It's a weeknight where I head to Dragonboat restaurant to meet a group of foodie pals. It's a venue that I've never been to before but tonight we will be feasting on a banquet. Mr Weekend Food Escapes and I order a Tsingtao and a glass of red wine to cheers to the night. We are sitting by the window that has a nice waterview of Darling Harbour.
I came here with a big family and we ordered a bunch of seafood and traditional Chinese dishes. The lobster and noodles are a classic. The steamed fish was fresh and delicious.
the wagyu beef is really good!! Recommend to try. Love the lobster and salmon sashimi, very fresh. Lucky there is firework in darling harbour on Saturday night. The view is awesome and the waitress are very nice.
JESSA BONELLI Aka “thetravelbelle” 💃
+5
Are you in Sydney and craving some mouth-watering Chinese food? Save your feet from walking to Chinatown and head straight to Dragon Boat! The only Chinese restaurant in the Darling Harbour boasting panoramic views over the city’s skyline!
Here are the dishes that i enjoyed eating and i’m sure you’ll love them too!
The Peking Duck: It was so pleasurable watching the chef slice the duck! The skin was so crispy I wish I could have it all to myself! Ahaha! You can have the meat served in two ways, with a pancake or with strawberries & kiwis! Your choice!
Homemade beef rib in special brown sauce: I asked Chef Owen the secret to these juicy ribs even after being tossed with the fried rice and he wouldn’t tell me! Just imagine a fried rice that has a deep, beefy flavour fortified by bone marrow and seasonings….. AHhh! Just so good!
Steamed mussels and vermicelli with black bean sauce: I know few people who doesn’t like the taste of sea from the mussel, but I love it! Fret not, the dish has a Black bean sauce with tons of herbs which impart a savory Chinese flavor to the dish like no other!
Pan fried special fried rice wrapped in Omelette: I could not stop staring at this dish while they were tossing it right in front of me!!! A fluffy omelette covering a bed of scrumptious special fried rice! It was so tasty and full of flavour I can’t stop refilling my bowl!
Stir fried spanner crab with steamed & deep-fried Chinese bun on the side: If you are after an ultimate Crab Feast, Dragon Boat is the place to be ladies and gents! You will love the delightfully sweet and spicy gravy that layers the fresh crab meat! Dip the Chinese bun in there and lick that sticky finger! Ahhh this dish will make you walk out of the restaurant with a forever lingering satisfaction!
I would also love for you to try their Stir fried Prawn and Scallops, Steamed John Dory, Shandong style home-made buns, Lamb cutlet in secret sauce, The Winter Noodle and their Traditional rice ball cooked in rice wine!
See you there! 🥰
With a fantastic space with a view of darling harbour, perfect for Saturday night fireworks, it’s an ideal spot for tourists, corporate events and even locals who want to relax in privacy with their friends for the night for fun and entertainment.
I had the pleasure of dining in the private room of Dragon Boat Restaurant last week and it definitely exceeded my expectations on both quality and presentation!
We started off the feast with a stir fried egg white with seafood in milk, served in an open egg shell. This was a great version of the traditional dish which is creamy and rich but the way it was presented, was absolutely stunning!
Another stand out was the Peking duck 2 ways, the classic Peking duck on pancake was delish but it was the second version which had the duck sitting atop a Pringle with strawberry and kiwi fruit which really was way out there! It may not be for everyone but it really showed the creative flair the chef has and I cant wait to see what else he comes up with!
My two hero dishes of the night was the Singaporean Spanner Crab served with steamed and fried mantous (these are my absolute faves!) and the beef ribs.  The sauce for the crab was rich and hearty and so good when I used the mantous to soak up every last drop of the sauce! The  mountain of beef rib was also delicious and flavourful.
The venue itself has a stunning 270deg view of Darling Harbour, great during the day and perfect for weekend fireworks! They have a 24hr liquor licence so you can really relax and enjoy the day in front a beautiful view with gorgeous food and a drink!
Asian and fine dining? Words you wouldn’t normally find together but that’s exactly what you get at Dragon Boat Chinese Restaurant. Staff go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable and I would return for the customer service alone.
