Delicious food! We had to wait 20 minutes to be seated on a Saturday night. Waited while seated at the bar. Bar staff were very knowledgeable and crafted excellent cocktails! I highly recommend. read more

If you're looking for delicious and authentic dim sum in Portland, Empire Chinese Kitchen is definitely worth a visit! It may not be tucked away in a traditional Chinatown, but the food absolutely delivers. The restaurant was very clean, and the service was fantastic from the moment I walked in. I tried the Peking duck bao, crystal shrimp dumplings, hot and sour soup, beef chow foon, and everything was delicious. The bao was soft and pillowy with flavorful duck inside, and the crystal shrimp dumplings were delicate, fresh, and packed with flavor. I love finding places that serve authentic Asian cuisine, and Empire Chinese Kitchen was a great find. There's street parking available nearby, and whether you're already a dim sum fan or looking to try something different while in Portland, I'd definitely recommend stopping in. Authentic, yummy, friendly service, and a place I'll gladly visit again! read more

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Empire Chinese Kitchen was an exceptional surprise on our travel day from one coastal town to our next stay. Upon our arrival , we were seated immediately and welcomed by our friendly server, Conner. Our family always welcomes the opportunity to try a new dim sum restaurant. Our order included the Lobster Rangoons, Eggplant, Bacon Fried Rice, Kung Pao Chicken, Soup Dumplings, Steamed Pork Dumplings and Shrimp Har Gow. All items were incredible. Empire Chinese Kitchen delivers in all areas with exceptional service, quality food and a nice casual atmosphere. read more

Last night best night and we ended our trip with dinner at Empire Chinese Kitchen and I'm so glad we did. We came in on Saturday night knowing we would have to wait so we went to the bar. They had a special cocktail that night and it was so good I wish I could remember what it was called but you have to try whatever their specialty drink of the night is. Since we had a large party we ordered a lot because everything sounds so good so we did a bunch of Dim Sum and a few mans as well. We went with: Empire Eggrolls Lobster Rangoons Char Siu Baos Spicy Pork Belly Buns Pork Potsticks Shanghai Soup Dumplings Shu Mai Curry Udon Kung Pao Chicken Honestly everything was great but the stand outs for me were the Lobster Rangoons, Char Siu Baos, Pork Potsticks, Curry Udon, and the Kung Pao Chicken. First of Lobster Rangoons I mean how do you not. Portland Maine being Lobster Paradise this just makes sense and is a must try staple here. Just takes your normal Chinese Crab Rangoon to the next level. The Char Siu Baos where the best BBQ Pork Bun I have ever had. I know these can be hit or miss sometimes but Empire it doing it right truly the best I have had. The Pork Potsticks were also great. A top 3 dumpling I have had. I honestly wasn't expecting much but these were amazing. The Curry Udon was kind of a funny story. I said we should try this and my friends like me know it was vegan but for once that didn't bother me. This was great and so full of flavor. Plus you can't go wrong with Udon. Kung Pao Chicken is always my go to and this one takes the cake. The Chicken is lighty battered and so full of flavor. One of the best I have ever had. Honestly you can't go wrong with anything we had at Empire Chinese and I would 100% go back and do it all again. I'll end this review the way we started dinner. Lobsta Goooooonnnnsss! read more

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I still have memories of this meal it was that good! The atmosphere was fantastic - chic modern interior with He-Man playing in the background (iconic) and that nice fancy dimmed lighting. The service was excellent, with some real passion and care in the way the food was explained. The food itself? So so good. Those noodles were absolutely fantastic, no notes. They were just so flavorful and delicious and I want to go back to Portland just to have them again. Who knew Maine could do Chinese food so well! read more

Empire Chinese Kitchen - Noodles, tofu bao buns, Chinese Eggplant - Dim Sum Near Me - Portland, Maine

