Chinese Restaurant (TV series)


Chinese Restaurant is a Chinese celebrity reality show broadcast by Hunan Television. The show features five celebrities as they run a chinese restaurant abroad in 20 days with the aim to promote Chinese Food culture. It's Vicky Zhao's first reality show as a regular guest.
The first season was taped in Thailand, and it was premiered on 22 July 2017 with 11 episodes. The second season was taped in France, and it was premiered on 20 July 2018 with 12 episodes. The third season was taped in Italy, and it was premiered on 26 July 2019 with 13 episodes. The fourth season was taped in China due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and it was premiered on 31 July 2020 with 12 episodes. The fifth season was taped in China again, and it was premiered on 30 July 2021 with 12 episodes. The sixth season was taped in China the third time, and it was premiered on 12 August 2022 with 12 episodes. The seventh season was taped in Hungary, and it was premiered on 21 July 2023 with 12 episodes. The eighth season was taped in France again, and it was premiered on 19 July 2024 with 12 episodes. The ninth season was taped in Morocco, and it premiered on 20 June 2025 with 12 episodes.

Cast

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

; Regular
; Recurring
  • Tong Zhuo

Season 4

Season 5

; Regular
; Recurring

Season 6

Season 7

Season 8

Season 9

List of guests

Season 1

  • Cui Xinqin
  • Mike D. Angelo
  • Hongyok Chansakorn
  • Boat Sirirod

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 6

Season 7

Season 8

Season 9

Theme Song

  • "Chinese Restaurant"
  • * Composer: Tu Yi
  • * Lyricist:
  • ** Meng Xiao
  • ** Meng Xiao and Ye Feng
  • *Performer:
  • ** Vicky Zhao and Huang Xiaoming
  • ** Zhou Dongyu
  • ** Vicky Zhao and Alec Su
  • ** Huang Xiaoming, Qin Hailu, Yang Zi and Karry Wang
  • "Chinese Flavor"
  • * Composer: Casper Chu, Gen Neo
  • * Lyricist: Casper Chu, Zhang Jinghao
  • *Performer:
  • ** Huang Xiaoming, Zanilia Zhao, Sean Zhang, Jack Lin, Ariel Li, Liu Yuning and Casper Chu
  • ** Liu Yuning and Casper Chu
  • ** Casper Chu
  • "The Flavor of China"
  • * Composer: Mo Yanlin
  • * Lyricist: Xia Nuo
  • * Performer: Huang Xiaoming and Ning Jing

Reception

Influences

After premiering of the first season on 22 July 2017, the canned bacon labeled "SPAM" was sold out in Chinese online shopping in several hours, which Vicky Zhao bought in a Thailand supermarket and cooking in the show. After premiering of the second season on 20 July 2018, the white stork toy was sold out in Chinese online shopping in several days, which repeated Vicky Zhao's words in the show.

Controversy

Chinese Restaurant has been accused of plagiarism in regards to its format being very similar to South Korean reality show tvN's Youn's Kitchen. Both shows are food-themed and work with the concept of overseas restaurants. Na Young-seok, producer of Youn's Kitchen responded to the claim, stating that "The format is not expensive to purchase. If they purchase the format, I can help them on specific details as well."