Craving Chinese food I did a cursory Google of what's available in Urmston. I feel like I've found a wee golden nugget here as it ticks several of our boxes:
Warm welcome - the mum of the family greeting us so warmly & giving advice on the menu (I would seriously eat the shredded chicken with sweet n sour chilli sauce any day of the week). She was lovely with everyone who came in - an older couple arrived after us who must be regulars as she gave them a quick cuddle, which I just find totally charming.
Easy Cantonese menu - all the familiar suspects are here: deep fried starters, noodles, Chinese curry etc. Exactly what I was craving!
Comfy - the decor brought be back to the Cantonese restaurant my family frequented back home (Scotland) in the 90s. I mean this in a seriously complementary way. I have a genuine love of places that don't try to over decorate / be modern / shabby chic or whatever. Expect dark cherry red carved chairs, paper table cloth, fish tank & ornaments. The perfect 90's throw back in fact, please don't change!!
We plumped for the sharing dim sum starter - wontons, seaweed, ribs, pork spring rolls, curried samosas and the BEST prawn toast I have ever had in my life. I can hear people tutting at me "prawn toast isn't real Chinese food". Well, try this & I doubt you will moan. The minced prawn was piled so high, it was like a doorstop wedge & it did not have that greasy, oily aftertaste which I've had in the past from other establishments - wish I had taken a better picture so you can get a better understanding of how amazing it was!
We then went for the shredded chicken (as per my new mums recommendation) & the beef curry with plain rice. The curry sauce was as you would expect, but with a richer & darker (slight cinnamon taste) which I loved. It reminded me of Japan Deli's (imo epic) Katsu curry sauce in Withington - in another review I will go into that in finer detail.
Have to give The Empire the full 5 stars, when we drove off we both agreed we would be back soon. It is our new favourite (& I would never have imagined myself cheating on Happy Seasons in China Town!) We are due a baby soon & you could just tell it's the type of place that would still welcome us warmly even with a pram (& I did spot the baby changing facilities in the immaculately clean ladies bathroom).
A note: We dined really early at 5:30 on a Saturday night, so just walked straight in - we did get the impression that the rest of the tables were booked however for the night. So may be best to call ahead...this could become your new favourite (out of town) Cantonese option. read more