good. Crispy and we'll braised.
Desert Sago pudding and sorbet was refreshing. Highly recommended.
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We definitely ordered way too much – and despite my expectations, the servings were ginormous and so the prices (mains are about $35-40 each though are really large share plates rather than individual mains) are completely reasonable. The great thing is that they offer some of the dishes in half serves so you can try more dishes if you are going as an individual or only a small group.
I can only start by talking about the famous tea smoked duck. I love Chinese roast duck so I was curious to see how the China Doll duck would fare in comparison. I’m not even sure it is comparable though! You are hit with the aroma of the smoke as soon as your nose comes within 10 cm of the duck. As soon as you bite into the duck, there is smoke smoke smoke everywhere in flavour. The duck has almost NO fat, which makes it very different to a Chinese roast duck from a bbq shop. It is moist, it is tender, it is soft and just tasty all the way through to the bone. I can’t rave about this dish enough. By the way, they don’t sell the duck as a half serve, so you do have to get the full serve but it’s totally worth it! I would go back just to have jasmine rice with the duck and some green vegies on the side.
Contrary to what the name of the restaurant suggests, the food at China Doll is not just a reflection of the traditional flavours and cooking techniques of China, but also those of east and south east Asia. There are notable influences from the cuisines of Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia. China Doll is one of those restaurants that delivers everything with high quality and little fault. Whether it be more simple, traditional Chinese favourites, or contemporary takes on South-east Asian flavours and dishes, the food is executed well with good-sized servings.
Really enjoyed my experience here! Got the tea smoked duck, cured hiramasa kingfish for entre, and cocktails of course! 🍸🍸
Tea smoked duck was the reason I came and it didn't disappoint. 💕 Skin was crispy and the duck was so tender. 👌👌 The plum sauce is to die for. I can eat it with rice all day! 😋😋
Cured kingfish was done beautifully. Very appetizing and I enjoyed the flavours.
Service was good, not great. Felt a little rushed by the waiter, but overall, I had a good dining experience.
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Came here with my boyfriend for my birthday and I haven't stopped talking about it with all my friends yet! You can't fault anything here. James was our waitress for the night. Professional and not interrupting (I got some waitstaff that told me about their lifetime story). What a shame that I didn't got any photos of the dishes coz I'm a snapchat kind of girl. But we ordered shu mai, scallops and tuna for entrees. We got the pork belly, king prawns and chinese vegies for mains. We thought it wouldn't get us full but we were wrong. Couldn't finish them all although we ordered half size of everything! Yes plus points: there is option to get half size(it doesn't say on the menu but ask your waitress!). The pork belly was amazing!!!!! I'm still craving for it. The cocktails here are also on point. My boyfriend never drinks cocktails but he ended up ordering one after tasting mine. They gave us a complementary platter of dessert (sago, sticky rice and sorbet) and sparkles for my bday. Sago and sorbet were my 2 favs. Defs revisit!!!
This place is king. If anyone comes to Sydney, you should bring them to Chinadoll. The sashimi, fried rice, wontons and the crab (off the menu) are all brilliant! You pay money, but man it is worth it!
I did enjoy dinner at China Doll. Food is really yummy. I would highly recommend the scallop & prawn dumpling. With the dessert, I don't think it good.
Staff very friendly and very organised.
I would come back to have dumpling, but not with the dessert.
The food doesn't disappoint. A couple of business lunches here and the place is always buzzing. Don't go past dumplings and fried chicken for entree and the fish green curry and caramelized pork belly a must. Your tastesbud will thank you for it. Bookings would be recommended to avoid disappointment.
What a beautiful location for lunch or dinner, we had order the $72 per person banquet which featured 8 dishes, steamed jasmine rice and a dessert platter.
Our favourites from the banquet would be the Pork belly w Chilli Caramel & Nam pla Phrik, the perfectly steamed steamed cone bay barramundi w chilli garlic and mustard greens.
The banquet is a bit pricey, however you are not only paying for the quality food, but the service and the amazing view!
We ordered the duck pancakes, peanut and pork san choy bau and sashimi as starters, then the lamb, Penang curry and pork belly as our mains. All the dishes were wonderful, though the standout dishes were the duck pancakes, lamb (very soft and tender, and the wasabi mayo really complemented it) and pork belly (a really good mixture of savoury, sourness from the dipping sauce and sweetness from the caramelised exterior). Service was very attentive and professional, and they even gave us complimentary dessert when we told them that it was our mum's birthday :) it was a little expensive but very unique compared to other Asian restaurants which made it worth the price - i would definitely consider coming back to try the other dishes!
Stunning View Stunning service And Stunning Food. The staff were fabulous. The scallops were perfect and the Chilli squid was the best I've had. Wine list excellent. The views Sensational. One of my favourite meals while in Sydney.
Went on a Monday evening for a pax of four and decided to go for the banquet menu for $85 - the food was an interesting fusion of asian and western flavours! We left feeling so full. The service was impeccable. Would highly recommend as a perfect place for good conversation and good food.
2 out of 3 servers need to learn what hospitality means. Foods were great, but unfortunately one of the dishes wasn't that great as the mint seems served after a week in the fridge. However one of the friendly waiter fixes everything up. Well done
We were excited to try a lot of the menu and even happier after finding out the kitchen were happy to serve half portions!! The service is attentive and there was enough time between dishes that allowed us to enjoy each flavour. Certainly try for starters the Tuna Sashimi (where the grapefruit really adds a nice citrus twist), chicken ribs and the San Choy Bau ! As mains don't miss the Pork belly, we also enjoyed the Cobia yellow curry and the Tofu an Eggplant!!
We had the Banquet Set lunch....very good value...the waitress was exceptional and was very attentive!
Excellent food...great service...great surroundings...can't ask for more!
China doll has a long list of the amazing cocktails. Thd dumpling there was a bomb. Really loved the place. And yes... Loved crispy pork belly. Nice atmosphere and definitely will go back 🙂
Gem of a restaurant. Phenomenal Modern Asian with beautiful harbourside views. Amazing food as always. The Dumplings and Barbeque Pork were 5 star. The service no words and the decor is world class. Everything about it made my night.
Beautiful China Doll. Amazing food as per usual. Our waitress was amazing. Great service. Deserts were fabulous. Warm atmosphere and a memorable night. China Doll is a must try
Went on a Thursday night to a busy dinner service. Always a little sceptical paying for overpriced Asian food, but it definitely exceeded expectations. We got the banquet course for 2 people & duck pancakes as separate. Fantastic service from our particular waiter, others were disengaged and would walk away without explaining the dish or walk away while they were explaining it.
The huge embarrassment was they handed the birthday dessert that was meant for our table to the table next to us.
