This was my first experience here and wow it was so good. The staff was so nice and helpful. Food was delicious hot and you get a lot for the money. It was served family style. I will say. I was not expecting 1 dish at a time to come out but it was a great experience. Definitely worth a try. I loved the pork fried rice. It was so fluffy and hot. Beef and broccoli was very good along with the General Tso’ chicken. But those pork fried dumplings were so so good.
Chinaitian
I found the portions to be small. I ordered walnut shrimp and it tasted like only vinegar, and for 25 dollars I just got 10 pieces of shrimp. Pricey. Walnut shrimp is one of my favorite dishes but this is the first time I had to force myself to finish it so I could be polite - The servers were polite and the venue was clean but I have had better in Albany. Maybe my dish was just an off plate
A. Rose
The manager, Kevin, and Emperor Gardens amazing staff went above and beyond for my family. We were a party of eight celebrating a birthday, and Kevin gave us our own private seating area and accommodated us in every way. The staff was very attentive to all of our requests and needs!
The food! I can’t say enough great things about the food we had! Highly recommend the sliced beef with scallions and the lobster dishes! This restaurant is the closest you can get to NYC/Flushing Queens traditional Chinese cooking! We also had many dumplings from the traditional steamed/fried pork and veggie options - and chicken with mixed vegetables, plain noodles for the kids, and orange chicken with broccoli.
The portions to the food are bountiful! You definitely get your moneys worth. Come hungry! Be sure to get the delicious Chinese sweet wine with the flower pedals in it! It tasted like candy.
Thank you again to the staff and Kevin for making our celebrations memorable and happy!
Lily Steve
It‘s not delicious, and the service is very bad.
D Theman
Good food and GREAT service!
Emmanuel Vélez Brito
Not surw why people have been providing less than 4 stars in the reviews and leaving positive feedback. Overall really nice food with authentic good flavor. One of the best chilli oils I have tried in asian restaurants. Beef lou mein was delicious and dumplings are also good!
Teresa
I can not say enough good things about this place. Not only is the staff wonderful and friendly but the food is out of this world! The portions are huge and you always feel like you got what more than what you paid for! We love to sit and have a cocktail while shopping and we always leave with leftovers. 15/10 will always recommend this place!!!
Igor Lensky
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ **Emperor Garden is a hidden gem you’ll want to bookmark, revisit, and rave about.**
**Atmosphere (A+)** Step inside and you’re instantly transported to old‑world Shanghai: glowing red lanterns float overhead, carved wooden eaves frame the ceiling, and exposed brick walls give the room a warm, rustic elegance. Soft jazz mingles with the gentle clink of glassware from the impressive tap‑lined bar, setting a relaxed yet sophisticated mood—perfect for everything from date night to a laid‑back dinner with friends.
**Food (Chef’s‑kiss)** The menu is a greatest‑hits tour of regional Chinese cooking. Highlights from our table:
* **Hand‑pulled Dan Dan Noodles**—springy noodles in a rich, sesame‑chili sauce with just the right numbing kick. * **Crispy Duck Bao**—pillowy buns hugging crackling duck skin and aromatic five‑spice. * **Mapo Tofu**—silky, fiery, and deeply flavorful; you’ll be spooning up every last drop of sauce. Portions are generous, spices beautifully balanced, and everything arrives piping hot.
**Drinks (Show‑stopper)** Behind the bar, dozens of gleaming taps pour both local craft brews and Asian imports, while the cocktail list riffs on classics with baijiu and jasmine infusions. Don’t miss the lychee‑ginger martini—bright, floral, and dangerously smooth.
**Service (Impeccable)** Staff are attentive without hovering, happy to guide you through the menu’s regional specialties, and quick to refill tea or suggest the perfect beer pairing.
**Value (5/5)** Considering the quality of ingredients, generous portions, and immersive décor, Emperor Garden offers exceptional bang for your buck. We left full, excited, and already planning our next visit.
**Bottom line:** If you crave authentic flavors wrapped in a stunning setting, Emperor Garden delivers in spades. Highly recommended!
random account
Some of the best food in Albany! The menu has many options from more Americanized style to more authentic offerings so there is something for everyone. The portions are big and one portion and appetizer is definitely enough to keep you full for the whole day. The prices are higher than other Chinese restaurants but the quality is much better so it is definitely worth paying especially because you are getting a lot of food. The pork with cilantro and the mapo tofu are especially good here and they do a good job with everything.
I will say I wish that the rice was free but the quality of food is really great and there isn’t any negatives besides the price but for the quality, service, and amount of food which means you probably don’t have to eat for the rest of the day, it is worth it.
Great place!
Mark L
Food was fast but literally found a chicken foot in my daughter's chicken and mushroom soup.
Great service food came out in less than 10 minutes got seated straight away great atmosphere food great. 10/10 would recommend
JX W
Great authentic Chinese food, beautiful decorations
Violet Kennedy
I had no clue this place would end up being such a stellar find! It’s god great food and it’s beautiful inside, the service is so kind and warm and welcoming. Incredible prices especially at lunch. This place is my new favourite Asian cuisine spot. Who’d have thought! I’ve worked in food industry for over ten years and I whole heartedly recommend. I’ll be back any chance I get. Originally wanted take out but so glad I decided to stay. Ask about bar.
Benny Woolbert
Authentic dishes. The price for a full meal (3+ dishes) can be steep, but the portion for each dish is HUGE. We had a meal for two and I brought back leftovers enough to stretch 3 more meals out of it, so in that sense the price per meal is very reasonable. The quality of food, service, and decor is also great.
Allison Ferguson-Fleming
The food here is excellent. The staff were very friendly. I neglected to take pictures because we ate it so fast. It's family style which I love because you can try a few things in one sitting. It was a great experience I recommend!!!
