If you’ve spent any significant time in Margate, you know the drill. It’s a Friday night. The sea breeze is kicking up, the North Sea is looking particularly moody, and you’re absolutely starving. You don't want a "concept" meal. You don't want a deconstructed taco or a sourdough pizza that costs twenty quid. You want a massive bag of Chinese food. Specifically, you’re probably thinking about Lucky City Restaurant Margate.
It's one of those local staples.
Every seaside town has that one spot. The place that hasn’t changed its decor since the early 2000s, where the portions are consistently huge, and the smell of salt and pepper squid wafts down the street. Lucky City is that place for Margate. Located right on the High Street, it occupies a weirdly vital space in the local ecosystem. It's nestled between the old-school charm of the town and the newer, trendier spots that have popped up since the Turner Contemporary arrived and changed everything. Honestly, it’s a relief that some things stay the same.
What Exactly is the Deal with Lucky City Restaurant Margate?
Look, if you're looking for Michelin stars, you’re in the wrong place. But if you're looking for a reliable, no-nonsense Cantonese-style experience, Lucky City Restaurant Margate delivers exactly what it promises. It’s a classic "sit-down and takeaway" hybrid. You walk in, and it feels familiar. There’s a certain comfort in that familiarity.
The menu is a literal tome.
Seriously, it’s got hundreds of items. It covers everything from your standard Sweet and Sour Pork to more traditional clay pot dishes. Most regulars have their "usual." For some, it's the Crispy Aromatic Duck. For others, it's the King Prawns with Ginger and Spring Onion. The kitchen at Lucky City is remarkably fast, even when the phone is ringing off the hook and the delivery drivers are doing that frantic dance in the doorway. It's a well-oiled machine.
Why the High Street Location Matters
Margate’s High Street is a bit of a mixed bag. You’ve got your charity shops, your vacant storefronts, and then these pockets of absolute gold. Lucky City is strategically placed. It’s accessible. You can grab a bag of food and walk down to the seafront in about three minutes. There is something uniquely British about sitting on a concrete sea wall, clutching a warm plastic container of Chow Mein while a seagull eyes you with murderous intent.
That’s the Margate experience.
Decoding the Menu: What’s Actually Good?
Let's get into the weeds. Not everything on a 200-item menu is going to be a home run. That’s just math. However, the staples at Lucky City Restaurant Margate are generally solid. Their Salt and Pepper range? Genuinely great. It’s got that specific kick of MSG and chili that hits the back of your throat in the best possible way.
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The Chicken Satay skewers are another winner. They’re chunky. They aren't those thin, dried-out strips you get at the supermarket. They come drenched in a peanut sauce that is thick enough to hold up a spoon.
Then you have the set meals. These are the lifeblood of the indecisive. They’re basically a "best of" compilation. If you’re feeding four people, it’s often cheaper and faster to just pick a letter—Set Meal B or Set Meal C—and let the kitchen decide your fate. You usually end up with a mountain of egg fried rice, some form of beef in black bean sauce, and enough prawn crackers to fill a bathtub.
The Interior Vibe
If you choose to dine in, it's a throwback. The lighting is bright. The tables are functional. It’s not "Instagrammable" in the way that Dreamland-adjacent cafes are. It’s honest. You see families celebrating birthdays, couples on low-key dates, and solo diners who just want a quiet meal. The staff are efficient. They’ve seen it all. They know how to handle the Saturday night rush with a kind of stoic grace that you have to respect.
Comparing Lucky City to the Margate "New Guard"
Margate has changed a lot.
In the last decade, we’ve seen an explosion of high-end eateries. Places like Angela’s or Bottega Caruso have put the town on the global culinary map. They’re incredible. But they serve a different purpose. You can’t just roll up to those places in your trackies after a long shift and expect a table. Lucky City fills the gap. It’s the democratic option.
It’s affordable.
In a cost-of-living crisis, being able to feed a family for a reasonable price is a big deal. Lucky City hasn't hiked its prices to the moon like some other places have. They’ve kept it relatively grounded. This makes it a community hub as much as a restaurant. You see the same faces week after week. It’s part of the fabric of the town.
Delivery and Logistics
We have to talk about the delivery. In the era of Deliveroo and UberEats, Lucky City still keeps things fairly traditional. Their own drivers are often faster than the apps. There’s a specific sound to the Lucky City delivery car pulling up—it’s the sound of a night off from cooking.