They finished the meal before our waiter noticed. He was extremely apologetic and also gave us free cocktails to make up for it. He then stayed and had a good chat with us before we left. Overall, it was probably the service that made the night!
Meeting head chef of China Doll Frank Shek was a completely unplanned surprise. To have him personally make canapés for us was even more surreal. The Penang Curry of Slow Braised Wagyu Beef Shin was out of this world, rich, deep and intense in flavours. The Pork Prawn Scallop Shu Mai were in bite size and the seafood flavour was strong but didn't overpower the pork. The shiitake mushroom added aroma and extra texture. The Masterstock Pork Belly with Chilli Caramel, Nam Pla Phrik was the best of its kind I had - crispy outside and sweet and tender in the centre.
China Doll isn't just another Asian restaurant you find anywhere, it's a testament of exceptional culinary skills, creativity and outstanding execution. I wish I could eat that every day.
Alex: I’m always a little dubious when it comes to phone apps taking over real life situations. Call me old-fashioned (or just not very tech savvy) but I’d typically prefer to do more of my personal stuff, like paying bills without the aid of apps. Groupee is an app totally designed to make group payments effortless. We’ve all been in that awkward situation when we are at a restaurant and someone has to run across to an atm to pull cash out or tell a friend that we’ll transfer them later. So the idea of efficiently splitting a bill without any fuss is an absolute Godsend.
Last Friday night was spent at china doll celebrating my hubby's bday with 8
Friends. The evening was exquisite as was the food ($70 banquet) and the service on the night "William" our waiter was exquisite! The restaurant catered to our pregnant and also a non seafood eating friend faultlessly. Can't fault them there but .... booking for 10 or more incurs a 10% surcharge ?!! During telecommunications prior to dining I was told they wouldn't split bills so "ask your guests to bring cash" & on the night the tab included as credit card surcharge?! My credit card was required to secure the booking and the warning of $50 per person charge if we were to cancel 48 hours prior plus what I mentioned earlier soured the evening slightly for me.
One of my absolutely most favourite restaurants in Sydney. Awesome menu, phenomenal location. Service is excellent; attentive yet unobtrusive. The banquet for two at $62pp (I think) is a well thought out option as it contains all of the star dishes from the menu. Add in a half decent bottle of wine, of which there are many to choose from, and you can get in and out for under $200 - pretty good for fine dining in a great location.
Head over to The Frisco in Dowling Street for post-dinner drinks. Great little watering hole.
I'm always a bit sceptical of the eateries along the "poser's parade" of Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf, and in a city with such a diversity of great Chinese food, China Doll wouldn't be in my top three. But it's consistent, if a little dear
Went here 7 months ago and was impressed by how fast the service was, especially considering it was a Friday and they were very busy. We went for the banquet for 62 dollars (i believe, it's been awhile) and remember all the food being above average but not noteworthy bar the best penang curry I've ever eaten and one of the worst chicken salads I've ever had. Service was alright overall, the positive in its speed sullied somewhat by the holier-than-thou attitude we got from the floor staff we interacted with. Still wondering how they got a hat but a decent night out overall.
Worst service of all the great chef hat restaurants in Sydney. Also don't like their hype. Call and it's booked out call with a reference and suddenly a table is available. Patronising waiters will annoy you the moment you ask for explanation of a dish. The food makes up for these faults and a great view
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Went here in a group of 4. They were really busy for a Tuesday night, the setting is good and decided quickly on the $72pp Banquet – had to try the Pork Belly. The scallops were great, felt like having more. The Chilli Salt Squid was really good too, like the touch of the chilli powder and had the perfect amount of crispiness. The Corn and Zucchini cakes were so good. Not a fave was the Beef Salad and Pickled red cabbage mizuna, just plain and also salad – really. Anyway, Steamed Cone Bay Barramundi was good, really soft and tasty. The Pork Belly was as described – really amazing. I was so full but just kept eating it. The Poached chicken was pretty good too but was just too full at that point. The Chinese greens had a really nice smokey flavour, that was also subtle yet nice. Dessert Platter wasn’t that amazing, I guess I liked the sorbet the best although the others like the sago dessert. I would say to go with A La Carte next time – especially if it’s just two, even with 4 people we were struggling to finish the food. It’s good quantity that’s for sure. But the best dishes were the Chilli Salt Squid, Corn and Zucchini cakes and Pork Belly, would go with those next time and try a few other dishes. Overall, it’s been the best fusion Asian place so far. Service was a bit slow, even with a dedicated waitress, I know it was busy but was hard getting their attention at times – even to pay the bill!
We think China Doll is solid, tasty and great value. Not a combination often used for Sydney restaurants, especially in such a privileged spot.
Banquet set menu at $62 a winner, and cocktails an unexpected winner. Pork belly to die for.
Recommended.
Great reliable restaurant. Fabulous setting , awesome staff and excellent food.
Highly recommend China Doll particularly if your a tourist as sitting outside on the wharf is brilliant.
Eat Play Love Travel
+3.5
Me: “What cuisine do you think they do?”
Face palm. If you’re looking for an Indian curry you might be disappointed by China Doll, but if you’re looking for modern Asian served against a city skyline, this wharf-side restaurant in Woolloomooloo (the suburb with way too many o’s) is a winner. The barbecue pork and prawn fried rice deserves a gold star, while the corn and zucchini cakes are worthy of a scratch-and-smell sticker.
Ahhh beautiful China Doll! Every time I dine here it is delicious. Peking Duk Pancakes are always a must for me! The staff are great and one night noticed I was cold (middle of winter wearing a summer dress and left my jacket in the taxi - oops) and they sat us next to the heater and brought me over 2 blankets 😍 so kind and thoughtful!
I don't think I'll ever give 5/5 but this is about as close as you get! Everything was fantastic, the service, the setting, the wine, the food, the price! The pork belly was incredible and the waygyu Penang curry was to die for and the sago pudding to finish made me cry tears of joy. This venue is a must!
Sharing is caring and @chinadollsydney it's the only way to dine🍴 Order an assortment of excellent dishes with your friends, pick a cocktail and enjoy the view🍸☀️ @mybondisummer #mybondisummer
Amazing food!
This was the third time I'd been to China Doll with my partner and the food was amazing as per usual! The special of the lobster spring rolls were especially delicious!
I recently dined on the $72 group banquet menu and was sufficiently impressed. There was a lot of variety in the dishes, the portions were just enough and the flavour combinations were balanced. Service was good and the ambiance is always lovely down by the water.
