Chinese

Bristol

BEIJING BISTRO
72 Park St, BS1 5JX
Tel: 0117 373 2708, web: www.beijingbistro.co.uk
Good food, great value: that’s the BB mantra - and they live up to it, too. In the seven years that this noodle bar’s been open, it’s developed a great reputation for its wide-ranging oriental/Far East menu, served in a split-level, bright, light dining area with wooden veneer flooring, recessed lights and clean white walls. Service is friendly and prompt; prices are equally cheery, making it a popular haunt for students and Asian tourists alike. Menu S: crispy lamb; salt & pepper tofu. M: chicken, honey roast pork, duck and prawns with assorted vegetables; beef in oyster sauce with mangetout, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, onions, spring onion, carrots; good veggie options. P: ice-cream; fruit salads Price ALC: from £2.50/from £5.25/from approx £3 Wine list HW approx £10 btl, £2.75 gls. Good selection of oriental beers, inc Tiger & Tsing Tao Open Sun-Thur 12noon-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-12midnight. Children welcome. Takeaway available; discounts for Bristol University’s Hong Kong & Malaysian societies. Major credit cards (not Amex, Diner’s). Large groups of up to 140.

CATHAY RENDEZVOUS
30 King St, BS1 4DZ
Tel: 0117 934 9345/922 6161 (opening hrs only), web: www.cathay-rendezvous.com
‘Relaxed hospitality is the order of the day,’ wrote our man when dropping in for an evening at this wonderful restaurant which specialises in high-quality Cantonese, Szechuan and Mandarin cuisine, set within an old Georgian building with several dining rooms over two floors and Chinese antiques dotted about. Lots of great offers, including a great Sunday lunch buffet. With themed menus for special events like Valentine’s Day, it’s a good idea to book in advance at peak times. Menu S: soft-shell crab claws stuffed with minced prawns; aromatic crispy lamb. M: steamed fish cantonese style; canton fillet steak flambé. P: toffee banana; lychees with ice-cream Price ALC: from around £4/from approx £8/approx £4. Sun lunch buffet (12noon-3pm): £10pp (ages 5-12 half price). Extensive range of set menus – call for details or check the website Wine list Extensive, international. HW approx £13 btl Open Mon-Fri 12noon-11.30pm, Sat 12noon-12midnight, Sun 12noon-11pm. Children welcome. Major credit cards. Disabled access – call for adv. Special Chinese New Year, Christmas & Valentine menus. Upstairs (with bar, disco, stage) for private hire, up to 65.

CHEUNG KONG CHINESE
2b North View, Westbury Park, BS6 7QB
Tel: 0117 973 5165, web: www.cheungkong.co.uk
Friendly, family-run Chinese restaurant that’s been here for two decades and where most of the customers are known to the proprietors by name. Young and old are drawn by the quality Cantonese and Pekingese fare, specialty teppa (sizzling) dishes and the Chinese melodies. Menu S: salt & pepper king prawns; mixed malaysian satay skewer (king prawns, chicken, beef). M: special fried seafood in crispy bird’s nest; braised duck with mushrooms. P: toffee pineapple; banana split Price ALC: from £3.50/from £7.50/ from £3.50. Set lunch menu Tue-Fri Wine list HW approx £11 btl, £3 gls Open Tue-Sat 12noon-2pm, Mon-Thur 6.30-11pm, Fri-Sat 6.30pm-12midnight. Children welcome, highchairs. Good disabled access with toilet. Most major credit cards (not Diner’s). Parties of 20+ welcome.

