Once Upon a Time in the Middle East
Synopsis
Xu Fu travels to the Middle East to work as a chef in a Chinese restaurant to pay off family debts, where he meets floor manager Ma Junsheng. Their Dragon Restaurant rises to fame, attracting crowds with authentic‑tasting Chinese food. But war breaks out, and local conditions take a drastic turn for the worse. No one can remain unaffected. What lies ahead for them? And how will the Dragon Restaurant hold on amid the war?
Main Cast
Shen Teng
Xu Fu
Jiang Qiming
Ma Junsheng
Omar Sherif
Seif
Aarif Rahman
Tony
Sherif Sabry
Zayd
Ahmed Salim
Ali
Faruk Muhammad
Jamal
Russell Shealy
Morgan
Naira Al-Qasim
Lina
Karma Hazim
Susu
User Reviews
tomaslisheng
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. Instead, he exposes its cruelty through contrast: a humble Chinese kitchen planted in the middle of a war zone, where a sizzling wok and a bowl of hot rice become the quietest, most devastating protest against violence. Shen Teng, as chef Xu Fu, sheds his comic persona and delivers a heartbreaking performance — every shared meal becomes a small act of resistance, a stubborn insistence that life, dignity, and peace still matter amid the ruins. Bring tissues — a lot of them if you are going to watch it