Such an amazing night, included in our $175pp NYE package was a drink on arrival. Most amazing bellini i have ever had. Our waitress was amazing. Great service. We arrived well before our seating and they accommodated us, front row also. Perfect view of fireworks. It was a magical night with my love
I ordered the $72/pp banquet and really enjoyed the two chicken dishes. Probably the best prepared chicken I've had in my life. It's a bit strange to gush about chicken, because it's so basic and common, but it might as well have been duck it was so juicy and full of flavor.The service was really great and I just love sitting by a wharf and drinking delicious wine and eating superb cuisine. Highly recommend this place. Bonus: everyone is super attractive. This place seriously attracts a beautiful crowd.
Had lunch with friends here New Year's eve 2015. Outstanding restaurant. Attention from the hostess who oversaw our area belied the busyness of the place at the time, and this attitude was reflected in the general service. While I like all Chinese food, this was on that higher plane that you only get from the really good joints. Would make a point of visiting again when in the area.
Chose to come here for my birthday with my family, so boy did I give myself a good present :)
The food here is so amazing, it is unbelievable! My favourite dishes of the night were the "duck pancakes" and the "pork and peanut san choy bau" - both highly recommended. Yet everything on the menu would be amazing and faultless, i'm sure!
A little downfall was that the servings are not generous at all, so sharing between 5 people was kind of difficult. But at the same, this was slightly expected. However, I would recommend going with a group of 3 or less if possible, just for ease.
The staff were really friendly and went above and beyond by bringing out a complementary dessert platter for my birthday with candles :) The desserts did not taste like anything i've ever had before, so it was a new and great experience to try them! They were not amazing, I must say, and I preferred the food better.
Such a warm atmosphere and a memorable night, so I surely will not hesistate to return!
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I can't justifiably fault anything about our experience at China Doll. We opted for the banquet for 2 because we wanted to try a few different items without wasting too much food as I can be a poor eater at times. The scallops were amazing! A really refreshing start to the meal. Next up, the zucchini and corn fritters were light and delicious. The coriander sambal went well with them. The pork & peanut san choy bao was one of our favourite dishes of the night. Messy to eat but who cares when it tastes that good! The chicken larb was different to ones I've tasted previously and while it was a tad salty for my taste we thoroughly enjoyed it. The pork belly was absolutely perfect. It melted in the mouth but still had a crispy skin that was full of flavour. Hands down my favourite pork belly dish ever. The wagyu beef shin in penang curry was also a huge hit, and I actually liked that the meat wasn't drowning in sauce since it had lots of flavour on its own. Dessert was sago pudding, an assorment of sorbets and a sticky rice pudding. My favourites were the sago pudding and kiwi sorbet. They also stuck a sparkler in the sorbet as a special touch since it was our anniversary. Our waitress was attentive while giving us enough breathing room. Drinks were constantly replenished and the pacing of the meal was perfect. The atmosphere was lovely, not too loud but not too quiet either. I'm glad we didn't have a table right at the path because of smokers hanging around in close proximity but if you don't take issue with that then it's fine. Unfortunately I don't remember our waitresses name but she really made our experience that much better from start to finish. China Doll is a must try!!!
If you are ever stuck for ideas about where to take a visitor/date/girls lunch/business lunch, then you cannot go past the original China Doll at Wooloomooloo. Sydney offers great weather & why not step out of the typical Circular Quay & Darling Harbour precints to relax by this waterside spot. Modern, funky, sexy is the restaurant & the food. The chef has reinvented classic Chinese (&Asian) cuisine & added his own touch & taken it to new heights. The cocktails are amazing, the food is enticing with the pork belly a must have dish. I have only loved China Doll that little bit more with each visit. Oh and I dont know anyone who didnt get a 2nd date after going here!
Such an amazing night, included in our $175pp NYE package was a drink on arrival. Most amazing bellini i have ever had. Our waitress was amazing. Great service. We arrived well before our seating and they accommodated us, front row also. Perfect view of fireworks. It was a magical night with my love
Best Chinese I've had anywhere. .. tasty and healthy-ish. Great thing is they offer half servings so you can try mulitple dishes. The prawn dumpling is amazing and anything on the menu will impress. Book in advance, its always busy. Ive had a few group functions here and the banquet makes it easy
Came here with my boyfriend for his birthday dinner. Really amazing food, cocktails were fantastic and service was great!!! The shu mai and penang curry and sago dessert were just amazing. Had the set menu for 2 which included absolutely fantastic steamed scallops with subtle yet classy dressing. The venue location adds to the while experience. Might try other dishes next time !!
Simply stunning food. Service is really good and cocktails are amazing. Had Pambula Rock oysters, steamed scallops, prawn and bug meat dumplings, salt and pepper prawns, tea smoked duck and brocollini. Yum
Apparently booking here is a nightmare... Great location though. Had a table for 18, pretty attentive service. Good quality food. Scallops were great, larb was soooo good. Fresh as. The sago was the only dessert worthwhile though.
Had lunch here with my husband on a hot sunny day. The sun was a killer! I suggest making a reservation if you don't want to eat outside & sweat at the same time. Not a pretty look if you're on a date. The food was good but it took a little while to come out. The pork belly was definitely my favourite dish there. Service was good.
Every year when I visit Sydney, we always make a point to get dumplings at some point, as one of our local friends loves dumplings. He happens to be the one who first led us to Chinatown Noodle Restaurant, with its famous dumplings and noodles, and who we went to fancy dim sum at Luya and Yum Yum with on our last visit. On this visit, we decided to do something a bit different, and go more upscale, to China Doll.
Had the set menu for 2 which included absolutely fantastic steamed scallops with subtle yet classy dressing. The next course was corn fritters which were OK followed by the pork and peanut san choy bow which was a disappointment as it just didn't work. What came next made up with the chicken larb - the best I have had as it was a great spin on a classic. Pork belly came next with such a balanced mandarin sweet source with sour pickled and chilli accompaniment. Lastly was the wagu massaman curry, slow cooked and rich without being too heavy which went great with the Chianti. The venue location adds to the while experience. Might try other dishes next time as the marron looked awesome. Not the san choy bow next time.
China Doll is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a fancy date night. The décor is classy with beautiful ambient lighting and oriental artwork. There are two floors so there's quite a bit of space but bookings are recommended as it does get very busy. I highly recommend the scallops and the pork belly. Another highlight is the crispy chicken cooked in Shandong style. The black sticky rice dessert with coconut is another must try!
Incredible food. I loved their scallops, pork belly and passionfruit sago. Service was stupidly slow though. Would have given a higher score if that was better. Sydney food is so awesome!
Consistently amazing well priced food. Have been here many times and will keep coming back. Love the kingfish with apple and chilli. Excellent dumplings - the shu mi are my favourite. Great duck pancakes. For mains my pick are the pork belly - very rich, but absolutely delicious, and the beef masaman curry is excellent. I really enjoy the deserts here too.