With a chef adorned in commendations, you can expect no less than grandeur on a plate. Flavours were incredible and I loved that there was inspiration drawn from different parts of Asia. The innovation and creativity behind the menu was exceptional but what I liked most was that there was a clear respect for the Asian roots of each dish.
My recommendations would be the Peking Duck in Chips with Strawberry and Kiwi Fruit, Homemade Beef Rib in Special Brown Sauce and Stir Fried Spanner Crab in Singapore Style.
If you'd like to read more of my reviews, please check out my Zomato page and visit @cynthiaeats_ on Instagram for more photos!
My thanks to Dragon Boat Chinese Restaurant and Hungry Diner for the invite.
Alexandra | Lalan_eats
+5
I had the pleasure of dining at Dragon Boat last week with a large group of friends in one of three private dining room spaces.
Stunning views of darling harbour, and on a Saturday night would be the perfect firework vantage point 😉🎆 Did I also mention the private rooms have karaoke! The perfect chance to bust out some moves and show off that voice of yours 👏
We had quite a banquette, starting with the Stir fried egg white with seafood in milk, served in an open egg shell. This dish really surprised me as I didnt know what to expect! A beautiful silky seafood was inside, and I recommend trying this one to start off your meal.
Next we had Peking Duck 2 ways, the first was served atop a pringle with strawberry and kiwi fruit and the second was served the traditional way in a pancake.
The pringle variation certainly had a modern twist to it and I enjoyed the creativity, but my favourite had to be the traditional way served with that beautiful Peking sauce 🙌
Steamed mussels with vermicelli noodles & black bean sauce, a very delicate dish with a great amount of flavour. This was one of my favorite dishes along with the egg & crab!
The Spanner Crab cooked in a Singapore style sauce, with steamed and fried Chinese buns is a must order!
A rich sauce with a hearty serving of crab meat and crab shells 🔥🦀
Last but not least, the desert was very delicious! The black sesame deep fried rice ball. A good flavour inside with a delicious stickiness inside.
Overall, beautiful staff and have to give a shout out to the chef & owner Jamie for hosting a lovely night with lots of laughs and giggles! Definitely would dine here again and I loved the decor and style of the venue, the function spaces are so pretty 😍
With the only 24-hour licence in Darling Harbour, Dragon Boat Chinese Restaurant is the perfect spot for a Chinese feast and/or drinks, no matter the time of day.
With sweeping views over Darling Harbour, Dragon Boat Chinese Restaurant is also home to two private dining rooms if you’re looking to take a special occasion dinner up a notch. This is actually my second private dining experience at Dragon Boat, and both times have been excellent!
We indulged in a delicious banquet thoughtfully prepared by chef Jing Wang (Owen), a true master of his craft. Highlights for me included the Peking Duck pancakes with melt-in-the-mouth crispy skin, carved right at the table; the stir-fried spanner crab swimming in a rich Singapore-style sauce, served with steamed and deep-fried Chinese buns; and the juicy steamed mussels with vermicelli and moreish, savoury black bean sauce.
If you're looking for a great dining experience in Darling Harbour, Dragon Boat Chinese is definitely one to consider. There's tons of seating options available catering from couples, to larger parties and even VIP rooms for that extra privacy. If you manage to get a seat by the window, you're treated to 270 degree views of the harbour. Ideal for the Saturday night fireworks.
The food was nothing short of amazing. Highlight of the night was easily the Singapore style spanner crab. Great flavours and big enough to feed our giant group. There's a host of other fantastic Chinese dishes on the menu - Peking duck, beef ribs, stir fried vegetables just to name a few.
Would easily recommend this restaurant to anyone.
Darling Harbour has a beautiful Chinese restaurant that you might miss if you're passing by through the mall. So keep your eyes open next time you're there.
I went to a private dining event here to try the Chef's signature dishes and I was pleasantly surprised.
This place is perfect if you're looking for an amazing view of the Harbour and if you're looking for a licensed place that opens til late.
I would highly recommend going with a group and booking a private VIP room as it even has karaoke !
