Choyan Restaurant

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

We were recommended this restaurant as a very good neighbourhood Chinese joint, and we agree, it was very nice and definitely worth another visit. The Choyan chicken for starters, probably best described as Chinese Fried Chicken was somewhere between spring rolls and KFC (sounds weird but actually surprisingly good).

We were assured the szezhuan chicken was very spicy, and they weren't exaggerating. Wow! Very nice and flavoursome too. Kids loved the honey chicken. Special fried rice had all the right bits in it and didn't taste burnt, as it often does in other restaurants.

Decor is your standard chinese suburban restaurant look, with lots of room, and a decent level of service. Prices not bad at all.

Apr 01, 2011 

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  7     

This is our local chinese and we love it. All the staff are wonderful, friendly, helpful and on the ball. A great place for a family meal or a meal for two. I actually like the 'older' style Chinese restaurant decor, it gives the restaurant a nice feel and brings back fond childhood memories. The food is lovely. I have had exceptional food at other restaurants, but they have been far more expensive city restaurants and I much prefer Choyan for its atmosphere, lack of pretension and proximity.

Jan 27, 2011 

4 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  2     

Recently re-visited after past good experiences, sadly the standard of food has declined. Duck dish was killed by an over powering sauce and the seafood combo all tasted the same. Will not be returning.

Jan 05, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  9     

Choyan has been here for a long time and has changed very little over all those years. Their service sets them apart from all other establishments in this price range. They are polite, professional, attentive and quick! The menu is solid and features one of the best Peking Duck we have experienced outside of Beijing! Decor is dated yet homely and they are fully licensed.

Dec 12, 2010 

5 Average

Food  4      Ambience  4      Service  7      Value  5     

Your "average" suburban Chinese restaurant. Unexciting food straight from 70's. There are much better choices not far away.

Oct 18, 2010 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

I agree with many other posters, this is the best upscale Chinese restaurant for traditional Beijing style food on the North Shore. Choyan is a virtual institution in Gordon and that is a great thing because the experienced wait staff here certainly know what they are doing. The service they offer is friendly, super efficient and charming.

The restaurant itself does have that nice nostalgic olde world charm about it, its very spaciously decorated with red lanterns and a living bamboo screen. It also offers comfortable booth seating.

And the food at Choyan is really special. If you are craving for Peking Duck, than this is a great place to come. Here the Peking Duck is served on a trolley alongside your table in the traditional way. The first course is to die for. The waiter carves off the crispy duck skin and serves it individually wrapped in a light pancake, just like they do in Beijing. A number of restaurants in Sydney offer you Peking Duck but they do not show you your duck, which basically means you are not guaranteed to receive the succulent duck skin.

After the first course, Choyan staff asked whether we wanted the next duck course to be served sang choy bow style or as a stir fry. Again this is how they do it in Beijing, some other Chinese restaurants only offer the duck sang choy bow style. We chose the sang choy bow style which was richly flavoursome. Next time I come I will see what the stir fry course is like!

Our next dish was selected from the Chef’s recommendations. I cannot actually recall the name of the dish but it was a superb piece of tender steak served in a clay hotpot. We enjoyed this with special fried rice. It was amazing too. My husband enjoyed a light Beijing pale ale, I think it was the Yanjing brand and I enjoyed a glass of beautiful NZ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

At the end of the evening we were offered the old fashioned fortune cookies, a delightful touch. I should add that at the time of reserving the table, I did mention that we would choose the Peking Duck and all the wait staff seemed to had been advised! They even gave us one of the best booths to sit at!

May 09, 2010 

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

I enjoy the olde world feel of the place and found the food and service all very acceptable. But Gordon is a bit of a drive so expect can only get here every couple of years. Would definitely go here more if it was closer.

Mar 12, 2010 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  10      Value  8     

Food was good, ambience quaint (I imagine this is what a Chinese restaurant in the 70s would have looked like? Lots of booths, as well as tables. Nice buzzy family atmosphere) but the absolute stand-out was service. I can't remember ever having such great service at a Chinese restaurant!).

Jan 27, 2009 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

The food is exceptional. I highly recommend this restaurant. I have been going there for years and believe it is definitely the best Chinese in the North Shore.

Jan 08, 2009 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  8     

This restaurant is fantastic! I've been here many times as the food is great and the staff is always keen and friendly. I recommend trying the crispy duck pancakes; they are a delicious entree that always gets eaten fast. The fried ice cream is also a delicious Chinese dessert. This restaurant is very nice and clean. It is great for families with children. I live in the area and I have always heard good things about this restaurant.

Nov 07, 2008