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- Speed: Usually under 45 minutes on weekdays.
- Temperature: Food arrives hot, which is the bare minimum but surprisingly hard to find elsewhere.
- Accuracy: They rarely miss the extra soy sauce or the specific request for "no onions."
The Health Question: What Should You Order?
Let's be real. Chinese takeaway isn't usually associated with health food. But you can navigate the Lucky City Restaurant Margate menu without feeling like a grease balloon afterwards.
Basically, look for the steamed options.
They do a Steamed Sea Bass with Ginger and Scallion that is surprisingly delicate. The vegetable dishes—like the Pak Choi in Garlic Sauce—are crunchy and fresh. It’s not all deep-fried. If you’re trying to be "good," skip the sweet and sour balls (which are basically 90% batter anyway) and go for the Szechuan Tofu. It’s spicy, filling, and won't leave you in a food coma for three days.
Honestly, though? Sometimes you just want the salt and pepper chips. And that’s okay.
Why Locals Keep Coming Back
There’s a loyalty here that’s hard to replicate. When you talk to people who grew up in Thanet, Lucky City is often mentioned in the same breath as Peter’s Fish Factory or the Harbour Arm. It’s sentimental. People remember coming here as kids.
It represents a specific era of Margate that is slowly disappearing. As the town gentrifies, these old-school establishments often get pushed out by rising rents or changing tastes. But Lucky City seems to be holding its own. It’s a survivor.
The portion sizes are a big factor. People feel like they're getting their money's worth. In a world where everything is getting smaller and more expensive, seeing a container packed so tight that the lid is bowing out is a beautiful thing. It’s a small win for the consumer.
Common Misconceptions
People sometimes assume that because it's an "old-school" takeaway, the quality might be lower. That’s not necessarily true. The turnover of ingredients at a place this busy is actually a good sign. The vegetables are fresh because they go through boxes of them every single night. The meat isn't sitting in a freezer for months. It’s a high-volume operation.
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Navigating the Busy Times
If you're planning to order from Lucky City Restaurant Margate on a Friday or Saturday night, you need a strategy.
Don't wait until 7:30 PM.
That’s the danger zone. That’s when everyone else in Thanet has the same idea. If you call at 6:00 PM, you’re golden. If you wait until the peak, you might be looking at an hour-long wait. Also, check their opening hours. Like many local spots, they might have specific mid-week closures or different lunch hours. It pays to be prepared.
The Vegan and Vegetarian Perspective
It’s surprisingly easy to eat veg at Lucky City. They have a massive dedicated section for vegetarian dishes. The "Mock Chicken" or "Mock Duck" options are actually pretty decent if you want that specific texture without the meat. Most of the vegetable stir-fries can be made vegan if you just ask them to skip the oyster sauce. They’re generally quite accommodating with dietary tweaks.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth the Trip?
If you’re visiting Margate for the weekend and you want one "iconic" meal, should it be Lucky City? Maybe. If you want the authentic, local experience away from the tourist traps, then yes. It’s a slice of real Margate life.
It’s not fancy. It’s not trying to be something it’s not. It’s just good, consistent food.
In a town that is constantly reinventing itself, there is a profound value in a place that knows its identity and sticks to it. Lucky City Restaurant Margate isn't just a place to eat; it’s a landmark. It’s a reminder that while Margate might be the "new Shoreditch-on-Sea," it still needs its local Chinese.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Order
- Skip the Generic: Instead of the usual Lemon Chicken, try the Crispy Beef in Chili Sauce. It’s the dish they do better than almost anyone else in town.
- Order Direct: If you can, call them directly rather than using a third-party app. It helps the restaurant keep more of the profit and usually results in faster delivery.
- The Rice Hack: If you’re ordering for a group, one portion of Large Egg Fried Rice is usually enough for two people. Save the extra five pounds for a side of spring rolls.
- Visit in Person: If you have the time, go for a sit-down meal. The service is fast, the tea is hot, and you get to soak in the genuine atmosphere of one of Margate's longest-standing High Street fixtures.
- Parking Tip: If you're picking up, don't try to park directly on the High Street. Use the nearby car parks or the side streets off the front; it'll save you a massive headache during the evening rush.
Lucky City is a testament to the fact that good food doesn't need to be complicated. It just needs to be hot, plentiful, and served with a smile. Whether you’re a lifelong local or just passing through, it’s a spot that deserves a place on your Margate food map.