Here's what we tried and it blew our minds because some of the things were of course very traditional but some others were so original too:
Entree
Stir fried egg white and seafood in milk
Caviar on the top
Peking duck two ways
Pancakes and chips with strawberry and kiwi
Steamed mussels and vermicelli with black bean sauce
Homemade beef rib in special brown sauce
Stir fried celery and mushroom
Stir fried spanned crab in Singapore style side with steamed and deep fried Chinese bun
Pan fried special fried rice wrapped in omelette
Dessert
Deep fried rice ball
chips on your dinner? I wasn't sure about how that would taste but the mix of the fruits, duck and the special sauce made it a complete success!
Duck was my absolute favourite, it was tasty and soft: On pancakes or on chips.
Last night I was fortunate enough to attend a private function and experience what Dragon boat is all about; exceptional service and high quality food, all of which created fantastic experiences and memories with a bunch of great people. We were able to indulge in a wide variety of dishes, all bringing their own special flavours and cooking technique to the table, dishes included: Peking duck, Singapore style spanner crab, mussels, beef rib dish (the standout), special fried rice, stir fried vegetables and more.
Dragon boat pride themselves on using high quality ingredients and executing stunning dishes using traditional Asian culinary techniques, this was clearly evident through the exceptional flavours and the presentation of dishes that Chef Owen and his team created.
The venue itself is full of beautiful décor and we were fortunate enough to dine in a private dining room which had beautiful harbour views, if you want to take your tastebuds on a rich flavoursome culinary experience, Dragon boat have you covered! Will be back again.
Hungry Diner
Food Blogger Australia
+5
Last night we got to enjoy some amazing culinary skills by Chef Jing Wang (Owen) From delicious entree, to creative mains like stir fry spanner crab, beef rib, steamed mussels, and Peking duck, Chef Jing definitely excited our taste buds.
This place is truly 5 star in service and food. For Chinese and Asian fusion dining in Sydney, choose Dragon Boat, the only Chinese restaurant in Darling Harbour, boasting panoramic views out over the city skyline and water and a 24 hour licence.
They specialise in live seafood, and use only the highest quality ingredients and traditional Asian culinary techniques in each premium gastronomic creation. It’s truly an experience in the true taste of the Orient.
The best Chinese venue in the Sydney CBD, It’s also the only Chinese fine dining restaurant in Darling Harbour with a 270 degree view of the harbour.
With alfresco dining, 220 seater inside and a 3 private x dining rooms, it’s perfect for any function or booking.
Jamie and Chef Erik are an amazing team and they really care for every patron that walks in the restaurant.
The menu is huge with amazing options and the wine list matches that quality of food.
The waiters all have such spirit and happiness when they serve you and are always up for a joke.
I love this pace!
Definitely impressed with the ambiance, very Chinese and a nice view of Sydney’s CBD & Darling Harbour. The food was good, the best was the Mongolian Lamb which always perfect. Only criticism, sweet and sour pork bit dry and prawns in satay sauce could use more satay, in saying that, it was still nice
Visited the place on a Saturday Night out randomly with my friend, and we both absolutely loved the food and ambience with the sea facing dining though we didn't get to experience the dining area.
Sir And Mlady Dine Out
+4
Dragon Boat Chinese RestaurantShops 445-451, Level 2, Harbourside Shopping Centre, 2-10 Darling Drive, Darling Harbour, Sydney. Eating at Darling Harbour means having to make the hard choice of where to go. We landed at Dragon Boat for a quick bite as Sir wanted to dine on duck - which isn’t at all unusual. It’s inside Harbourside Shopping Centre but gazes out over Darling harbour as most of the eateries here do. In this case they are up on the first floor.
What an absolute delight this place was! Great location with the best staff I’ve come across in a long time. They were all so polite and attentive, definitely five star service.
A friend and I came for dinner, we couldn’t decide what to order. We spotted a banquet option for 2, which only cost $30.00 per person - great value.
Best Chicken and Sweetcorn Soup I’ve had, wasn’t too thick and tasted delicious. Their Spring Rolls were ok (not spectacular), but they were definitely hand made in house. The Dim Sims were AMAZING! They packed a massive amount of flavour in a little morsel, loved them.
Mains were both great, we had Beef in Oyster Sauce and Satay Chicken, which was accompanied with Fried Rice. The Beef was the stand-out, it was so tender and the sauce was well balanced.
I really enjoyed my experience at Dragon Boat, and I will definitely return in the near future.