The husband and I walked in while waiting for a performance at One Longfellow Square. It's been over 10 years since either of us had been to Empire, and we were blown away by the service, ambiance, and food! As a bariatric patient I can't eat too much in one go, so we opted to go with dumplings and drinks, and it was totally the way to go. Drinks: * Strawberry Mojito: sweet, flavorful, and not over powering on the mint. 10/10 from the husband. * Margarita: sour, strong, and they were so wonderful to make it a passion fruit one for me as well. Just a bit small for me. 9/10 Food: * Shanghai soup dumplings: soft and flavorful. Full of filling, but lacking in soup base so it didn't really hit the spot. 7/10 * Steamed pork dumplings: large and in charge! The rice wrapper was a lovely texture but too delicate, resulting in completely falling apart. 8/10 * Garlic bok choy: Converted my husband to actually enjoying bok choy instead of questioning it at every turn. Only wishing it was more garlic forward! 8/10 Go to Empire Chinese Kitchen for a lovely evening out for food or drink! You won't be disappointed. read more

Empire Chinese Kitchen - Strawberry mojito Margarita - Dim Sum Near Me - Portland, Maine

This is an awesome little restaurant. Its got plants everywhere and cool asian inspired trellises for them to climb on - there is a good mix of high top and low top seating, a bar area that looks like it could be part of a speakeasy - dark, and eclectic , anyways, while I appreciate all that - how did the food stack up? 3 things to go over - Lobster rangoon, Duck Bao Buns and Orange beef. Lobster rangoon, order them yesterday. They're absolutely amazing. Little sweet, little tangy, rich, very light exterior, plenty of filling; they checked all the boxes. I wish an order came with double! (I wouldn't judge if you put in a double order). The Duck Bao, for me, would be a pass for next time. They were good- just not standout. The bao bun itself was very nice and pillowy, just as you'd want, so they are working with a great foundation. I just wanted a little more out of the flavor for the duck. Maybe it could have used some freshness in there, there was a touch of scallion and some soy based sauce in there but could have benefited from some veg like shredded carrot or daikon or something else. Either that or it would have needed to lean even harder into the umami, caramel- deep flavors. Onto the orange beef. I didn't know how to feel about this when it was first put in front of me. The portion seemed okay, but I realized as I kept eating, the pile of beef wasn't going down as quick as I thought it would (good problem to have!) the beef was crisp, the orange flavor was tangy and sweet - it was really tasty. Beef wasn't tough but also wasn't super tender. Not good nor bad. My only complaint here is that there could have been a little more bok choy and the rice was not very easy to eat with chopsticks. It was a jasmine rice from what it seemed and it didn't have any starch to stick together at all. To pick it up I was having to press the beef into the rice to stick it all together. Not super easy to eat but maybe its just a me problem. read more

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Food is ok, but too expensive. For an adult, I have to eat 3 times of this, which worth 63 to get full. So if you have a small stomach, highly recommend, is you are a normal adult, do not come. Will never come again. read more

Empire Chinese Kitchen - this size for $21. Super expensive. - Dim Sum Near Me - Portland, Maine

We had a wonderful dinner experience here. Good service and a pleasant atmosphere. We ordered a bunch of food in waves so that we could enjoy things as they came out. An excellent third stop on our impromptu culinary tour of Portland, and our party grew from two to four. I had the Shanghai cowboy cocktail, the bourbon hits, and you can definitely taste the mint more than the guava. All the foods in order of my preference, this was a tough list to rank because everything had great flavor and came out hot!! Lobster rangoon: yes, I would love to have another order of these! Great flavor, nice crisp wonton, just a wonderful rangoon experience! Pork pot stickers: mmm, love me some pot stickers, and these lived up to my expectations, great flavor and texture! Sa cha chicken skewers: so very tender, great flavor, would gladly eat again! Garlic meatball skewers: good flavor, nice dipping sauce, happy we added these to our selection. Shanghai soup dumplings: in general a fun food item, great flavor and they were highly recommended by the everyone who suggested we eat here. Mongolian beef: the beef had great flavor, the broccoli was cooked properly, not mushy, the onions were well caramelized; delicious! Har gow: good flavor, nice steamed dumplings, glad we tried them! Peking duck buns: my friend was in love with these, it was good, but not something I was immediately obsessed with. More than enough food for the three of us adults! The toddler had an order of steamed noodles. I definitely forgot a few photos, but the food was just so good!! read more

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Two Words: BEEF BAO I have NOT stopped thinking or talking about these buns since I had them weeks ago. They are PERFECT. Best buns I've ever had... The texture of the bun is spot on AND it's pan fried on one side. I've never had pan fried buns and it definitely changed my life. The beef filling is extremely flavorful and juicy. read more