DYNASTY
16a St Thomas St, Redcliffe, BS1 6JJ
Tel: 0117 925 0888, web: www.dynasty-bristol.co.uk
Combines the epitome of the good grace and charm found in the best Chinese restaurants with a fantastically broad menu offering authentic dishes mainly from Peking and the Szechuan region. It’s easy to see why Dynasty was voted one of the top five best in the UK by Alan Yau of Hakkasan and Wagamama fame. With chefs brought in from Hong Kong and China, Dynasty is understandably popular with Bristol’s Chinese community (their chef’s mixed Cantonese selection - assorted dim sum and steamed dumplings - is very popular). The Dynasty empire now embraces Obento and Zen, too. Menu S: peking-style hot & sour soup; grilled or steamed dumplings (veggie option available); crispy lamb with lettuce. M: lobster with ginger and spring onion; sizzling fillet of beef with mandarin sauce. P: ice-cream; fruit fritters in syrup Price ALC: from £4/from £7.50/from £3.50. Good express lunch and set-dinner deals. Set banquet menus (lunch & dinner) from £19pp Wine list HW approx £12 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-11.30pm, Sun 12noon-10pm. Children welcome. Disabled access – call in adv. 10% discount for takeaway. Major credit cards. Parties of 20+.

JADE PALACE
275-277 Two Mile Hill Rd, Kingswood, BS15 1AX
Tel: 0117 967 3851
Once voted one of the Bristol Evening Post’s top 10 restaurants, this relaxed, friendly neighbourhood Chinese has extended a warm welcome to everyone who has passed through its doors for over 15 years. Large and comfortable, it’s perfect for parties yet still intimate enough for a romantic meal for two. Takeaway option available, and a gut-busting all-you-can-eat offer, with dishes cooked fresh rather than laid out buffet style. Menu S: mixed starters (including spring rolls, chicken satay, spare ribs, sesame prawn toast, crispy seaweed, crispy wonton). M: sizzling mussels in black bean sauce; crispy beef with sweet chilli sauce. P: ice-cream; lychees Price ALC: from £3/from £6/from £3 Wine list Extensive, international Open Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-11.30pm. Major credit cards. Takeaway available. Parties welcome.

MAYFLOWER
3a-5 Haymarket Walk, BS1 3LN
Tel: 0117 925 0555, web: www.mayflower-bristol.co.uk
Formerly located in King Square, the Mayflower opened at its new site in 2003 after a devastating fire destroyed its old premises. The huge menu is stuffed with regional specialities, they do a damn fine buffet and, if you’re in the mood, have their own karaoke bar, too. ‘Good Chinese cooking can be as rewarding and surprising as any other, and the Mayflower is the proof of that,’ our man said, awarding the place an impressive five out of five for the quality of the food. Menu S: crispy aromatic duck; hors d’oeuvres (spare rips, sesame prawn toast, spring rolls, crispy seaweed). M: baked fresh lobster with ginger and spring onion; choi sum (chinese seasonal green vegetables in oyster sauce). P: lychees; toffee banana Price ALC: from £2.30/from £6/from £3 Wine list International. HW approx £11 btl Open Mon-Sat 6pm-3am, Sun 12noon-3am. Children welcome. Disabled facilities. Major credit cards. Takeaway discount. Separate function room available for private parties.

NEW EMPEROR COURT
26 Portland St, Clifton, BS8 4JB
Tel: 0117 973 1522, web: www.newemperorcourtrestaurant.co.uk
Long-established, family-run restaurant offering a top-notch, extensive menu that’s ‘fit for the emperor and his court’. Specialising in Peking, Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine, the friendly team (headed up by chef/owner Thanh Que Vien and his wife Kim Lien Vien) preside over a lively, welcoming atmosphere. Two main dining areas, small alcove for intimate assignations, seasonal fish specialities and a good vegetarian selection ensure that all bases are covered. Menu S: mixed appetisers (satay chicken, crispy lamb, spring rolls, crispy seaweed); steamed scallop in black bean sauce. M: sweet & sour king prawns; crispy aromatic Peking duck; lemon chicken. P: glazed toffee banana; glazed toffee apple Price ALC: from £3/from £6.50/from £3.30 Wine list International. HW £12.50 btl Open Fri-Sat 12noon-2pm, Tue-Sun 6-11.30pm. Children welcome. Very limited disabled access – call in adv. Major credit cards. Takeaway discount (10%). Separate room for private parties of 25-30.

