China Sea on Renfield Street has been serving Chinese favourites to generations of families for 50 years, and little seems to have changed. The city centre restaurant first opened its doors on January 24, 1976, and has since become something of a Glasgow institution.
It is known for its traditional decor, quick service and generous portions, as well as the huge Chinese dragon suspended above the restaurant's ceiling. For many Glaswegians, it has become part of their own family traditions.
Family traditions and loyal customers
One customer described it on Facebook as a place where you can have "a three course meal in and be out in 45 mins..." Another said it had been a "Christmas family tradition for over forty years". Another recalled the "wonderful smell" that greeted them as they walked up the stairs, adding that the food was "always delicious".
For the writer's family, China Sea has always been somewhere to go when in town and fancy something quick and easy. Over the years, visits have included trips before going to the cinema, heading to the pantomime, and family occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.
A step back in time
First visited at 15, when the writer's mum couldn't wait to show the restaurant she had visited as a schoolgirl in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it remains strikingly unchanged. In a city centre where restaurants and shops seem to come and go constantly, walking into China Sea feels like stepping into a different Glasgow.
The dragon still hangs from the ceiling, the traditional decor remains, and there is the same feeling of being somewhere that generations of Glaswegians have known.
Dinner and value
On a recent Wednesday evening visit, the writer opted for the restaurant's pre-theatre menu, which offers two courses for £17.90. Despite it being a weekday, the restaurant was busy, with a mix of customers, from large groups to people enjoying a meal on their own.
Starter choices included salt and chilli beef ribs and prawn toast, followed by chicken Hong Kong style and chicken satay for mains, with chips, rice and prawn crackers on the side. The portion size was one of the best things, with more than enough to share, meaning half of both main dishes could be enjoyed rather than having to choose between them.
The food was rich and full of flavour, while the service was incredibly quick. Staff were friendly and attentive throughout the meal, and the waiter was extremely kind, even giving a hug on leaving after sharing a nice conversation.
One thing to bear in mind
There is one thing worth bearing in mind before visiting. The restaurant is upstairs and there is no lift, so it may not be suitable for people who have difficulty using the stairs.
Despite this, the China Sea remains an easy option for a quick meal in the heart of Glasgow. There is something comfortable about knowing that a restaurant your mum visited as a teenager is still there decades later, serving the same dishes in surroundings that are completely unchanged. Glasgow has changed massively since the China Sea opened in 1976, but on Renfield Street one small part of old Glasgow still feels very much the same.