The food prices are actually cheap for the quality, but they make up for it with high priced drinks
I can't fault this restaurant.. Amazing food and service. We had the lunch degustation menu. I have trouble picking a favorite dish as they were all fantastic. Note to self, wear loose pants next time, as I needed to undo the button of my jeans to fit in dessert!
Amazing!! One of the best restaurants I've ever been, hands down. Beautiful view, wonderful service, lovely atmosphere and remarkable food. The blue eye cod is the absolute standout dish and the roasted pear was absolutely sensational. We also loved the sago pudding, vegetarian san choy bau and vegetarian spring rolls. I was a bit iffy on the steamed dumplings but everyone else loved them. Highly, highly recommend China Doll for an occasion or date or any excuse.
Foodies Guide To Sydney
+5
C H I N A ☆ D O L L
Hands down the best Chinese food in town! Im not usually a fan of Chinese food but China Doll is something special. Every dish was absolutely delicious. Well done guys! ✌ @foodiesguidetosydney
You cannot go here and not order a cocktail - they are amazing and very renowned for it. I had the Beijing Bellini which was delicious and fruity. Mango and coconut mojito seemed the most popular. We had the $88pp banquet when we came here which was a good choice, makes the night a lot easier. Best dish was chili and salt squid - wow! All the seafood is amazing here, with really fresh flavours. Tea smoked duck is another favorite. The dishes are a very western take on Chinese food I think. However dessert is a classic - sago pudding, rice pudding and sorbet. Beautiful location, I would recommend for a special occasion. Not somewhere I would go regularly!
Perfect location and food is great (which should be expected looking at the price of the meal). The location is amazing and the staff are very helpful particularly as I was a first timer. It is a place that you must go to at least once to experience the atmosphere and the amazing pork!
Best damn pork belly I've tasted! There's a reason it's a staple on their menu. Great service, beautiful atmosphere and fantastic food. Must do in Sydney!😍
With stunning views China Doll is one hell of a restaurant. Book in advance and request a table outside. Quality food is an understatement, highly recommended.
I had the best birthday ever in China Doll with my fiancee! He booked a week before and asked if they could give us the best spot outside since it's our first time to Sydney and also a special day, they said they couldn't promise that but on the day we got the best seat ever!! Thanks for that. The waitress that served us that night was impeccable, a 30+yo man which very polite and humble. We also enjoyed every dishes we got in the banquet especially the desserts and the pork belly. I will always remember the feeling when I ate here, that's what every great restaurant should do, make their customer feel great not only because of their food but with every little details that matters.
I had my birthday dinner here, and no complaints at all. The food and service was amazing, buy the time dessert came around everyone was completely stuffed but we all still found room for more. Great atmosphere and great food
Great location, exceptional service, attentive staff, elaborate wine list and a very good value for money. I have brought a few clients and friends here, never had a bad experience. I'm a vegetarian and the chefs never had problems making a stir fry main dish to my specification. Absolutely love their corn fritters entree.
The food is great, traditional Chinese Asian, for a table of three we had the vegetarian San chow bow, the caramelised pork belly which was satisfyingly crunchy whilst still giving way to the luscious fat we all look for in pork belly. Tofu and eggplant was very good as was the barramundi. The only dish I wouldn't go back for would be the chilli salt squid, tender as it was the batter did nothing for the squid, much preferring mr wongs crunchier version. We paid $75 pp including a cocktail so not an inexpensive night but the view, service and fresh clean flavors of our meal made up for it.
Went with a group of friends for a farewell, we all had the banquet- food was beautiful plenty for everyone and lots of variety. Nice cocktails as well as a treat!
The charm of dining on Finger Wharf in Sydney’s Woolloomooloo lies no less in the natural beauty than in its historic quaintness. And how many times have I had to rely on spell check for Woolloomooloo. Did you know Woolloomooloo once upon a time was the most desirable suburb in Sydney to live in, being home of judges, merchant leaders, politicians before? In the first part of the twentieth century, Woolloomooloo later became one of the most colourful and roughest suburbs. Now it is gentrified and is one of the most charming places in Sydney to dine any day of the week. Food eaten by the water always seems to taste better especially on a weekend when I can dine at my own pace. I lingered over drinks and lunch over the weekend, where Sydney siders leisurely stroll along the wharf. Just as stirring to the soul and appetite are the tranquil waters of Woolloomooloo Bay. At 12pm on a Saturday it's relatively quiet but by 1pm this place is full and just buzzes with guests.
Glaze your appetite as you sip on a glass of rhubarb bellini or a beer/wine with a gorgeous view. Caramelize with the juicy crispy and flavoursome pork belly which is one of my favourites on the menu. Spice with the tender cut or fresh kingfish and ocean trout sashimi on a bed of thinly sliced apple and its refreshing taste enhanced with ginger. Pare a plate of eggplant and tofu which is full of flavour and balanced out our other main dishes.
Glaze your appetite as you sip on a glass of rhubarb bellini or a beer/wine with a gorgeous view. Caramelize with the juicy crispy and flavoursome pork belly which is one of my favourites on the menu. Spice with the tender cut or fresh kingfish and ocean trout sashimi on a bed of thinly sliced apple and its refreshing taste enhanced with ginger. Pare a plate of eggplant and tofu which is full of flavour and balanced out our other main dishes. Infuse your taste buds with a generous serving of tea smoked duck where each piece has a substantial amount of meat on the bone. Cream with a bowl of coconut sago pudding to sweeten the palette to finish.
#kningjaeats her favourite Modern Asian cuisine. Been here twice and both times they have not disappointed. Its delicious and juicy flavours are perfect to be enjoyed with a glass of wine and a relaxing and gorgeous view. They give generous portions which left me in a serious fulfilling food coma. Highly recommended!
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A very memorable night. Ambience: 8/10 - it was a little bit noisy, but that's to be expected in a popular restaurant. The furnishings are beautiful and it has an elegant air. We were seated inside and enjoyed the atmosphere; outside has the benefit of being able to see the water, but inside is nice too.
Food: 9/10 - the food is pricey, perhaps a little more than necessary in some cases (looking at you, $18 cocktails) but otherwise I really can't fault it. Everything was delicious, the portions were quite generous (considering they were being spread over 9 people), and service was very quick. Special mention to the fried five-spice tofu (crispy and salty on the outside, smooth and hot on the inside!), the spicy lamb ribs, and the wontons.
Service: 10/10, and the main reason I'm writing this review. Our waiter Mark was superb the whole night, from advising us on portions (always tough when ordering Chinese!), to recommending drinks, and making sure our entire 9-person party was taken care of the whole night. We were actually there to celebrate my 21st birthday, which we told him at the beginning of the night, and when it came time for dessert he asked us to leave it to him - and he brought us out a complimentary set of desserts from the menu, complete with sparkler. This gesture made my entire night and on the strength of that alone I would happily recommend China Doll. The fact that the food is also wonderful is just a bonus.
