Dragon City Daphne – Relax and Unwind in the Tropics

If there is one restaurant in Alabama that I have never been too excited about dining, it has to be the Dragon City Daphne in Tuscaloosa. A hole-in-the-wall Asian eatery with an eclectic menu that features everything from Chinese food to tofu & dim sum, this place is definitely not your run-of-the-mill Oriental-style restaurant. Owner Mark Wigle hopes to “reinvigorate” the lost connection between the Asian culture and southern cuisine in America through his restaurant.

With only a few tables, the restaurant can often be bustling during lunch time. Long tables help give diners the feel of the large, spacious dining room. Laid-back, friendly service greeted each guest with both familiarity and a genuine smile. From moo shu nian to spicy beef & seafood soups, everything on the menu is a winner.

The Dragon Dance: There’s something magical about enjoying a dragon dance at Dragon City Daphne. The dainty silver dragon figurine on the front wall is a welcome sight after the bright red and gold color of the original dragon design. The restaurant offers three different dragon dance performances nightly. During these performances, the dragon dances are to a high level of music, with the sound of a fire bellowing behind the music as the music booms and thunders. This high energy show is the perfect finale to the grandeur of the dragon dance performance.

The Dragon Dance is followed by a lantern celebration and a grand opening celebration. Local vendors sell fresh fruit, local craft items, Chinese-style lanterns, and a variety of desserts. The party ends with live dragon dance performances by the dragon dancers themselves. A highlight of the night is a dragon pillow made in memory of all the dragon dancers that came before us. Guests relax and enjoy the atmosphere of this colorful party.

Dragon City Daphne also offers two other dragon dance performances nightly during the evening. One begins with the dragon dance performances of Zhi Nu (left), and Zhi Nu li (right), two exceptionally beautiful dancers. The other dragon dance performance is by the troop of dragon dancers from far away, who bring the exotic Oriental style dragon dances to life on the stage.

While at Dragon City Daphne, be sure to check out the dragon dancers themselves. Watching them dance is quite magical, and it is a wonderful sight to see these amazing creatures up close and personal. The dragon dancers are a talented group of individuals, who truly bring the exotic oriental style of dragon dances to life in the most elegant and graceful manner. Anyone who is looking for a memorable party experience should definitely try out Dragon City Daphne, for sure!