OLD CATHAY
Opposite Broadwalk Shopping Centre, 304 Wells Rd, Knowle, BS4 2QG
Tel: 0117 980 3888
Highly recommended traditional Chinese restaurant, housed in a converted pub, with a kitchen presided over by a chef with over 20 years’ experience working in some of the world’s top hotels. Huge menu is stuffed with everything you’d expect from a quality Chinese kitchen, plus one or two dishes that you don’t see everywhere, such as Manchurian barbecued skewered lamb. Fast establishing a reputation for great value, relaxed atmosphere, friendly service and impeccable attention to the quality of their food: it’s a real haven in this part of Bristol. Menu S: barbecued spare ribs; mixed hors d’oeuvres. M: stuffed 100 flower duck (roasted duck breast stuffed with minced prawns); crispy roast duck. P: ice-cream; toffee banana Price ALC: from £2/from £6/from £3. SD (buffet) £10 Wine list Extensive. HW approx £11 btl Open Daily 11.30am-2.30pm & 6-11.30pm. Children welcome. Disabled access (disabled toilet). Major credit cards.

SHANGHAI NIGHTS
Nelson House, Nelson St, BS1 2JT
Tel: 0117 945 0505, web: www.shanghainights.co.uk, www.shanghainightsexpress.co.uk
This showcase contemporary Chinese restaurant quickly earned a reputation for its exquisite, authentic dim sums, contemporary Chinese dishes and the expertise of its chefs. From the traditional to the exotic, the menu features classic Chinese dishes as well as regional specialties and contemporary specials. An abundant a la carte menu is supplemented with a choice of set banquets and their legendary all-you-can-eat buffet – order as much as you like from the menu and they’ll bring it to the table, but make sure you have the appetite to see off your selection as any unfinished dishes may be charged at full price. Express service brings it all to your door. Menu S: more than 40 appetisers, including soups, soft-shell crab, dim sums, mongolian crispy aromatic lamb. M: steamed sea bass with fresh ginger and spring onions; traditional cantonese roast duck; excellent tofu/vegetarian options. P: traditional far eastern desserts; ice-creams Price ALC: from £2.50/from £7.50/from £3.80. All you can eat from the menu, served at your table: £12.80pp Wine list HW approx £12 btl, £3.50 gls Open Daily 12noon-3pm & 6-11pm. Children welcome. Conditions apply – call in adv for specific information. Major credit cards. Parties welcome – book in adv.

NEW
TAKALA
52 Park Row, BS1 5LH
Tel: 0117 929 0806
Replacing the short-lived Asia in Wok, and moving away from that Euro-chain’s cluttered pan-Asian selection to a more accessible, recognisable and indeed more edible Chinese menu. Dining room is on the ground floor, with a basement bar available for those who want to party as well as dine. Menu leans towards Budokan/Wagamama territory: lots of noodle dishes - both ho fun (soup noodles) and chow mein (wok-fried) - as well as offering lots of other typical Chinese restaurant fare. Menu S: chicken wings; wafer-wrapped king prawns. M: beef with seasonal greens and noodles; stirfried chicken with udon. P: egg tarts; wife’s cakes Price All starters £3/all mains £5/all desserts £2.50 Wine list HW approx £12 btl Open Sun-Thur 12noon-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-12midnight. Children welcome. Major credit cards (charge for sales under £10). Parties welcome – book in adv. Takeaway.

TATYAN’S
Broad St, BS1 2HG
Tel: 0117 954 4848, web: www.tatyans.com
Lovely restaurant with a warm, friendly feel, serving modern dishes from distinct Chinese provinces, with an emphasis on freshness and healthy ingredients. Superb wine list, featuring some fine French names, a smattering of well-chosen new world flavours and several seriously good vintage selections for those splashing out. Lunch offers plus set banquets/theatre/hotel deals – call ahead or check website for details. They have a sister restaurant in Cirencester which is well worth a visit, too. Menu S: satay prawns; sweet & sour bean curd. M: beef in tomato & chilli sauce; battered prawns in sweet, hot, piquant sauce; pepper salt squid; stir-fried diced vegetables with egg, with pancake and hoisin sauce – a speciality from northern China. P: ice-cream; parfait caramel; toffee apple Price ALC: from £2.95/from £6.50/from approx £3 Wine list Large, varied, international. HW £9.95 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6.30-10.30pm. Children welcome. Major credit cards. Disabled access – call in adv. Private bookings of up to 40, experienced team of events managers on hand.

