The Emperor's Teahouse, Chinatown's signature restaurant, is almost unmissable as the building’s pagoda-like spire covered with golden and wooden features, somewhat reminiscent of ivy vines climbing the building’s height. Decorative Chinese dragon figures line the roof’s edges. The building itself is inspired by the Imperial Court and its gardens, particularly those built during the Ming Dynasty. This enchanting teahouse attempts to spark the atmosphere of fancy Chinatown restaurants, where people could escape for a more "exotic" experience.

Once inside, guests will enter an environment inspired by other Chinese restaurants found in the early 1900s up until the 1950s. The interior is elaborately designed, with intricately carved woodwork, detailed wallpapers, lush flooring, among others. Also, the restaurant is furnished with all kinds of traditional Chinese furniture, vases, and rugs.

The restaurant’s stylish décor is added onto as tamarind branches and enchanting flowers are woven across the building’s interior. Lit lanterns can be found around the restaurant, yet inside an effect makes it seem as if moths are imprisoned within the glass cage and are hesitantly flying around.

The story goes as follows:

‘’There was once an emperor in China who lived in a porcelain palace. The palace garden was the biggest and most beautiful in the world. A nightingale, which sang so beautifully that water danced and flowers bloomed, lived in the garden. One morning, the Chinese emperor received a letter from the emperor of Japan. The Japanese emperor had heard about the nightingale and wanted to hear his sweet song for himself. The emperor called his marshal-in-chief and said, ‘’Have the nightingale sing for me this evening’’. The marshal-in-chief knew nothing about the nightingale and asked all of the castle’s residents where it lived. ‘’I know’’, said a maidservant. Together they went in search of the bird. The emperor was deeply moved by the nightingale’s song that evening. ‘’Sweet nightingale, ask me any favour and you shall have it,’’ he said. The nightingale replied, ‘’I have tears in your eyes. There is no greater reward imaginable for a singer.’’ That same day the nightingale was appointed Chief Imperial Nightstand Singer. He stayed at the palace and lived in a golden cage. He missed his freedom but treasured the joy and happiness he brought to the emperor.

One day, the Chinese emperor received a gift from the Japanese emperor. It was another beautiful bird but a mechanical one set with diamonds and precious gemstones, instead of a real one. The Chinese emperor was very pleased with it. When it was wound up, the mechanical bird sang even more beautifully than the real one. The emperor listened to the mechanical bird more and more often, eventually leading to the emperor telling the nightingale that he no longer needed to stay, which made the real nightingale sad. He flew away, back to the lovely palace garden and his freedom.

Many a year, the emperor listened to his lovely mechanical nightingale, until something terrible happened. An awful sound came from the bird, after which it was silent and no matter what the emperor tried, it was to no avail. The emperor was inconsolable and becomes sick with grief. Throughout China, everyone sympathized with their emperor as they loved him dearly. One night, the emperor is visited by ‘Death’ itself, who attempts to take the emperor with him, until the real Nightingale flies in and restores his life by singing.’’

Against the central point of the restaurant’s back wall, a small shrine honoring the titular nightingale is placed. A small nightingale bird figure is perched on a branch near a wall. On the wall behind him, four ornaments shaped like traditional Chinese dragons as seen in the former Chinese flag (until 1911) are placed. In front of the bird, a collection of plant-covered rocks sits quietly.

Every 15 minutes, the ringing of a gong signifies the start of the nightingale singing his beautiful song, resulting in the petals of the flowers around the restaurant to open in a nearly "natural" movement, using an ingenious technique that blows compressed air into the inner balls of footballs, in which corset stays are fitted. The cellulose-finished steel is curled with a pair of pliers and because each rib has a different shape, one blade opens faster than the other. Additionally, the restaurant comes to life with the bird’s song by having magic fountains seemingly performing a carefully predetermined routine set to the music. During this brief show, the rest of the restaurant’s features, like the moth-infected lanterns and its waterfalls, dim or go silent, enticing the guests to turn their attention to the nightingale and his song.

Menu

A sumptuous feast for the eyes and the tastebuds awaits guests in The Emperor's Teahouse. Carefully curated to ensure a meal fit for an emperor (or an empress), the menu will surely transport guests to the Imperial Court in the midst of a celebration.

The menu of The Emperor's Teahouse was designed in an "East-Meets-West" fashion to suit both Chinese and American tastes. As such, traditional Chinese fare like egg rolls and dumplings are mixed with Chinese-style American dishes like chop suey (mixed Chinese vegetables), fried rice, and wonton soup. The items on the menu are actually selected to reflect the food that was actually served in early 20th century Chinese and Chinese-American restaurants, most of which were added to the menu in order to adapt to American tastes.

Appetizers

Barbequed Spareribs

Cantonese-style Fried Shrimps

Char Su (Barbequed Pork in Sweet and Sour Sauce)

Egg Rolls with Ginger Sauce

Scallop Rolls

Shrimp Toast

Steamed Shrimp Dumplings

Steamed Sui Mai (Meat and shrimp dumplings)

Soup of the Day (changes daily)

Egg Flower Soup

Wonton Soup

Lotus Berry Soup

Lucky 8 Main Courses

Barbecued Duck

Beef with Broccoli

Chow Harr Look (Cantonese-style Steamed Lobster)

Chow Fon (Chinese-style Fried Rice)

Chicken Chow Mein

Chinese-style Chipped Fish

Ngow Ding (Diced Beef with Vegetables and Almonds)

Sweet and Sour Pineapple Pork

Special Chop Suey (Chipped Pork Tenderloin with Chinese Vegetables)

Desserts

Almond or Ginger Root Cookies

Mixed Fruits

Traditional Chinese tea will be served alongside the meal.