Harden's survey result
Summary
The “excellent Chinese cuisine” – led by “exceptional and authentic Beijing duck” and “high-level dim sum” – makes nonsense of the usual rule that restaurants with spectacular views must be a rip off. On the 8th floor of the Royal Garden Hotel, with “fantastic vistas over Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park”, this consistent performer has bounced back in our food ratings this year. Even its most ardent fans concede it’s “not cheap”, mind, but their overall estimation? – “wonderful!”
Summary
“With such delightful views of Kensington Gardens, the food could so easily become secondary”, but the impressively glam 8th-floor of the “luxurious” Royal Garden Hotel has long been acknowledged as one of the capital’s best destinations thanks to its “consistently excellent” Chinese cuisine (“better than I had in Hong Kong!”). Its ratings came off the boil slightly this year however, amidst some unfamiliar accusations that “it’s going downhill and becoming very expensive”: “if this is the best Beijing Duck in town, then I’m the Emperor of China!”
Summary
“With such delightful views of Kensington Gardens, the food could so easily become secondary”, but the impressively glam 8th-floor of the “luxurious” Royal Garden Hotel has long been acknowledged as one of the capital’s best destinations thanks to its “consistently excellent” Chinese cuisine (“better than I had in Hong Kong!”). Its ratings came off the boil slightly this year however, amidst some unfamiliar accusations that “it’s going downhill and becoming very expensive”: “if this is the best Beijing Duck in town, then I’m the Emperor of China!”
Summary
“Exquisite Beijing duck” and “divine dim sum” are twin culinary highlights of this “top-class” Chinese, which occupies a “beautiful and comfortable” dining room on the eighth floor of Kensington’s Royal Garden Hotel. “The rare and privileged views across the park to Kensington Palace takes this place to another level”, though – “request a window seat!”
For 31 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Min Jiang, The Royal Garden Hotel?
Restaurant details
Min Jiang, The Royal Garden Hotel Restaurant Diner Reviews

"A mid week lunch time outing. Our third visit. If you want to impress somebody then this is the place to go. The view across the park is spectacular, on the day we visited we had clear blue skies and could see all of the major highlights of London. They push their house speciality "the duck" and yes we gave in (again !!) and said O.K. But this time we also chose a couple of starters. Prawn toast, a whole prawn on top of the toast, and the crispy pancakes.. lightest crispiest pastry ever. Wonderful !! p.s. as was the duck !! Couldn't fault the service.. wine mark up is high... but all in all worth it."
Prices
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Wine per bottle | £42.00 |
Filter Coffee | £3.50 |
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Service | 12.50% |
2-24 Kensington High St, London, W8 4PT
Number of Diners: | |
Required Time: | |
Opening hours
Monday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑10:30 pm |
Tuesday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑10:30 pm |
Wednesday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑10:30 pm |
Thursday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑10:30 pm |
Friday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑10:30 pm |
Saturday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑10:30 pm |
Sunday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑10:30 pm |
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