Howard B.
Google
Rainbow Palace – A True Fine-Dining Chinese Classic
Rainbow Palace is a true gem of fine-dining Chinese cuisine located on East Oakland Park Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. This restaurant has been around for roughly 35–40 years, and it shows in all the right ways — elegance, consistency, and attention to detail.
I’ve been meaning to dine here for at least 15 years, but timing was never right. They are open for dinner only — no lunch, no happy hour — which already sets the tone that this is a serious dining experience. When you walk in, you immediately notice the refined atmosphere: a beautiful bar area, a private dining room, and one of the most elegant Chinese dining rooms I’ve ever seen.
Now, the food.
We started with the Shrimp and Lobster Dumplings — hand-kneaded dough shells filled with minced shrimp and lobster, pan-fried on one side and served with a honey mustard soy sauce. Outstanding. Fresh, perfectly cooked, and easily among the best dumplings I’ve had. We ordered them per order and they disappeared fast.
There were four of us, and we ordered four main dishes to share. One standout was the Roast Duck with Portabella Mushrooms and Asparagus — thinly sliced roast duck sautéed in a nine-spice Asian sauce with fresh portabella mushrooms and asparagus. Rich, tender, and beautifully balanced.
We also had the Chef’s Lo Mein, featuring sliced chicken, honey-roasted pork, and shrimp tossed with soft angel-hair lo mein noodles and fresh garden vegetables, seasoned with aged soy sauce. A classic done exactly right.
Another highlight was a large shrimp entrée, featuring jumbo shrimp cooked perfectly — firm, flavorful, and clearly high-quality. Not your average shrimp dish; refined rather than heavy.
Every dish came out hot, fresh, and plated with care. The flavors were balanced, the ingredients were top-tier, and nothing felt rushed or over-sauced.
Rainbow Palace is not casual Chinese food — it’s classic, upscale, old-school fine dining done right. If you appreciate elegant surroundings, excellent service, and thoughtfully prepared dishes, this place absolutely deserves a visit