How authentic can you get at Nine Dragons?

quikah

Mouseketeer
Joined
Sep 16, 2008
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188
I am aware that Nine Dragons is currently being remodeled and may be different once it reopens. just want to get some ideas on the old place.

I am making some plans for my trip in December with my parents and brother's family. My wife is Chinese, and I am almost positive she is going to be in some serious food withdrawals after a few days of the mostly American restaurants my less than adventurous parents pick out. :) This is prob our 15th time to DW (wife's first) and not once have we eaten there!

Most Chinese restaurants around us (SF bay area) have a Chinese and English menu which are usually pretty different, wonder if Nine Dragons is similar? Their English menu seems OK, some Americanized dishes and some more traditional ones. She would be happy with something off the fixed English menu, but if she could work out something off menu that would be awesome. I figure this would be a nice respite for her.

Is there some reason they don't serve duck? Seems pretty odd, only the cheap take-out places around here won't serve that. This kind of lowers my expectations.
 
Well - we are just about done trying all the countries in Epcot, and on our last trip I wanted to finish up with dinner at the China Pavilion, even tho it never got great reviews. It was closed for the refurbishment. Folks said it wasn't terrible, but extremely over-priced for the quality and quantity of food.

So, tho I can't answer your question, I, too, am waiting and wondering how the remodel will impact the food. Since I don't have experience with authentic Chinese food (just the American version), I'd love the menu to be totally authentic.

Hope your wife enjoys Disney as much as you do!
 
It was very very Americanized when I went. VERY.

I honestly don't expect (or get) much authentic food in EPCOT anymore, it's not just Nine Dragons...
 
Keep this in mind...unless you are in San Francisco or New York...all Chinese food served in the states has been toned down and Americanized.
 

As others have stated it is VERY Americanized and I'm willing to bet that won't change with the upgrade.

Keep this in mind...unless you are in San Francisco or New York...all Chinese food served in the states has been toned down and Americanized.

You've apparently never been to Boston's Chinatown- very authentic if that's what you're looking for!
 
Well if by "authentic" you mean "inedible" it's there. However, I traveled to Asia and the food was edible so.....

This was some of the WORST "Chinese" I have ever had! Americanized and traditional!!!
 
The old Nine Dragons was very disappointing. Any chance that Yak & Yeti's might have some more authentic offerings?
 
Well, that is disappointing. Their old menu had an interesting mix of authentic sounding and Americanized dishes, Ma Po Tofu is pretty authentic while General Tso's is as Americanized as they get. Well, we will probably go regardless, we have a few days open.
 
Well, that is disappointing. Their old menu had an interesting mix of authentic sounding and Americanized dishes, Ma Po Tofu is pretty authentic while General Tso's is as Americanized as they get. Well, we will probably go regardless, we have a few days open.

A few years ago, it used to be much better. We actually went a couple weeks in a row with a few friends because it was so enjoyable. I did have the Ma Po Tofu back then (I'm thikning 05-ish) and it was delicious.

However, our last two experiences were pretty awful. Around Christmas of 06, we booked an early dinner. Went in, sat down, ordered beverages. Looked at the menus, looked at each other, looked at the menus, looked at each other, and decided to pay for our beverages and leave. It was SO Americanized, our poor server asked us what was wrong, and she agreed with us. I think at that point the Ma Po Tofu had been removed. Not to mention the musty smell emanating from the carpets.

This past December, 07, stupid us decided to try it again. Exact same experience and result. Why didn't we learn?

We're going to give it a try when it reopens, which looks like it should be soon.

On a side note, there used to be a Peking duck on the menu, again back around 04-05.
 
Having lived in both Boston and SF and being a HUGE fan of authentic Chinese food, let me be yet another in the line of those saying you- or at least your wife- will be disappointed. Too bad you aren't celebrating a special event, or have a food allergy/issue that needs to be addresses; you might have a chance of getting a well-prepared, more authentic dish, but if you are ordering off the menu, the chances are slim. We don't bother going there anymore- there is FAR better, FAR more authentic Chinese food available offsite (and unfortunately I don't remember the names of any places to recommend...)
 
anymore- there is FAR better, FAR more authentic Chinese food available offsite (and unfortunately I don't remember the names of any places to recommend...)

We have a couple great places up in NW Orlando, but it's a bit of a hike for those staying near Disney ;)

Imperial Dynasty in Longwood and Eastern Pearl in Altamonte Springs are both lovely restaurants with relatively authentic menus.
 
We don't bother going there anymore- there is FAR better, FAR more authentic Chinese food available offsite (and unfortunately I don't remember the names of any places to recommend...)

We went to Kim Wu last time and it was very good. It is in Orlando on Kirkman Road.
 
Definitely Americanized "Chinese" food. Think step up from local chinese buffet, yuck.

Of course we can only hope that all the bad reviews for several years is what prompted them to refurbish and they'll open it with food that is worthy of their country!

We lived in Asian for several years, so I know we're spoiled by that experience, but if your wife is also from China, she too will probably be hard pressed to find decent "real" Chinese food in Orlando.
 
Disney Dining is pretty responsive to "special" requests. I would try calling WDW dining and speak to the chef and tell him what you are looking for. You may "inspire" him knowing that he is cooking for an appreciative audience. Just a suggestion. I would stress that my wife is Chinese and this is her 1st trip to WDW. Good Luck let us know what happens.
 












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