This was my first experience here and wow it was so good. The staff was so nice and helpful. Food was delicious hot and you get a lot for the money. It was served family style. I will say. I was not expecting 1 dish at a time to come out but it was a great experience. Definitely worth a try. I loved the pork fried rice. It was so fluffy and hot. Beef and broccoli was very good along with the General Tso’ chicken. But those pork fried dumplings were so so good.
I found the portions to be small. I ordered walnut shrimp and it tasted like only vinegar, and for 25 dollars I just got 10 pieces of shrimp. Pricey. Walnut shrimp is one of my favorite dishes but this is the first time I had to force myself to finish it so I could be polite -
The servers were polite and the venue was clean but I have had better in Albany. Maybe my dish was just an off plate
The manager, Kevin, and Emperor Gardens amazing staff went above and beyond for my family. We were a party of eight celebrating a birthday, and Kevin gave us our own private seating area and accommodated us in every way. The staff was very attentive to all of our requests and needs!
The food! I can’t say enough great things about the food we had! Highly recommend the sliced beef with scallions and the lobster dishes! This restaurant is the closest you can get to NYC/Flushing Queens traditional Chinese cooking! We also had many dumplings from the traditional steamed/fried pork and veggie options - and chicken with mixed vegetables, plain noodles for the kids, and orange chicken with broccoli.
The portions to the food are bountiful! You definitely get your moneys worth. Come hungry! Be sure to get the delicious Chinese sweet wine with the flower pedals in it! It tasted like candy.
Thank you again to the staff and Kevin for making our celebrations memorable and happy!
It‘s not delicious, and the service is very bad.
Good food and GREAT service!
Not surw why people have been providing less than 4 stars in the reviews and leaving positive feedback. Overall really nice food with authentic good flavor. One of the best chilli oils I have tried in asian restaurants. Beef lou mein was delicious and dumplings are also good!
I can not say enough good things about this place. Not only is the staff wonderful and friendly but the food is out of this world! The portions are huge and you always feel like you got what more than what you paid for! We love to sit and have a cocktail while shopping and we always leave with leftovers. 15/10 will always recommend this place!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ **Emperor Garden is a hidden gem you’ll want to bookmark, revisit, and rave about.**
**Atmosphere (A+)**
Step inside and you’re instantly transported to old‑world Shanghai: glowing red lanterns float overhead, carved wooden eaves frame the ceiling, and exposed brick walls give the room a warm, rustic elegance. Soft jazz mingles with the gentle clink of glassware from the impressive tap‑lined bar, setting a relaxed yet sophisticated mood—perfect for everything from date night to a laid‑back dinner with friends.
**Food (Chef’s‑kiss)**
The menu is a greatest‑hits tour of regional Chinese cooking. Highlights from our table:
* **Hand‑pulled Dan Dan Noodles**—springy noodles in a rich, sesame‑chili sauce with just the right numbing kick.
* **Crispy Duck Bao**—pillowy buns hugging crackling duck skin and aromatic five‑spice.
* **Mapo Tofu**—silky, fiery, and deeply flavorful; you’ll be spooning up every last drop of sauce.
Portions are generous, spices beautifully balanced, and everything arrives piping hot.
**Drinks (Show‑stopper)**
Behind the bar, dozens of gleaming taps pour both local craft brews and Asian imports, while the cocktail list riffs on classics with baijiu and jasmine infusions. Don’t miss the lychee‑ginger martini—bright, floral, and dangerously smooth.
**Service (Impeccable)**
Staff are attentive without hovering, happy to guide you through the menu’s regional specialties, and quick to refill tea or suggest the perfect beer pairing.
**Value (5/5)**
Considering the quality of ingredients, generous portions, and immersive décor, Emperor Garden offers exceptional bang for your buck. We left full, excited, and already planning our next visit.
**Bottom line:** If you crave authentic flavors wrapped in a stunning setting, Emperor Garden delivers in spades. Highly recommended!
Some of the best food in Albany! The menu has many options from more Americanized style to more authentic offerings so there is something for everyone. The portions are big and one portion and appetizer is definitely enough to keep you full for the whole day. The prices are higher than other Chinese restaurants but the quality is much better so it is definitely worth paying especially because you are getting a lot of food. The pork with cilantro and the mapo tofu are especially good here and they do a good job with everything.
I will say I wish that the rice was free but the quality of food is really great and there isn’t any negatives besides the price but for the quality, service, and amount of food which means you probably don’t have to eat for the rest of the day, it is worth it.
Great place!
Food was fast but literally found a chicken foot in my daughter's chicken and mushroom soup.
Restaurantji Recommends
Great service food came out in less than 10 minutes got seated straight away great atmosphere food great. 10/10 would recommend
Great authentic Chinese food, beautiful decorations
I had no clue this place would end up being such a stellar find! It’s god great food and it’s beautiful inside, the service is so kind and warm and welcoming. Incredible prices especially at lunch. This place is my new favourite Asian cuisine spot. Who’d have thought! I’ve worked in food industry for over ten years and I whole heartedly recommend. I’ll be back any chance I get. Originally wanted take out but so glad I decided to stay. Ask about bar.
Authentic dishes. The price for a full meal (3+ dishes) can be steep, but the portion for each dish is HUGE. We had a meal for two and I brought back leftovers enough to stretch 3 more meals out of it, so in that sense the price per meal is very reasonable. The quality of food, service, and decor is also great.
The food here is excellent. The staff were very friendly. I neglected to take pictures because we ate it so fast.
It's family style which I love because you can try a few things in one sitting.
It was a great experience I recommend!!!
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