China Doll experience wouldn't have been complete without trying their desserts.The Dessert platter had a selection of sorbets (lime, espresso and raspberry), black sticky rice pudding with mango and Sago Pudding with Vanilla Coconut Cream and Passionfruit Coulis. Not a big fan of asian desserts, I was a bit apprehensive in trying the sticky rice pudding, but to my surprise it was delicious. The winner for me was the espresso sorbet.
Perched along the Cowper Wharf, facing the twinkling skyline of Sydney is China Doll with its open embrace yet reserved façade. Inside, the music is muted, barely audible of 70s music, while the décor hints at its naming origins. Lights beam from above to highlight our blue and white Chinoiserie plates, ready to dazzle us with the banquet’s offering. It would have been romantic had it not been someone’s 30th birthday. While waiting for the remaining guests to arrive, the restaurant entertains us with their drinks selection. Eventually the birthday girl signalled the waitress to start serving the first dish, Sashimi of Hiramasa Kingfish & Ocean Trout with Blackened Chilli Dressing . Sliced to perfection and glazed in a playful blend of herbs and spices, balanced by smoky undertones of sesame seed oil and finished off by a tangy refreshing salad, it was a sign of good things to come. For those who are worried about heat in the dressing, the chilli is daintily mild. Right on cue, the Stea
Another hatted Chinese restaurant? It can’t be…jokes, why not? China Doll isn’t exclusively Chinese though – elements of south-eastern Asian cuisine can be seen in its dishes. The result is a cacophony of flavours that stands out from your regular joint. That said, if you are just going for your usual spring roll fix, find another restaurant.
The pork belly is actually one of the best I’ve ever had in my life and I’m finding it hard to describe – just look at the photo! It’s cooked to perfection with a little bit of crunch and distinct sweet yet spicy taste, the chilli sauce dip is the perfect accompaniment. Tea Smoked Duck w/ Tamarind & Plum The menu is filled with delicious sounding dishes and I was forced to make a decision as we’d only be ab
One of the specials of the day was grilled pork belly which was also served with pancakes. But for the life of me I can’t remember the name of the dish. Though we all loved it so we sadly had to share it this time. Only fair seeing as how I had more of the duck. The pickled carrot and daikon added a nice tangy crunch against the sweetness of the caramelised pork.
Christmas always signals for an exciting period of the year...there's bubbly, good food, laughter and at the end of it, there's usually a holiday break for most people :) This year was quite special for me because it was the first official Christmas work lunch I attended and we were lucky enough to go to China Doll at the beautiful Woolloomooloo Wharf for the occasion! What's a celebration without some good champagne? Unfortunately I wasn't the one who ordered this so I have no clue what the specific name of the bottle was but it was a sparkling delight that kept refilling and refilling, to our hearty content :) Menu wise, you can go A La Carte or if you're with a big group (more than 4 people), you could consider trying out the banquet menu options, which we did. We went with the scrumptious $69 Banquet Per Person - upon glancing at the courses that was to come, I was beyond ecstatic. The Chilli Salt Squid was one of the best squids I've ever had - each piece was coated with a thin
Please Sir Can I Have Some More
+4.5
Forking Around Sydney
+4.5
China Doll is an Asian restaurant along the Finger Wharf, but it is still relatively ignored despite chef Frank Shek's appearance in the inaugural season of MasterChef Australia, long before it was cool to do so. Its unheralded nature signifies our obsession with all culinary things French, European, and epicurean, leaving Asian cuisine lagging behind.
I was eager to try China Doll after recommendations from friends about the food and more importantly I heard the cocktails are amazing. The atmosphere was
...dinner at China Doll, one of the restaurants lining the west side of the wharf, with a prime view of the city. After dinner, which was excellent – modern
Gianna - TheEmptyFridge
+4.5
We love China Doll because it has amazing cocktails and never ceases to impress in terms of food. Cocktail selection here is always fun, the menu changes so there is always new to look at trying with each visit. On this occasion we settled
Does My Bomb Look Big In This
+4.5
Curiosity drew me to this undeniably popular Finger Wharf entry, but I wasn't sure quite what to expect! Attracting mostly conservative and wealthy over-thirties, it was surprising to find Scottish-born Chinese chef Frank Shek dishing up playful, and at times challenging, food. Thick, fatty BBQ Lamb Ribs ($22) are juxtaposed with pickled bean sprouts and tangy chilli lime. Sashimi of Hiramasa Kingfish and Ocean Trout ($26) arrives speckled red with blackened chilli dressing. It reminds me (if I can be so crass) of Samboy Barbecue Chips ; but the combination unlocks the ocean trout so well that I fall more in love with each successive bite. (I'm generally not the biggest ocean trout fan, either.) Meaty, succulent Fremantle Octopus ($18) is another big win. While I'm here, I should mention that many of these dishes are half serves, which the restaurant does at exactly half of the marked price to boot. While the prawn and mushroom Steamed Dumplings ($20) may not have the thinnest skin in
I finally made it to China Doll after about 5 years of reading good reviews about this place. I'm not a huge fan of the 'loo, as I'll call it. It's not on the way to anywhere, there are some posh over-priced eateries there frequented by posh over-polished
Penguin Says Feed Me
+4.5
We place our palates into the hands of the very capable chefs and start with the cold sashimi dish first. The red colour of the dish worries me at first but I find that the spice factor is very mild and is careful not to overpower the delicate taste of the kingfish and ocean trout. Hiding underneath the slices of fish are batons of crunchy apple which provide a nice crunchy texture against the soft fish.
Just loved China Doll. My husband and I dined at China Doll for a special birthday lunch. The location and outlook is fabulous. The food was sensational and our waiter helped to make our dining experience special, making recommendations for the food combinations and being attentive without being intrusive with a delightful sense of humour. We just loved the flavours, the ambience, the whole shebang........and will definitely be patronising this restaurant again.....all the senses were catered for.
Nearly Perfect Evening. Whilst our fabulous waitress Linda was a little overstretched, she knew her food, the wine and nothing was an effort despite covering a lot of the ground for other less experienced staff. Food was impeccable, particularly the Pork Belly. Squid, wouldn't order again, but everything else perfect.
Amazing food and great service!. Went for a long lunch with 12 friends. 2 poeple didnt show up - and this wasnt a problem. Great service the whole time for the large table - even with my allergies.
Food was absolutely fantastic. We had the set menu - and there was stacks of food. Highlight was definitely the pork belly!
Thankyou China Doll for having us.
Amazing Food!. Came here exclusively for the food and was not disappointed, absolutely to die for.
The slow cooked ribs were the most tender Ive ever tried!