A picture perfect location right in the centre of darling harbour, over looking the harbour along with the bustling crowds on a Saturday night. The interior is filled with round tables and oriental decorations and furniture, service was great and a big shout out to the restaurant manager William who looked after us that night! The food was delicious, with generous portions and quality food, we recommend the pork ribs, Peking duck pancake.
Great food with waterfront views- what more do we need to say!
Authentic Chinese restaurant inside Harbourside shopping centre at Darling Harbour. The location means there are beautiful views of the harbour and they also have private rooms for groups. We loved all the dishes we ordered such as the wonton in chilli oil, white bait coated with salty duck egg yolk, sticky rice, crispy duck with taro and stir fried seafood noodles. Our favourite being the duck and sticky rice, not found in many Chinese restaurants or else not made as well so definitely worth a try.
Really nice food. And very attentive and warm service. Plus the priceless view of darling harbour. It was a wonderful dining experience. Will definitely come back and bring family and friends over!
Cool evening outside and the last night of Vivid, we had an outdoor table on the balcony overlooking Darling Harbour. Inside there was an event taking place which was fully booked with lots of people having a jovial time with their banquet.
The service was good and made sure we were looked after.
We started off with a BBQ Plate which had roast duck, bbq pork, beef, and jellyfish. It was a nice starter. We then received our main dishes of Fried Rice, Beef, Prawns, and Mushrooms. The rice was the perfect vessel for the all the other dishes. The beef was tender and flavourful. The mushrooms were something different and had a nice taste to it.
Thank you to Thewhereto for having me at this dinner and to the restaurant for hosting us.
Dragonboat Chinese Restaurant must have one of the best locations around. Situated on the second level of the Harbourside Shopping Centre, if you get one of the prized seats on the balcony, you can enjoy the panoramic views of Darling Harbour, the Sydney Skyline as well as fireworks on weekends. At the moment you also benefit from the seeing the Vivid lights.
Came here for dinner with my partner during Vivid Sydney period,where we got to enjoy our dinner with amazing view!The food are tasty and the floor staff are friendly!
Classic Chinese dishes served with darling harbour views! I liked the salt n pepper squid Chinese spinach with house sauce and the pork dumplings.
Dragon Boat at Harbourside is great if you crave Chinese food at Cockle Bay. Loving the view too! We ordered vegetable fried rice, lamb cutlet served in a martini, salt and pepper calamari and stir fry kailan. The handmade Pork dumpling is so delicious too!
Great place for dining in with family friends. We had our meals with Jasmine Tea.
I have been to hundreds of restaurants in a multitude of cities across dozens of countries and have to say that Dragon Boat presented me one of the most uniquely bizarre experiences of them all.
The view is great, but certainly not unique to the area, which is wonderful.
The service was solid, and in fact, almost traditionally Chinese.
The wine list was sparse, with high quality choices, but certainly at a premium.
None of that is bizarre. What is bizarre is, before the end of your dinner, being asked if you would please move out onto the balcony because it's SALSA NIGHT. At the CHINESE restaurant. With a DJ. And people of all kinds wandering in to dance salsa. THAT is worth the price of admission.
So summary - food: ok. Salsa: outstanding. Experience:one of a kind.
The meal was quite exquisite, thoroughly enjoyed it, great food, friendly service, and a great atmosphere, outstanding views of darling harbour. Highly recommended to anyone who is looking for a great night!
Dragon boat does quality Chinese food, which was very fresh yet a little bit bland for me. The outdoor seating offers good views of the Sydney harbour. The lobster is presented beautifully and delicious (and expensive!)
I had a beautiful night with friends in Dragon Boat restaurant . The feeling just like home. Lovely staff with professional services. Coffee is always good after my dessert, especially after Red bean crepe. Waygu is just melted in my mouth and the presentation in rock glass is looks fabulous.
Absolutely adore this fine dinning restaurant 😍
Been coming here for years and it never fails to impress me every time. The service is well-presented and orientated. One of my favourite things about this place it has secluded VIP rooms with amazing harbour views, allowing us to enjoy our delicious food amongst the gorgeous city-vibe harbour. A must-try is the individual lamb cutlets served in martini cups, my absolute obsession. A tip though, make sure to tell them to make it less spicy. Even as a spice-loving woman myself, it was a tad chilly for me to take. Nevertheless, its a must try.
