China Chef in Colchester

Just brilliant and they have a complete gf menu.

One of the hidden gems in Colchester! I used to come here during my time at university, and it quickly became one of my favorite spots. The ambiance is cozy, perfect for lunch/dinner. The food is always fresh and flavorful.

Take away of most excellence and prestige. Eat here if you can! Often very busy

Staff were friendly, food was good and atmosphere OK if a little noisy. The lower star rating is due to the fact that despite every Fri/Sat reservation incurring a £20 deposit at time of booking, staff appear to "forget" to deduct it from the final bill. If every pre-reserved booking has paid a deposit then surely it is not something they could forget to deduct so you can draw your own conclusions on that. As I had not noticed / remembered this deposit when I came to pay, it meant having to return the next day to get a refund - but even this could not be done straight away and needed the manager to call me back later that day. Additionally, they do not present an itemised bill when you come to pay and so we did not initially notice that we had also been overcharged for drinks. Despite this being agreed by staff when we went back the next morning, the refund we got back later in the day did not include the drinks overpayment! As the amount was relatively small we did not go back again but there seem to be rather too many mistakes on bills so I recommend you check yours if you eat there.

I was so impressed with the gluten free menu they have! And it tasted amazing. We came on Friday and the staff were very friendly and the service was great. It can get busy outside for parking so we had to park in St Mary’s in the end but that isn’t the restaurants fault.

Always good, top quality service. Amazing food and highly recomended

Used to be so nice. We stopped for dinner and there are kids arguing behind the bar (one girl with ginger highlights and one fella thinks he’s billy idol). Cupboard doors slamming and cutlery being launched about. Food and service really nose dived.

Waited until 4pm to eat because that’s what it says on Google, only to find they don’t open until half 5 member of staff was very rude about it and did not apologise just told me to get lost

Wonderful food and polite, friendly staff.

Amazing food and lovely atmosphere great service.

Firstly this is a real shame I have to write this as the food here is amazing Unfortunately this can't be said for the staff working there, we visited China chef for a birthday meal we didn't book we just turned up and had a wonderful time my children thoroughly enjoyed it aswell, can I just add at this point I have mentioned children.... so I called this restaurant again to book a table this time rather than just turn up, once we said children would be attending as it's a family meal this is where it went down hill the lady said Unfortunately there is a age policy and that children under 6 are not allowed to eat here.. i mentioned the fact that we ate here the week prior with our children and this was never mentioned then ??? The lady then asked when I attended she then told me we never ate here and was basically calling me a liar and she seemed to.find the whole thing very amusing she also then said well we are very busy on this day so which is it busy or age policy ? i couldnt believe this I have never experienced anything like this before. We were going to make this a regular place to visit but feel this has now tarnished that idea. A really shame as the food and surroundings are really nice. I checked there website and there is absolutely nothing on there about age policy in fact it mentions pushchairs on there so 🤷

Went for a lunch before going to the Mercury with family of 8 was excellent.

This restaurant is absolutely amazing, the food is great and it has a great atmosphere. Could not fault it. Will definitely be returning soon

Great food the dumplings and crispy prawn starters were incredible and I love the stir fried chicken with lettuce wraps. Staff efficient and friendly.

Ambience, service and food quality is top notch, led by the indefatigable Winnie in the restaurant and Maestro Chef Ken in the kitchen. All of our meals are great fun and hugely enjoyable. Well worth a visit!

They squeezed us in at the last minute. Nice Chinese.

Had a lovely meal .food was hot and delicious. Nice atmosphere good Service

Hellishly busy but extremely noisy, making a family meal very difficult for chat. Obviously popular and the food was delicious.

Food here is fabulous, so so tasty, every dish we had (we had various dishes between 5 of us). Best chinese I have had in a long while. Lovely staff. The restaurant is a little small and tightly packed but this is quite common for good Chinese restaurants in my experience. Booked to go again in March (make sure you book quite far in advance as can get booked up as very popular)

Always come here to eat with family the food is so good and the lady who runs the restaurant is always friendly to us. Their Kung Pao Chicken is incredible. I recommend you try it.

Loved the experience. Service with a smile. Lovely ambience. The food was excellent and definitely value for money. Looking forward to visiting again. Good for a family day out or date.

Very good food. Try soft shell crab, the best. I will be back for more. The best chinese resto in colchester.

Consistently great food. Not too greasy and always just perfect. The only local Chinese restaurant I need.

Really disappointing pick up of pre ordered takeaway this evening - 40 minutes late would you believe it! No apology, no compensation, no nothing. Whole family in tears. This place has gone downhill lately.