Great wine selection etc, all in all good value for money
Divine. We loved our time here, the service is brilliant, and the food is delicious, every dish was divine, the menu is great, such a lovely restaurant with magnificent views, it was an absolute treat, we look forward to coming back.
Wonderful Customer Service. I tried China Doll for the first time over the weekend, due to multiple rave reviews from friends. It was as great as everyone had said! The food was delicious, but even more impressive was the service. Our waitress was so knowledgeable and knew just how to guide us in our order - even customizing the serving sizes for the number of people at our table (3). She even brought us complimentary dessert and limoncello. I recommend this restaurant to others!!
Beautiful Food, beautiful service. Had dinner at China Doll recently for a friends birthday and it was a beautiful evening all around. The wharf was looking lovley, our waiter was very helpful and attentive and the food was (of course!) perfect.
Birthday Celebration.. Came here for a surprise birthday lunch and was pleasantly surprised with how delicious the food was. Great service and incredible flavours! Can't wait to be back again!
Great location, views, service and food.
Delicious!!. Selected 5 main courses between 4 of us. Extremely satisfied; the calamari, prawns, pork belly, duck, and beef we're all excellent. The service was friendly and spot on. Can't wait to return. Thanks guys n gals.
Great food. Your pork belly is amazing, I have family from an asian background but not even my mother's cooking matches the delicious food that I have had at China Doll. Highly recommend, though prices are a little high, its definitely worth trying. I made sure to go on in the middle of the week so it wouldnt be too busy.
Poor service but the food was to die for. Title pretty much sums it up.
The restaurant was buzzing, outside was packed and the inside main area too. The staff accommodated us but in a very quiet area of the restaurant. That was OK as i was happy to have a good catch up with my Aunt.
The downfall to this was the fact we had to wave down staff all the time for drinks and for them to take our order.
We had the banquet which was amazing, highly recommended. Once the food started coming, it wouldn't stop. We had so much that i couldn't finish dessert (and I have a sweet tooth). So although the service was terrible, i would love to give it another go some time soon
Never ceases to amaze- the food is always so delicious. The pork belly is out of this world- I have dreams about it!
Fantastic service. The 2 person banquet was great value and the penang curry was amazing
We had the banquet last night. It was amazing and the San cho now was awesome.?great place would defiantly go back
Beautiful food ! Amazing atmosphere, would eat here again!
Refreshing take on Chinese food. Worth a visit!
Nice enough. Been to this restaurant for a birthday. We had a set menu. Although the food was nicely presented and did taste great. The service was lacking. Wonderful location and outlook. Too expensive for the size of the meals served.
Over rated Went last night.... Over rated
Went last night for dinner. Very limited menu so we went with a 2 person banquet. First 3 courses in 10 minutes! Had 2 dishes arrive at same time, we had to ask to slow down. It was like they were in a hurry to turn tables over.
Food was good but not great , I would give it a 6/10
I ate the banquet and it was definately the best choice as you get to sample the restaurants best dishes. Each dish was spectacular and I thoroughly enjoyed every single bite I had. I would definately come again!
GREAT IN EVERYTHING. SERVICE: Staff was very attentive, helpful and personable. 10 out of 10.
FOOD: Peking Duck pancakes, Tea smoked duck and Dessert platter were dishes worth spreading the gospel! Dumplings were something I didn't like personally, but seems to be a favourite with the other customers. So if you are a dumpling connoisseur, then pick some other delicious entrees.
AMBIENCE: Great location, waterviews, the who's who people watching.
I will be coming back again very soon!
It's more than the food. Six of us went to China Doll for lunch on 22 March. Fabulous location, we sat outside in beautiful weather. Great service, it was very busy but we always had our drinks poured for us, and never went without, great food and we loved the whole experience. Great people watching, such a fun day.
Went for my dad's birthday lunch. Great food, in particular the signature crispy pork belly was everything that I had anticipate, beautiful tangy dressing to go with divine caramel-like pieces of pork. We also tried the barbecue pork and prawn fried rice (really yummy and generous serving), the grilled lamb tenderloin (served similar to a Thai beef salad, very well cooked, soft lamb), whole steamed snapper with black beans, chilli and lemon (nice but could have used more kick) and the corn and zucchini fritters. The service was good actually, the waiter assigned to our table was sweet and jovial.
Although weather was not so great today, we still had a table where we could see out onto the water, so it was a lovely atmosphere. All in all pretty awesome day, would totally recommend!
Fantastic and friendly service. Nice view of the water. Excellent spin on classic Asian dishes - the food was fresh, flavoursome and came out very quickly. Will definitely be returning.
Great ambience, friendly and helpful waiters. Balanced flavours in the food. Well worth the money. Definitely returning.
Amazing food and service. While being ridiculously expensive it certainly lived up to its name, with mouth watering food and exceptional service! A great place for a special occasion.
Gorgeous staff, delicious food, fabulous cocktails, great view!!!
Lovely night out. China Doll was recommended and it was a great choice. The staff were friendly and efficient. Remembered everything, didn't have to write it down. The banquet was great with awesome flavours and all the food came at just the right time. Will recommend you to anyone wanting a great night out
Stunning restaurant with fabulous city views. Amazing food, great service and a wonderful night. China Doll is a stunner.
Still a gem. Wonderful location on the woolloomooloo strip, fresh light Chinese food packed with flavour and complemented by great service. not the cheapest night out but worth every cent.
Stunning views and delicious food. One of our best restaurants in Sydney. The food is our of this world. We always have lunch and I loved the fact that they can serve half portions so you can taste more of their amazing food.
Service: impeccable
Great cocktails, atmosphere and service. Gorgeous entrees. Mains - sometimes less is more; very intense flavoured and overly salty pork belly and beef curry. Even the vege's had sauce that was too concentrated.
Overall great dining experience. Might order some more simple dishes nest time.
Absolutely amazing. Wednesday September 4 Dinner
Love the service
Love the authentic & contemporary flavours
Love the delicious cocktails
Super attentive and helpful staff
Great wine list
tasty tasty food!!
Absolutely outstanding. Excellent, exclusive finest Asian cuisine. First-rate, five-star!
What a magic night! The service was very efficient and friendly without being too obtrusive. We had the banquet which was excellent value. Every dish was great with beatiful flavours and balance. The waygu beef Pemang curry was amazing. I would highly recommend China Doll for any occasion.
Modern Asian. You'll find a range of establishments that cater to couples and the yuppy types on this wharf. The flavours are great but arguably more intense than your authentic Asian restaurants (it's much more Chinese Schezhuan and Thai influenced). Personally, I prefer the subtler flavour profiles and more exotic ingredients of authentic Cantonese and Japanese style cuisine. It's quite an expensive place for dinner but the ambience and views are there to match the pricetag. Service is good as expected. I've taken a water taxi here before as parking spots are hard to come by during peak times.