TEOHS
28-34 Lower Ashley Rd, St Agnes, BS2 9NP Tel: 0117 907 1191
Old Tobacco Factory, North St, Southville, BS3 1TF Tel: 0117 902 1122
See Thai, Malaysian, Singaporean & Indonesian.

WATER SKY BRISTOL
Eastgate Oriental City, Eastgate Rd, Eastville, BS5 6XY
Tel: 0117 951 2888, web: www.waterskybristol.com
Surely one of the largest Chinese restaurants in the South West, the 400-seater Water Sky opened in August 2007. Run by managing director Bobby Wong and his nephew and general manager Gary Ma, the family have spent some 30 years in catering in the UK, with Gary’s father presiding over the original Water Sky in Fleet, Hampshire for the past couple of decades, and their head chef previously cooked for an international corporation based in Hong Kong. A vast menu with something for everyone, this is traditional Cantonese cooking served up in an opulent atmosphere, handily situated above the new Wai Yee Hong oriental supermarket. All-you-can-eat menu, £15.95pp, allows you to choose from 65 different dishes. Menu S: baked mussels with green pepper & black bean sauce; deep-fried soft-shell crab with salt and chilli. M: barbecued suckling pig; chicken marinated in chinese wine, served cold. P: lychees; ice-cream Price ALC: from £3.95/from £6.95/from £3.50 Wine list International. HW from approx £12 btl Open Daily 11am-11pm. Children welcome. Disabled access, lift to restaurant. Major credit cards. Parties welcome.

ZEN HARBOURSIDE
First Floor, Explore Lane, Millennium Square, BS15TY
Tel: 0117 920 9370, web: www.zenharbourside.co.uk
Catering for up to 400, Zen is the harbourside venture from the same family behind Bristol’s long-established Dynasty and the more recent Obento. Specialising in regional cuisine drawn from more than 23 provinces in China, the menu features many authentic dishes that you simply won’t find in other Chinese restaurants in England, and which feature lots of aromatics and spices to produce delicious and interesting combinations of flavour. Old Shanghai-style decor and attentive staff - old meets new and east meets west. Menu is long and intriguing, with such delights as pockmarked woman’s tofu, thousand-year-old duck eggs and the offal overload that is Hell’s Concoction. Attentive, friendly staff will happily take you through the selection and help you follow the Zen concept of constructing a balanced meal. An extraordinary experience. Menu S: tea-smoked duck; szechuan duck tongues (soy-marinated duck tongues in chillies and szechuan peppercorns). M: black cod steamed in ginger and spring onions; spicy minced pork and vermicelli noodles. P: mango & lychee sorbet; seasonal exotic fruit platter Price ALC: from £4.50/from £7.50/from £3.50. Check website for regular SL & SD offers Wine list HW £11.90 btl Open Daily 12noon-12midnight. Children welcome. Disabled access & toilet (lift to restaurant). Major credit cards.

