Memories flow as UAE’s pioneering fine-dining Chinese restaurant turns 50

Dubai: As the UAE's pioneering fine-dining Chinese restaurant marks its 50th anniversary on October 14, 2026, its management gathered a group of former family members, staff, and patrons to reminisce about the memories that have made Golden Dragon an integral part of Dubai's story. The restaurant, which opened in Bur Dubai on October 14, 1976, by KM Bhatia of KM Brothers, was a place where families celebrated milestones, business guests were entertained, and newcomers discovered a cuisine they would come to love.

Among the attendants was Kamlesh Bhatia, the founder's son, who spoke fondly of his father's inspiration to open the restaurant after visiting a Chinese establishment in Delhi in 1975. After waiting an hour for a table and being impressed by the food, KM Bhatia decided to bring the same experience to Dubai.

The original Bur Dubai location, before it moved to Karama and Oud Metha, required meticulous planning and research. Sunder Mans, the general manager at the time, took a Dh2 million loan from the British Bank and traveled to China and Asia to gather ideas and materials for the restaurant's interior. He enlisted the help of architect Shakthi Parmar, who designed and created the wooden carvings and decorative elements from Rajasthan, India.

Today, elements from the original restaurant remain, including dining chairs, Chinese lanterns, and decorative lights with wooden carvings. For some long-time patrons, their connection to Golden Dragon spans generations, with families returning with their children and grandchildren. First-timers like Andaleeb Mannan, who married in Jaipur and found her new favorite cuisine in Dubai, continue to visit the restaurant regularly.

The restaurant has evolved into a Pan-Asian dining destination, with her current favorites including Hakka noodles, wontons, and Thai curry.