Amazing Food. Probably one of my favorite restaurants in Sydney. Every dish is fresh and well flavored, the service is impeccable and the drinks are great. It's not a cheap place to eat but you feel like you are getting value for money.
Loved it! We're in Sydney from Melbourne & totally could have been in Melbourne for our dinner - it was amazing from the service to the dishes! The Peking duck was amazing not to mention the chilli squid & dumplings. Divine. Totally recommended. Sydney you may be a threat to Melbourne after all!
Great service and amazing food. Booked a table with my boyfriend on the weekend and loved every dish we ordered. The pork and prawn fried rice and beef Panang is highly recommended. Everything was pretty pricey but was definitely worth every cent :)
Lovely outdoor heated seating. Duck pancakes were fantastic & great service. Definitely worth checking out!
Love this place great location great food and most of the time great service
Amazing location, great food and great service. Good for big groups.
What do you say when Asian food blows your socks off ?? Wow this place is good !!! Very very good !! And let me tell you I love Asian good so it's rare to fine something new that's exceptional !! A must try :-)
We liked the food but it was way over priced. Nice flavours but the duck was chewy for $45. The octopus was also over cooked and semi cold by the time it reached our table. Shu Mai dumplings were the favoirite and the papa don't peach mocktail was delicious! Probably won't go back!
Baz Juan Pablo Sanchez
+4.5
Celebrated my 10th Anniversary here with my wife on a few recommendations. Where do I start and where do I finish ???, this place is just amazing, I think it's fairly priced considering the quality and location. A special mention must go out to the Alaskan Crab claws, wow wow wow, oh my god they were just sooooo good, a fool if you do t try them ;-))
Gorgeous. Great location, lovely service. Beef curry was excellent!
Not cheap but one of the best quality meals we have had , great service, great location. Would return.
A couple or prospective couple stepping out for a romantic meal at an establishment that specialises in shared dishes often face the quandary of indulging in gluttony or missing out on the majority of the menu.China Doll has assisted in overcoming this handicap through offering half sized serves e.g.two delicious crispy wontons instead of four.well played China Doll for enabling the romance to flourish through your lovely menu.
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Just precious. From the minute you step off the wharf at Woolloomooloo into China Doll you can feel the magic. And the magic is head chef Frank Shek's uncanny ability to take an old favourite which conjures up memories of family celebrations and turn it into top notch five star dish without compromising the integrity of flavours. His fried rice is a classic example of this. One mouthful and thoughts of my childhood come flooding back where a quick economic meal was made from day-old rice and some quintessentially (and pungent) Asian ingredients; but Frank's addition of succulent prawns and juicy BBQ pork transform this dish into a classy delightful offering. One of the very few fried rice dishes I’ve encountered which doesn’t include peas and other fillers and for this I was truly grateful. With a flavour distinctly Umami, this is an exceptional and memorable dish which could be an extremely satisfying meal on its own, but try keeping it to yourself once the rest of the table have sampled a spoonful...
The twice cooked belly pork was another dish that seemed to have gone to "Frank's finishing school" and undergone a transformation from innocent and homely to a sophisticated knockout status. Just a glance at this dish and you can be forgiven for thinking it’s going to be all crunch and possibly dry. However, bite into a cube of crisp pork and you will be rewarded with impossibly moist morsels of belly which although cooked twice, still manages to retain its three layers quite distinctly; the uber crisp crackly skin on top, the sweet tender meaty flesh and then the thin layers of fat in between which melts in your mouth. The belly sits in a mahogany puddle of heaven a.k.a chili caramel which is balanced to perfection, providing the elegant element to this dish. The accompanying Nam Pla Phrik cuts through any richness and provides a refreshing mouth feel, making each mouthful feel like your first. I would recommend steamed rice with this particular dish as you need that bland clean slate to allow the pork to paint that stunning masterpiece on your tastebuds.
Other wowsers on the menu include the duck pancakes and the shu mai. The duck, although similar to your standard peking duck in the sense it comes with all the trimmings, isn’t your regular thin skinned red lacquered duck; its bubbly and almost like duck-skin crackling and with the addition of clever spices is far more flavoursome. The shu mai too is not your average yellow skinned orange dotted yumcha variety. These four parcels of glory came to the table crowned with slices of scallops and although delicately flavoured, they were lusciously bursting with pork, prawns and shiitake. Not a drop of soy sauce needed!
Dishes are designed to share family style, so bring a group of your nearest and dearest and reminisce about old memories or create brand new ones together. This is definitely a place worth saving your pennies for but the staff are knowledgeable and friendly, views are great and the portions are pleasantly generous. Just like a china doll, this place too, is just precious.
Simply amazing.
I generally hate Chinese food but this restaurant is one of the best I have ever been to.
Great service, amazing food.
A bit pricy perhaps but its worth it...
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Absolutely magnificent! My partner and I are from Melbourne and had lunch at marvellous china doll! The place was packed but we where able to find a well positioned table outside, overlooking woolloomooloo wharf. We ordered the Shui Mai steamed dumplings and were absolutely delicious! The best we ever had! Obviously made in house! They were packed with prawns and pork and topped with scallops! Steamed to
Perfection. We also
Had 2 steamed scallops with ginger and Chinese wine! Delicious too! Then we continued with Alaskan snow crab claws, which were coated with tapioca flower and flash fried then wok tossed! Unbelievable flavour! The redbraised pork belly was tasty and perfectly cooked! Pork and prawn
Fried rice the best I ever had!
We love Chinese food and we have eaten at hundreds of restaurant both modern and traditional and this guys were the best ever! The staff was friendly, attentive and treated us like royalty! We had two bottles of wine at 35 dollars each, for a very good reisling!
I highly reccomend this place! The restaurant gives you choice of half portions too!! Simply simply amazing! Thanks for the great great experience!
China Soul. Good Asian food.....in fact "fine-dining" Asian food (if there is a thing). The surrounding decor was fresh and beautiful. Not daggy and old. The service was attentive and friendly. Atmosphere was "alive". Not loud, but full of patrons and robust in a good way. Will I return...definately!
Outstanding! Fantastic food with a balance of flavor rarely found. Quality wine list, great setting and probably the best service we have ever encountered.
Had a really nice night at China Doll. The food, the setting and beautiful weather really made it good! The service was good, maybe a bit over the top, wasn't sure if the guy was being really attentive or annoying! But loved the experience will be back if I'm in Sydney again
Best on the wharf. Had such an enjoyable meal this week at China Doll. Sun was shining, food was sensational, drinks were cold, service was attentive. Couldn't have asked for more. We'll be back again soon.