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This place was highly recommended. Great place! Great food, great service, great value! Kathryn was the best! A+++

OMG. Now I get the Empire hype. Empire is known as one of the best spots in Portland for Chinese food, and now I understand why. We finally visited during the winter and were reminded why I usually avoid going in the summer. It was packed on a Wednesday, and they sadly do not take reservations. Everything we had was phenomenal. The menu is extensive, split between shareable small plates and larger plates. We went the family style route with small plates so we could try more and I am so glad we did because everything was so freaking good. We ordered the Chinatown roast pork, garlic green beans, Peking duck buns, spicy pork belly buns, Shanghai soup dumplings, and the garlic meatball. I still cannot pick a favorite, but I have to say their pork dishes are some of the best I have had. We also loved the ambiance. It felt cozy and tucked in, and the space is much more spacious inside than I expected. Service was absolutely fantastic. We cannot wait to go back. read more

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Great restaurant with great food!! We enjoyed the char siu pork, orange beef, chive and shiitake dumplings and spring rolls. All very good!! Clara our server was spot on. Great personality !! Very clean restaurant with a great vibe!! Photos below. read more

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Always a great experience. Friendly staff delicious food and fun drinks. They have changed the floor plan a bit to allow for more seating. The orange beef is my favorite read more

Empire Chinese Kitchen - Dumplings - Dim Sum Near Me - Portland, Maine

I think I am a one hit wonder here at Empire. I mean, I order the GF Broccoli and Broad Noodles and garlic green beans every. single. time because I am never disappointed! I honestly do not know how they do it. So good every time. I've tried to duplicate at home and can't. The service was great. Friendly, attentive and fast. Sitting at the bar along Congress St means great people watching. Honestly, I don't think I've ever sat elsewhere which is fine with me. read more

Empire Chinese Kitchen - Broccoli and Broad Noodle - Dim Sum Near Me - Portland, Maine

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We stopped in for dinner before going to a hockey game at the Cross Insurance Arena and (somehow) had no wait to get a table for four! The server was very nice, the vibe was peaceful but engaging and the food was 10/10! I have tried to go here several times before and you're typically met with a long wait (no option for reservations). I think the key is to get in there early, before the popular dinner-time rush! Looking forward to going back in the future! read more

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We got reservations for 4 people with a wait time of an hour. When we got the text to return for our table the host told me I ordered a table for 2 when I did not. He was very kind and understanding - I asked the wait time for 4 people and he said 20 min. I asked if it was ok to wait at the bar and we did. We ended up staying there and enjoying our bartender, Ashley, while relating over our experience of the other rude customer that was there. Honestly it turned our entire experience around. The rude customer yanked a chair out of my partners hand and ignored the first come first serve policy while being unfriendly to the Ashley. Besides being at the mercy of the public, the food was delectable and the drinks were evenly poured. The atmosphere was cozy & the music fit the vibe of the establishment. Would recommend and definitely will be back! read more

Empire Chinese Kitchen - Cake! - Dim Sum Near Me - Portland, Maine

I hadn't been to Empire since before the pandemic, so I was excited to finally revisit! They're smaller than they look from the outside, so expect a wait. It was easy to join the waitlist though!: I just gave my name and party size at the host stand, they told me the wait time, texted me immediately to let me know I was on the waitlist, and then texted me when my table was ready (with a bit of a grace period for us to get back over there from the other restaurant we were having drinks at). The staff here is an 11/10. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, thoughtful, and welcoming. Thank you to our server for going out of their way to give us space to chat and catch-up; they knew how to "read the room" PERFECTLY. For me, the food wasn't as craveworthy as I remember it being. I got: + Garlic Green Beans ($8 for the small): wok fried with grilled onion and tamari, these are A MUST when you're here. If you're with someone who says they don't like green beans, this is the dish that will change their mind entirely! So flavorful and cooked to perfection. - Spring Rolls ($7): two rolls filled with cabbage and carrot that are unfortunately mostly layers and layers of crispy, very-fried wrapper with little to no filling. - Chive Shiitake Dumplings ($10): three pan-fried dumplings filled with corn and celery; I found them to be soggy, slightly greasy, and underwhelming. I think the sauce is doing most of the heavy lifting regarding any flavor. +/- Broccoli & Broad Noodles ($18): beansprouts, carrot, broccoli, wide rice noodles, and tamari; for the price, these leave a lot to be desired. If the broccoli had been slightly more cooked, the noodles slightly more saucy, and overall the quantity to be more plentiful... then yes, so satisfying. But these just slightly miss the mark for me. + Dragon's Milk ($14): jasmine infused gin with Thai basil and pandan coconut cream; this compliments everything on the menu. No, it's not too sweet or too tropical or too herby. It's just a lovely little concoction unlike anything else in the city! It's a reliable spot in Portland for dietary restrictions: the menu is clearly labeled with what's gluten-free and vegan. It's not a place I need to return to again soon, but it was nice to revisit it after all this time. read more

