Chin Chin

The Logbook — Real Guest Soundings

Depth Sounding: This is a composite account from multiple guest experiences, edited to our venue standards for clarity. Individual sailings vary by ship, itinerary, and crew.

Chin Chin Review: Approachable Asian Fusion at Sea

Introduction. Chin Chin is NCL's Asian fusion restaurant, appearing on select ships. It sits in the specialty dining tier with a surcharge ($25-35 or applicable dining credit from Free at Sea). The menu pulls from Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese traditions with a cruise-friendly approach — bold enough to be interesting, familiar enough to not alienate cautious eaters.

Food & Drinks

The Chicken Lettuce Wraps are the best starter — crisp lettuce cups, savory minced chicken with water chestnuts, a hoisin drizzle that ties it together. Light, flavorful, and easy to share. The Hot and Sour Soup is properly balanced between acid and heat. For mains, the Kung Pao Shrimp is the standout: plump shrimp, peanuts, dried chilies, and a sauce with actual depth. The Crispy Orange Beef delivers on texture — genuinely crispy coating — though the sauce leans sweet. Where it falls short: the Pad Thai is a letdown — it tastes like a buffet version, lacking the wok char and fish sauce funk that makes good Pad Thai sing. The fried rice is reliable but unremarkable. Desserts are limited — the Mango Sticky Rice, when available, is the right choice. The Green Tea Ice Cream is standard.

Service

Service is professional and well-paced. Servers understand the menu and can advise on spice levels and sharing strategies — most tables do best ordering family-style. The kitchen can accommodate spice requests (mild to extra hot) and most dietary needs. Dinner service runs about 75-90 minutes. The only inconsistency is across ships — some Chin Chin locations execute better than others.

Atmosphere

The dining room is warm and inviting — dark lacquer, red accents, subtle Asian motifs without veering into caricature. It's dim enough for date night, casual enough for families. Music is ambient and unobtrusive. The space is typically mid-sized (60-80 seats), which keeps noise levels manageable. On ships where it's in the restaurant row, it benefits from the collective dining energy.

Conclusion

Rating: 3.8/5. Chin Chin is a solid specialty dining pick — the Kung Pao Shrimp and Lettuce Wraps are genuinely good, and the atmosphere is well-suited to a relaxed evening. It loses points for the disappointing Pad Thai and occasional inconsistency between ships. Tip: Order family-style and share everything — you'll get to try more dishes and the portions are designed for it. Ask for extra spice if you like heat; the default is mild.

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