Once Upon A Time in the Middle East (Macau only)
歡迎來龍餐館 (澳門上映)
Eat well, stay alive.
9.1/10 Great 38 votes
- Released
- 11 Sep 2026
- Runtime
- 140 min
- Certificate
- Category IIB
- Original title
- 欢迎来龙餐馆
- Language
- zh
The verdict
Audiences rate it 9.1 out of 10 on TMDB across 38 votes — a strong score. It is playing 41 times at 15 cinemas across 14 districts, from HK$65 to HK$160 depending on cinema and time. The cheapest seat is at Broadway Kingswood Ginza in Tin Shui Wai, HK$65. Category IIB · 140 minutes.
What it is about
Xu Fu (Shen Teng), a chef from Northeast China, heads to the Middle East to work at a Chinese restaurant. Carrying his wok, he hopes to support his family and pay off his debts. He serves up classic Chinese dishes: the Dragon‑Raising‑Its‑Head feast, candied sweet potatoes and Kung Pao chicken. He partners with restaurant manager Ma Junsheng (Jiang Qiming): Xu Fu handles the cooking, while Ma Junsheng takes care of guests. Together, they turn the little‑known Dragon Restaurant into a thriving spot.
War soon breaks out, and local conditions quickly turn dangerous. Different armed groups clash across the region. What will happen to Xu Fu? Can Dragon Restaurant survive amid the chaos of war?
What to expect
Wen Muye follows up Dying to Survive with a Middle East-set kitchen drama that runs a hefty 140 minutes. Shen Teng plays a northeastern chef who lands in a war zone with nothing but his wok and a pile of debt, teaming up with Jiang Qiming's restaurant manager to keep a Chinese eatery alive. The movie sits squarely in drama and war territory—don't expect action set pieces; the tension comes from a business trying to stay open while armed groups clash outside. It's a period piece set in the 2000s Iraq War, built around food as a lifeline rather than spectacle. Macau gets it on 20 screens with 135 showings over the next week, exclusively in IMAX. Tickets from HKD 65. English and Chinese subtitles. Rated IIB.
Cast
-
Shen Teng
Xu Fu -
Jiang Qiming
Ma Junsheng -
Omar Sherif
Seif -
Aarif Rahman
Tony - Sherif Sobhy
-
Sherif Sabry
Zayd -
Ahmed Salim
Ali -
Faruk Muhammad
Jamal -
Russell Shealy
Morgan -
Naira Al-Qasim
Lina -
Karma Hazim
Susu -
Wei Qing
Xu's Mother -
Zhang Xiwei
Xu Le -
Yasmine Rahmy
Amina -
Peter Daniel Adams
Sentry -
Tanner Hagen
Joel Brady
Crew
- Director Wen Muye
- Writer Wen Muye
- Writer Lang Qunli
- Writer Wei Zhong
- Original Music Composer Huang Chao
- Director of Photography Wang Boxue
- Executive Producer Ning Hao
Where to watch it
41 screenings at 15 cinemas over the next week, from HK$65.
| Cinema | District | Formats | Screenings | Next | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emperor Cinemas Wong Chuk Hang (THE SOUTHSIDE) | Wong Chuk Hang | — | 7 | Thu 09:55 | HK$80–130 |
| PREMIERE ELEMENTS (Kowloon Station) | Tsim Sha Tsui | — | 6 | Thu 13:15 | HK$115 |
| Emperor Cinemas Tai Wai (The Wai) | Tai Wai | — | 5 | Thu 12:55 | HK$80–120 |
| Emperor Cinemas Tseung Kwan O (The LOHAS) | Tseung Kwan O | — | 4 | Thu 12:45 | HK$70–120 |
| Emperor Cinemas Tsuen Wan (Citywalk) | Tsuen Wan | — | 3 | Thu 09:50 | HK$80 |
| Broadway Kingswood Ginza | Tin Shui Wai | — | 2 | Thu 10:30 | HK$65 cheapest |
| Broadway Mongkok | Mong Kok | — | 2 | Thu 10:35 | HK$65 |
| Emperor Cinemas Central (Entertainment Building) | Central | — | 2 | Sat 10:05 | HK$100–160 |
| Emperor Cinemas Tuen Mun (Sun Tuen Mun Centre) | Tuen Mun | — | 2 | Thu 11:55 | HK$65 |
| MOViE MOViE Cityplaza (Taikoo Shing) | Taikoo Shing | — | 2 | Thu 13:00 | HK$65–105 |
| MY CINEMA YOHO MALL (Yuen Long) | Yuen Long | — | 2 | Thu 10:45 | HK$65 |
| B+ cinema apm (Kwun Tong) | Kwun Tong | — | 1 | Thu 17:00 | HK$95 |
| Broadway Kwai Fong (Metroplaza) | Kwai Fong | — | 1 | Fri 12:25 | HK$65 |
| MOViE MOViE Pacific Place (Admiralty) | Admiralty | — | 1 | Fri 13:55 | HK$135 |
| PALACE ifc | Central | — | 1 | Thu 12:20 | HK$85 |
Prices and times are as published by the cinemas and can change. Cinema names link through to the full timetable and booking.
What viewers said
I went into *Welcome to Dragon Restaurant* expecting another Shen Teng comedy — and walked out with my eyes swollen from crying. It far exceeded every expectation; this is not a comedy at all, but one of the most powerful anti-war films I've ever seen. Director Wen Muye never relies on spectacle or bloodshed to condemn war. […]
tomaslisheng — 10/10 · read in full
Common questions
- How long is the movie?
- 140 minutes.
- What is the certificate?
- IIB — not suitable for young children.
- Which formats are available?
- IMAX only.
- Are there English subtitles?
- Yes, English and Chinese subtitles are provided.