I rate it 5/5, I will be back :)
wait for me cutlet!
Fantastic location with city skyline. Very busy on Saturday night. Food presentation is great. I love seafood especially snow crab with garlic and butter.
Had a good time in Dragon Boat as my friend recommend peking duck and lamb cutlet. I love the way they present lamb cutlet in the martini cup. A great location with an amazing view. I am definitely will come back.
Dragon boat is fantastic. The crisp duck pancakes are delicious. As are the prawn dumplings. The view is fantastic and service was amazing from Tom.
The best thing about this restaurant is Tom; a funny, attentive, and friendly waiter, with some of the best service I've experienced. The view was beautiful, overlooking the harbour, and the food complimented that nicely.
Great meal, great value and very attentive. Although it was late on a Sunday, I was surprised at the welcoming and food quality. Nice, modern and ideal location. Worth a return visit, would like to see how they handle a busy crowd.
Had a great night in Dragon Boat-- Darling Harbour. The food is tasty, i love the peking duck and snow crab in garlic&butter sauce. i am sure i will go back again for the lobster sashimi
Dragon Boat Chinese Restaurant is the only one Chinese Restaurant in Darling Harbour. Fireworks on every Sat. night. The special car park rate is available in the wilson car park on 100 Murray St. Pyrmont --very convenient. I love peking duck and lamb cutlets.
This is also a very good venue for wedding and corporate functions.
Lovely Meal. I have had a hankering for a nice Chinese meal for a while and Dragon Boat definitely satisfied.
We enjoyed Pork Dumplings (6), Special Fried Rice (plenty of those mini prawns!), Singapore Noodles and Satay Chicken, which was ample food for two adults and two small children. The dishes were mildly spiced, which is no surprise considering our choice and they were all suitable for the children who were not familiar with Chinese food.
Service was excellent. Friendly and kind and I appreciated that they found suitable bowls and cutlery for the youngest member of our group who struggles with adult - size forks and spoons!
It was our least expensive dinner in Darling Harbour (including alcohol and soft drinks) but we were certainly replete when we left. Delicious!
A very good Chinese restaurant! Never have I had better Chinese food than here in Sydney.
I'm Sydney born Chinese and can honestly say this one is very different from all the other Chinese restaurants in Sydney, because they use high quality ingredients and know how to cook! Will definitely be back again!
Been here a few times and love the food everytime ! I'm very fussy and this is one if the best and cleanest Chinese resteraunts I have been to !
David Richard Paulsen
+4.5
What a great restaurant, I'd say fantastic but they keep forgetting our Chinese tea. I can highly recommend the Pork Ribs Salt and Pepper, the Special Fried Rice, Mongolian Beef and the Jellyfish.
Dragon Boat Chinese Restaurant
+5
A fantastic set menu for Mel cap! Watch the racing with amazing view. What are you waiting for? Welcome to Dragon boat Chinese restaurant
Food was good, portion good size and service very good. Ordered too much and they asked if we would like to box the left overs, we did! Also great view at night.
Love Dragon Boat. I absolutely loved this restaurant. The views amazing. Waitress is very friendly and helpful. She recommend the Pork Ribs which is one of my favorite dishes. Yummy Yummy. The wasabi beef is the best beef I had in Syd.
Fantabulous. I absolutely loved this place. Yes its pricey and not your run of the mill cheap chinese, but you are getting the best quality ingredients and the food was superb and the service was attentive, as soon as your glass was nearing empty you were offered another drink (annoying when that doesnt happen) and equally plates were cleared and next course brought with exact timing.
Highly recommend the Peking Duck and the Hokien Rice (huge scallops and other seafood in it, absolutely heavenly as a meal on its own).
I highly recommend, its a special place I will visit regularly and if you appreciate good quality food, I think you may love it too.
I have been to Dragon Boat for dinner twice now and both times have been excellent!! There are two beautiful private dining rooms upstairs, with sweeping views of Darling Harbour (and even karaoke!)
