LiLi Wong Chinese Restaurant

The Water Margin has been about in one form or another for quite a long time — in the last few years it’s forged itself as one of the most popular and well attended restaurants in the city.
Located just off Ormeau Road on Donegall Pass this is a fairly traditional Anglo take on the Asian restaurant and doesn’t really aspire to some of the more modern affairs like Zen or Hakka.
The last time I was here was quite a while back. A large group of came in for a birthday, I must say to keep things correct there was a fairly large amount of fermented barley consumed… I actually can’t remember who’s actual birthday it was but I’m sure it’ll come back to me.
The roast sweet soy pork I had was great. Well seared, meaty and moist (as a lot of even the best Chinese restaurants end up with bone dry meat)
The prices are all bang on — I think my pork was under £10 accompanied by a raft of Tiger beer topped up with a healthy supply of bottled water.
A solid restaurant which works very well with large groups.

The water margin is my favourite Chinese in Belfast! The food here is amazing and they keep their standards up again and again. The restaurant is visually beautiful and is a converted old Church with exposed brick, wooden beams and high ceilings. They have ample space to cater for parties and big groups too. The staff really are fantastic and the menu is huge and has all the usuals! I went for the roast duck with ginger and spring onion and fried rice and the duck was perfection! I would highly recommend this place to anyone and the prices are pretty good too which is always a bonus!

So far, I’ve written reviews about restaurants and churches located in refurbished warehouses, but I bet you probably never thought you would hear the day when a Chinese restaurant had found its home in a church. Yes, a church. Some would say it had ‘converted’. Boom boom. The stain glass windows are still intact, but the pews and organ, you’ll be glad to hear, are no longer.
This whopper of a building actually really suits its new purpose. The sheer size of it means that the Water Margin works really well for large groups, its enormous tables accommodating somewhere in the region of ten or twelve people, at least! The circular serving tray in the middle of the tables are ingenious, allowing the dishes to be swivelled round, beneficial both for the waiters, but also for the diners who can easily sample each others dishes.
The menu is all-​encompassing, with the old reliables such as sweet and sour chicken in there with the adventurous salted squid and frog’s legs. Although the prices are slightly higher than your average Chinese restaurant, you certainly get plenty of dish for your dosh. Each time I have been, I’ve eaten ’til my heart’s content, but have never quite been able to finish my meal.
If only to witness a church turned restaurant for yourself, I definitely reckon the Water Margin provides a good meal out. Booking is advisable!

I must say I’m pretty shocked by the review my fellow Unilocaler has written as I have always been a fan of the Water Margin. I just hope it was an off night and that the next time I go the standard will be the same as I have experienced before. Fingers crossed.
I have been loads of times to the Water margin which is a huge restaurant and always busy. I’ve been in a group of 40 for a work function and for a quiet meal for two with the husband and have enjoyed it every time. The menu is really extensive and I’ve never had a bad meal. My favourites are the salted chilli chicken and the beef satay which I have always found to be full of flavour without any gloopiness.
When I went in the large group, all our meals arrived at the same time which doesn’t always happen in other restaurants and everyone enjoyed their food. After about 11pm I have to confess that things got messy and we were totally rowdy but the staff were really tolerant. Even when one of the group tried to take home one of the gold fish from the ornamental pond. Sorry Water Margin and sorry fishies.
We had a great blast on the karaōke machine they provided for us and we were well looked after.