I love china doll. it is my fav on the wharf. china doll is rockin roll
Try the pork belly. fantastic
Excellent Food. My first visit to China Doll was earlier this week, nice to see it so busy early on a Monday night - testament to how good it must be! The food didn't dissapoint. We had steamed dumplings, Peking Duck Rolls, Tofu and Eggplant with chilli and blackbean sauce and salt and pepper prawns. All dishes were absolutely divine. My favourite I think was the dumplings. So so so good. However I wasn't that impressed with the service. Considering what you are paying for, I expected better service. The waiters were pleasant and knowledgable but just didn't hit the mark for me. Having said that, I will definitely go back again simply for those dumplings.
Delicious!. China Doll serves modern Asian cuisine, that is there are elements of Japanese, Korean, Thai and Chinese cooking with a slant towards more Chinese than other styles. With that in mind, you cannot expect authentic cuisine but rather modernised interpretations of classics. For entree, we had the Hiramasa kingfish sashimi served with apple matchsticks and a blackened chilli and sesame oil dressing - fabulous! We also had the corn and zucchini fritters that lacked any crunch and had a soggy filling. For mains we had the salt and pepper squid that was very tender but again, lacked crispness and the deep fried tofu and braised eggplant in a black bean and chilli sauce which was spectacular and whose flavours built as you ate it. A fantastic place with some hits and misses but when when they hit, they really shine!
LOVE China Doll!. Addicted to China Doll! The banquets are amazing value but last time we hit up the a la carte menu and did some serious damage. Imagine it like the Chinese food that you remember from your childhood and crave, but done properly, not like your local takeaway does. So, salt and pepper prawns are big fat juicy prawns, super crispy with a great hit of chilli. The fried rice is the best I've ever had. Love the pork and peanut sang choi bau. Could go on and on, everything we've had is divine. Such a nice spot too, sitting on the water. Yum!
Ambience and service made it. Sitting in the sun on a Sunday at china doll has to be one of the best dining experiences in Sydney. I left the choosing of the food to our waiter who was both warm and charming with just the right balance between formality and informality. He chose well and we were rewarded with fresh,clean flavours. At the same time it did not compare with the excellent wine but combine all elements and we had a lovely way to spend an afternoon.
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"Take up your China Doll, Take up your China Doll...." but unlike the Grateful Dead lyrics, it's not at all fractured. It's very together!! This is indeed one of Sydney's finer restaurants.
China Doll exudes class. Well trained waiter staff recommended choices from the slightly daunting menu.
Opt for sharing plates. All courses are ample in size, allowing more than enough for a table of 6 to sample from each.
Of the many courses we ate, the highlights for us were the surprisingly soft and tantalising Five Spice Tofu for entree, the Wagyu Penang Beef curry - perfectly cooked - and Crispy Chicken. Others raved about the Grilled Jumbo Prawns and the Steamed Dumplings.
The desserts were worth the calories. A Dessert Tasting plate for 4 was very generous for 5 of us - 3 bowls of 3 sorbets; sago and black rice pudding - all in the OMGosphere. My wife decided on the Condensed Milk Tart which she selflessly shared - but would have been forced to had she not. It too was outstanding.
See my photos attached.
The wine menus was extensive and expensive, as expected.
If you are in to celb spotting, or imaging you are Skipper of the multi-million dollar cruise boats then you would also like China Doll. Plenty of both.
The bill - $100 per person incl alcohol. Yet, we look forward to returning. Yum. GregFresser
A trendy Chinese restaurant with a contemporary twist & a spectacular setting. Food was delicious, portion sizes generous and staff friendly. What a lovely place to meet friends on a warm night by the water with a spectacular city backdrop. Our favourite traditional Chinese dishes were here but with a modern variation as well as some welcome additions such as the perfectly textured sashimi entree.
Best taste in australia. I visit sydney once a month and first port of call is China Doll. short walk from Blue Hotel and magic position overlooking the city.
value for money fantastic and service first rate.
menu changes slightly on a regular basis with interesting specials and unbeleivable flavours
Just superb, full of flavour food; friendly, professional service and a fabulous location. The first time I ate here was a hot summer's evening with the setting sun blasting down on us poor souls seated outside. But, my second meal was on a cool, clear night. The combination of chilly air and crisp, fresh, spicy flavours was intoxicating! We will definitely keep this Doll on our dancecard through the cooler months! Fabulous
Briiant food combined with killer location and excellent friendly service. China Doll sets a new standard in Sydney.
One of my favourites. This place never disappoints, I have been on a number of ocassions and the food is always good, atmosphere is great particularly given its location overlooking the city. Highly recommend.
Absolutely divine food - excellent service.
The most beautiful food in Sydney. My favourite restaurant. The duck pancakes, crispy pork belly, wagu curry are favourite. The staff always look after us. Make sure you try the cocktail list too!
This place is my favorite place to stop by when I am in Sydney! Even though busy days, holidays, quiet days they always provide me the best food :) I am very satisfied with their service and also dish. If you can’t choose the dish pick course menu. It will just give you the taste of China doll and you’ll be full after finishing all the dish.
Also their drinking menu is amazing as well!
Nice view nice place I will definitely go back again.
Fantastic restaurant to visit with family and friends. In my view the more the better, as you can get the banquet menu which serves all the menu highlights, just make sure you save room for it all!
The caramelised pork belly and Peking Duck pancakes were absolutely delicious but please pace yourself as there is plenty to come
The staff are friendly and efficient and despite monsoonal rain the setting was beautiful
I’ll definitely be back
Delicious food and outstanding service. My favourite is wok fried Alaskan king crab with black pepper and lime sauce. It is a 10/10 dish. The dessert was on point, black sticky rice is a must try
I enjoyed the experience. We had the full set 3 course dinner menu and the food was good/great. It was cold and we were sitting outside, but the heater made it comfortable (to my surprise). The ambience/atmosphere was great. The lady who attended our table was very sweet and friendly; the only problem was we finished the appetizer and had to wait for quite a long time until the mains were brought to our table.
We went there with my friends and family. The food was very yummy and on point. Moreover the friendly staff made the dine in experience awesome. Their hospitality was in different level. I recommend every one to visit at least once.
China Doll food and service is 5 star. Staff are friendly and attentive. The menu is varied and delicious and the wine list is extensive. Highly recommend a long lunch at China Doll. Thanks to Gialliam for a memorable afternoon.
I have lost count how many times I’ve been to this venue. You can’t go wrong - I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad experience. What a stunning way to start the weekend!
An amazing restaurant, took Mum for Mother’s Day. She loved it. I knew I made the right choice booking here since it was busier than other places. Nice view nearby the wharf. Friendly staff, fast service. The menu had a good variety of dishes. Everything was delicious, their seafood was fresh and main meat dishes were full of flavour. I highly recommend ordering the penang curry.
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