Once Upon a Time in the Middle East Release Date
Theatrical / primary release: 8 August 2026.
Once Upon a Time in the Middle East Cast
Shen Teng
as Xu Fu
Jiang Qiming
as Ma Junsheng
Omar Sherif
as Seif
Aarif Rahman
as Tony
Sherif Sabry
as Zayd
Ahmed Salim
as Ali
Faruk Muhammad
as Jamal
Russell Shealy
as Morgan
Naira Al-Qasim
as Lina
Karma Hazim
as Susu
Wei Qing
as Xu's Mother
Zhang Xiwei
as Xu Le
Yasmine Rahmy
as Amina
Peter Daniel Adams
as Sentry
Tanner Hagen
as Joel Brady
Michael Koltes
as Olwell
Once Upon a Time in the Middle East Trailer
Official trailer not available yet — turn on trailer alerts from the buttons above.
Once Upon a Time in the Middle East Story
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?
Once Upon a Time in the Middle East Rating
TMDB community rating: 9.1/10 from 22 votes. Open the IMDb page for Once Upon a Time in the Middle East for IMDb score and user reviews.
Once Upon a Time in the Middle East OTT Release Date
Once Upon a Time in the Middle East OTT release date for India is not listed yet. Check Where to Watch when platforms go live.
Once Upon a Time in the Middle East Where to Watch
Where to watch Once Upon a Time in the Middle East in India — streaming links appear when TMDB lists India providers.
Once Upon a Time in the Middle East Reviews
tomaslisheng10/10
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
Read full review
Data from TMDB · Streaming links are search/affiliate deep links for India · Not affiliated with IMDb