Bath

OCEAN PEARL
Podium Shopping Centre, Northgate St, BA1 5AL
Tel: 01225 331238, web: www.oceanpearl-bath.co.uk
Situated upstairs and at the back of Bath’s Podium Shopping Centre, with fantastic views over Pulteney Bridge, but the food (as well as the furniture and fittings) is traditional Chinese. Dishes change regularly (always around 40 to choose from), and value for money is a permanent fixture on the menu, thanks to a massive help-yourself, all-you-can-eat buffet. Bright and decorative decor, relaxed atmosphere, cheery and efficient staff. Menu S: dim sum; spring rolls; satay; spare ribs; soups. M: constantly changing pork, chicken, seafood dishes; crispy duck and lamb; vegetables, rice and noodles. P: dessert buffet (gateau, ice-cream, toffee bananas, etc) Price Lunch (serve yourself, all you can eat): £6.50 (under-10s £3). Dinner (ditto): £12.95 (under-10s £6). Meal deal (Fri-Sun 3-5.30pm): 3 £5. Takeaway boxes (fill your own, from buffet): £3.50 lunch, £4.50 dinner Wine list HW approx £11 btl Open Mon-Thur 12noon-2.30pm (last seating) & 6-10.30pm, Fri-Sun 12noon-10.30pm (last seating) Children welcome. Good disabled access. Major credit cards (not Amex). Parties of 20+.

PEKING CHINESE
1-2 New St, Kingsmead Square, BA1 2EF
Tel: 01225 461750/466377, web: www.pekingrestaurantbath.co.uk
The longest established Chinese restaurant in Bath is a timeless experience, where the past four decades blend tastefully into one - pink walls, pink napkins, pink lighting, fish in a tank and subtly fierce dragons on the walls. Food is the kind of traditional Cantonese, Szechuan and Peking specialities that have earned the restaurant well-deserved mentions in both the Michelin and Egon Ronay guides over the years, while the Peking duck is, as you might expect, the house speciality: prepared entirely on the premises, you have to book this dish 24 hours in adv. ‘The Peking doesn’t speak today’s foodie language of MSG-free organics, give a name to the pig that made the pork or attempt to blind you with pan-Asian geo-culture lectures. But what it does, it does exceedingly well: well-prepared Chinese food in a nice atmosphere for a good price,’ said our reviewer. Menu S: peking spare ribs; hot & sour soup. M: beef in black bean sauce; sweet & sour chicken; crispy chilli beef; crispy duck; chinese roast pork. Typical seafood special: baked lobster with ginger and spring onions (from £28). P: toffee banana Price ALC: from £3.30/from £6.50/from £3. Set banquets (min 2 people): prices vary Wine list HW £9.45 btl Open Daily 12noon-2pm & 6-11.15pm. Happy to cater for older children. No disabled access. Major credit cards. Function room for private hire, depending on size of reservation.

NEW
REAL CHINA ORIENTAL BUFFET
Unit 3, Kingsmead Leisure Complex, 5-10 James St West, BA1 2BZ
Tel. 01225 332677, web: www.therealchina.co.uk
Bright and breezy, family-friendly eat-all-you-like Chinese buffet restaurant. Menu S: salt & pepper squid; spring rolls. M: lamb with ginger & spring onions; braised tofu with chinese mushrooms in oyster sauce. P: fruit cocktail; ice-cream Price Lunch buffet (Mon-Sat): £5.95 (child £4.50). Dinner buffet: Mon-Thur £10.95 (child £5.95), Fri-Sat £11.95 (£child 6.95). Sun all-day buffet: £8.95 (child £5.50) Wine list HW approx £10.95 btl Open Sun 12noon-10pm. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11.30am-3.30pm, Sat 12noon-4pm. Dinner: Mon-Thur 5.30-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 6-11.30pm. Children welcome. Disabled access. Major credit cards. Parties welcome - call in adv.

NEW
RED ROSE RESTAURANT AT THE REDCAR HOTEL
27-29 Henrietta St, BA2 6LR
Tel: 01225 469151, web: www.redcarhotelbath.co.uk
Traditional Chinese restaurant within a traditionally British hotel. Menu S: sesame prawn toast; crispy spring rolls; edamame beans; chicken satay skewers. M: beef ho fun; chicken yaki udon; katsu curry; beef in black bean sauce. P: ice-cream; fresh fruit salad Price ALC: from £2.50/from £6.50/from £3.80. SD: Chinese/Japanese set menu £15/£18pp (min 2 people) Wine list HW approx £14 btl, good cocktail menu Open Mon-Sun 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-10pm. Children welcome. Disabled access. Major credit cards. Private hire/large parties welcome - call in adv.

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