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Yes yes yes!! The oldest Chinese restaurant in Portland has never been a disappointment for us and it still reins true! Fast, courteous service as always. It's great to be able to sit and eat here. (Post Covid was take out only) Street and meter parking are close by. The food is always amazing I suggest small plates and sharing read more

Empire Chinese Kitchen - Drink menu - Dim Sum Near Me - Portland, Maine

So good to be back to empire since the pandemic. We went on a a Friday and it filled up quickly. Staff were attentive and friendly. We ordered a boat load of little bites, all the dumplings and steamed buns, garlic green beans, eggplant and the orange beef, sauce on the side. We also tried their bacon friend rice. All were delicious with proper wok haei. The place hasn't changed since before the pandemic. Very fun vibe. Not too many seating so get there early. read more

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Last minute walk in and enjoyed Garlic Meatballs, Beef Bao, Char Siu Bao and green beans. Everything was hot, tasty and enjoyable! Our server was pleasant and attentive, even though we came in later. Solid choice! read more

Empire Chinese Kitchen - Beans and meatballs - Dim Sum Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Such cozy amazing place, pork bellies top notch. The buns second to none. Highly recommend

I am used to traditional Chinese food but this was a nice switch up! Everything was great, but some better than others. My top dishes were the char siu, pork belly bao, and walnut shrimp. They were so unique and full of flavor. I like that things come out as they're ready so it is hot and ready to be shard. The soup dumplings and potstickers were not my favorite because they tasted like frozen isle items from Trader Joe's that I have had before. They weren't anything special in my opinion. If I come back I would definitely lean toward to bao/buns! read more

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It was overall very good. Dumplings were great. But it was very pricey for small portions. That's all.

The portions were surprisingly small for what they charge, and the menu was mostly carbs. Everything was also way too salty... It honestly felt like eating a kindergarten lunch. What made it worse was that we arrived just one minute before opening. The staff at the front clearly saw us standing outside, but still made us wait until the exact opening time. It was raining and freezing outside, which made the whole experience even more frustrating. read more

I ordered the Curry Udon with tofu and a side of garlic green beans. Yum! This place is easy to get to, very nice looking & welcoming on the outside. Serving sizes were perfect with even a little left over, that is refreshing. This meal was packed with fresh, cooked just right vegetables. Wow, what an amazing meal! I ordered take out, the text said ready in 30 min, it was ready in 15 min. I walked with my dog to pick it up. They were kind enough to bring it out for me with a smile! I will definitely be going back here. read more

This is Cantonese style food for the most part. It is well executed and they know about "wok-hei" for their fried wide rice noodles. The restaurant has always been full when I have been there and it feels a little tightly spaced but their popularity is a good sign, right? I think their prices are a little high but that's because there is not much competition for good Chinese food in the Greater Portland area. read more

So glad we stopped into Empire Chinese Kitchen today! Great food, great service and a neat atmosphere. We really enjoyed the soup dumpling. The dumplings could have used a little more soup in them, but still really good! read more

Empire Chinese Kitchen - Dim Sum Near Me - Portland, Maine

Did this place change ownership? Just not as good as i remember. Beef and pork so dry. Rice seemed very old and stale. Green beans were bland. Even bacon fried rice was dry and lacked flavor. Very disappointed. Dumplings were good but did taste different read more

Visited on a busy Saturday night with an hr wait and it was worth it! Shared a few small plates and the bacon fried rice and couldn't be happier! Sat off to the side of the bar with a street view and had fast and very good service! Take out or dine in, you will be happy read more