I visited most recently last week and indulged in a delicious Chinese banquet featuring beautiful, traditional flavours with some added modern flair. Highlights for me included the Peking Duck pancakes with melt-in-the-mouth crispy skin, carved right at the table; the stir-fried spanner crab swimming in a rich Singapore-style sauce, served with steamed and deep-fried Chinese buns; and the juicy steamed mussels with vermicelli and moreish, savoury black bean sauce.
The service was impeccable and we had a great night – thank you Dragon Boat Chinese Restaurant!
If you're looking for a great dining experience in Darling Harbour, Dragon Boat Chinese is definitely one to consider. There's tons of seating options available catering from couples, to larger parties and even VIP rooms for that extra privacy. If you manage to get a seat by the window, you're treated to 270 degree views of the harbour. Ideal for the Saturday night fireworks.
The food was nothing short of amazing. Highlight of the night was easily the Singapore style spanner crab. Great flavours and big enough to feed our giant group. There's a host of other fantastic Chinese dishes on the menu - Peking duck, beef ribs, stir fried vegetables just to name a few.
Would easily recommend this restaurant to anyone.
Overall I really enjoyed the Chinese banquet at Dragonboat Restaurant. My favourite dishes were the crab soup with that delicious and complex spiced soup and also that beef. The duck is also really tasty if you love duck. I also enjoy the waterside views at Darling Harbour.
For full blog post and more photos, go to Weekend Food Escapes
Last night I was fortunate enough to attend a private function and experience what Dragon boat is all about; exceptional service and high quality food, all of which created fantastic experiences and memories with a bunch of great people. We were able to indulge in a wide variety of dishes, all bringing their own special flavours and cooking technique to the table, dishes included: Peking duck, Singapore style spanner crab, mussels, beef rib dish (the standout), special fried rice, stir fried vegetables and more.
Dragon boat pride themselves on using high quality ingredients and executing stunning dishes using traditional Asian culinary techniques, this was clearly evident through the exceptional flavours and the presentation of dishes that Chef Owen and his team created.
The venue itself is full of beautiful décor and we were fortunate enough to dine in a private dining room which had beautiful harbour views, if you want to take your tastebuds on a rich flavoursome culinary experience, Dragon boat have you covered! Will be back again.
I had the pleasure of dining at Dragon Boat last week with a large group of friends in one of three private dining room spaces.
Stunning views of darling harbour, and on a Saturday night would be the perfect firework vantage point 😉🎆 Did I also mention the private rooms have karaoke! The perfect chance to bust out some moves and show off that voice of yours 👏
We had quite a banquette, starting with the Stir fried egg white with seafood in milk, served in an open egg shell. This dish really surprised me as I didnt know what to expect! A beautiful silky seafood was inside, and I recommend trying this one to start off your meal.
Next we had Peking Duck 2 ways, the first was served atop a pringle with strawberry and kiwi fruit and the second was served the traditional way in a pancake.
The pringle variation certainly had a modern twist to it and I enjoyed the creativity, but my favourite had to be the traditional way served with that beautiful Peking sauce 🙌
Steamed mussels with vermicelli noodles & black bean sauce, a very delicate dish with a great amount of flavour. This was one of my favorite dishes along with the egg & crab!
The Spanner Crab cooked in a Singapore style sauce, with steamed and fried Chinese buns is a must order!
A rich sauce with a hearty serving of crab meat and crab shells 🔥🦀
Last but not least, the desert was very delicious! The black sesame deep fried rice ball. A good flavour inside with a delicious stickiness inside.
Overall, beautiful staff and have to give a shout out to the chef & owner Jamie for hosting a lovely night with lots of laughs and giggles! Definitely would dine here again and I loved the decor and style of the venue, the function spaces are so pretty 😍
Last night we got to enjoy some amazing culinary skills by Chef Jing Wang (Owen) From delicious entree, to creative mains like stir fry spanner crab, beef rib, steamed mussels, and Peking duck, Chef Jing definitely excited our taste buds.
This place is truly 5 star in service and food. For Chinese and Asian fusion dining in Sydney, choose Dragon Boat, the only Chinese restaurant in Darling Harbour, boasting panoramic views out over the city skyline and water and a 24 hour licence.
They specialise in live seafood, and use only the highest quality ingredients and traditional Asian culinary techniques in each premium gastronomic creation. It’s truly an experience in the true taste of the Orient.
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