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In Maine for vacation and this restaurant was on the top of our list. Staff was great, quick and efficient but not overbearing. Restaurant resides in the building where the first full service Chinese restaurant opened in the area. Cool vibes in the updated version. Food knocked it out of the park! Everything had such amazing taste and flavor. First time trying buns and I'm hooked. Also every Chinese restaurant should have bacon fried rice. Go check this place out read more

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I've been here several times -- for work lunches and with friends -- and I'd say the food here is solid. Not great, not bad, just solid. Somewhere in between a 3.5-4 stars for me. Empire is an Asian-fusion spot, with stylish decor and efficient service. There are small plate options to share, and also larger entrees if each diner wants to order their own thing. I've tried a bunch of things on their menu at this point, and I'd say the best is still their green beans, which is also their best-known dish. It's blistered, garlicky, and delicious. As for the rest: the flavor profiles often lean too salty or too sweet for me. The lobster rangoon is pretty good, and everything else is just fine. The bacon fried rice is alright, but there is no wok hei or any extra flavor pizzazz that I couldn't conjure up at home. The eggplant and the curry udon were both too sweet for me, and even the string beans are on the cusp of being too salty. Prices are on the higher side. One big plus is that this place is relatively vegan- and vegetarian-friendly: they do a good job of marking which dishes are vegan or vegetarian on the menu. Otherwise, I'd say stop by if you're in the area and looking for a solid lunch spot. But I can't say I understand the hype -- I've heard the wait times can approach or exceed an hour during the summer months. read more

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Great selection of vegan and vegetarian options. It wouldn't hurt to change it up once in a while, though. It's always packed and they don't take reservations for less than four people. It's always pretty loud when I've been there, but it's not overwhelming. read more

very good, the matcha green tea cheesecake just tastes like plain cheesecake tho. why do my reviews have to be longer i only have so much to say... read more

Empire Chinese Kitchen - cheesecake - Dim Sum Near Me - Portland, Maine

Empire Egg Roll on a crispy stroll, tightly wrapped and rolled. Sa Cha Chicken on a skewer so neat, Smoky, savory, dancing with heat. Szechuan cucumbers cool and bright, Garlic and chili strike just right. Flounder tempura, golden and light, Crunch in the day, disappear at night. Chinese eggplant, sweet-tangy flair, Silky and bold with garlic in the air. Green beans snap with a garlicky gleam, Simple, roasted, a perfect dream. Orange beef glows in citrus glaze, Sticky and crisp in a sesame haze. Baby bok choy with a gentle sauté, A peppery whisper to finish the play. Friendly, kind server, and great drinks to boot. C- ya later Toot toot. read more

My husband and I have been here two times and it's been excellent. Soup dumplings and boa buns are excellent. The bacon fried rice is absolutely amazing. Our favorite thing though is the broad and beef noodles, definitely recommend trying it! The staff is friendly and the food comes out promptly. The restaurant feels bright, with lots of windows. They are typically playing upbeat music. The location is also near several bars which makes a night out easy! read more

Empire Chinese Kitchen - Beef and broad noodles - Dim Sum Near Me - Portland, Maine

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We came here as a larger group and had dinner family style. There was kind of a wait, we had about a 60 min wait. Servers were nice and food started to come out pretty quickly after we ordered. Unfortunately our table did not have a lot of space to hold the food, but the kitchen and staff did good at trying to stagger it so we could get through most of the food before new dishes came out. Sometimes it took a little while for someone to pick up the empty dishes, so they kind of sat at my end of the table until we could wave someone down to take it away. We ordered a bunch of different things, and it was good. I especially like honey walnut shrimp so it was a treat to have! Their shrimp was battered and fried well and the coating/sauce was good. Also, the garlic green beans were very good. The prices were pretty reasonable for the dishes that we got. So I definitely would come back! read more

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Food was great. Portions were a little small. Best dim sum I've ever had. Definitely recommend it for takeout.

Would not recommend. Service wasn't good. I was never brought water or anything to drink even after asking. Food wasn't great either. There was one very nice gentleman but other than that, nobody seemed interested in helping our table. read more

Holy cow. It's a good thing I don't live closer to the Bacon Fried Rice. Wow. Everythin g we tried here was incredible. I was expecting an ordinary Chinese menu but Empire is elevated in a way that I wasn't expecting. read more