Had our Xmas meal in there , all absolutely amazing , then went back there a week later for another amazing meal , best Chinese in Colchester

Best Chinese restaurant in Colchester. Be sure to book to avoid disappointment.

Take out last night. Honestly it was totally fine, nothing wrong, just really rather bland - not much flavour at all which was disappointing as I’d heard so many good things.

Have 2 say I went with a large group the food and service were amazing and I never do reviews. 5 stars every day 👍

1St time here and it was lovely. Good gluten free knowledge and advice also.

Perfect little Chinese restaurant, good and fast service and great food.

Excellent Chinese/ Asian restaurant on Crouch St in Colchester. Elegantly stylish this contemporary restaurant has excellent service and food. Would highly recommend and I shall be visiting again. (But don't tell everyone you know, we still want to be able to book a table!)

Delicious and enjoyed a lovely vegan dinner- would be nice to have a specific vegan menu given out though as it was quite hard to figure out what was vegan. My friend is gluten free and said it was a fantastic menu for her.

We hadn't booked a table but they quickly accommodated us and the food and service was excellent well worth going

Take away really delicious, just let down by leaving out a dish. We definately would recommend, but check your dishes if you're having a takeaway before you leave.

Great food and for a coeliac, would recommend as I am and ordered of the gluten free menu, had no problem. They knew and understood coeliac and I had no problem with the food. Was great to have. Very nice food and nice staff. Will be having again. Thanks for doing gluten free, as coeliac isn't a choice ✊🏻

My husband and I went for food with two friends and the service was average throughout the meal, the food lovely. However, I was very disappointed with the customer service upon payment. My husband was paying the bill and accidentally put an old card in, before he realised what he had done the machine said 'funds not available', if this had been the case then I would have expected it to be dealt with discreetly, however, the lady (owner I believe) all but shouted 'you got no money'. Luckily it was just a mistake and he put the wrong card in, but had this have been someone on a date or anything where they'd made a mistake and didn't have funds, I would have hoped for gentle discretion. We have been loyal customers for years so I was very disappointed with this very unprofessional encounter.

Expensive, too much salt and one of my favourite dishes crispy chilli beaf was not very crispy but very chewy

Very nice meal nice place and atmosphere

Amazing food with great portion sizes

Got a Gluten free takeaway here last Friday for my sister who is coeliac. The selection was great, with all the takeaway favourites available and more. So glad to be able to enjoy a Chinese without getting sick a few hours later. The food was fresh, hot, and very tasty I will certainly be returning in the near future. Preordering at least a meal time before your takeaway is appreciated by the staff.

This is the best Chinese restaurant in Colchester. It is always busy and the food is great.

Wouldn’t eat Chinese anywhere else in Colchester. Fantastic food and fantastic service 10/10

One off crouch Street gems atmosphere good service friendly food was hot perfect night we ordered set menu 2bs and 2cs Even when it was packed the food came out on time definitely come again 😋, well worth paying a visit c u soon

Fantastic food with good service.

We had a lunch meal for 9, based on set meal C. The food was well cooked and promptly served by very pleasant staff. The restaurant was nearly empty and started off quire cold but warmed up as we ate. All told a very good time but not as ground-breaking a menu as when we first ate there (in the 90's?)

I recently had the pleasure of dining at China Chef, a Chinese restaurant that exceeded my expectations. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, with traditional decor and soft lighting setting the mood for a relaxing meal. Upon being seated, we were greeted by our friendly server who promptly took our order. The menu had a wide variety of dishes to choose from, with something for everyone. We decided to start with an appetizer and were not disappointed. For our main course, we selected a few dishes that were cooked to perfection. The flavors were bold and delicious, and the portion sizes were generous. Our server was attentive and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal. Overall, our dining experience at China Chef was exceptional. The food was delicious, the service was top-notch, and the atmosphere was welcoming and comfortable. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a tasty and authentic Chinese meal

Really good, food was good did not feel bloated or taste msg was fresh. Service was really most of all does gluten free for the other half so win win 🏆

The best! Consistently 10/10, old classics as well as some left field dishes, great team!

It’s the best Chinese you can get in Colchester, usually , o got many disappointments with Chinese in Colchester, delicious food genuine staff

I've been coming to China chef for years and by far this is the best Chinese cuisine in town. Some Beef dishes and Fish dishes are simply exceptional. Will always recommend. 5* always

Excellent hot food, attentive service.

10/10 this place does not disappoint. Best Chinese in Colchester and beyond, great service too, thanks for the nice meals always.

Absolute lovely meal and couldn't fault the excellent staff. Will visit again

The best Chinese in the area, or any area for that matter! The food is always outstanding whether eating in or takeaway. The restaurant itself has a lovely atmosphere. There is a fantastic gluten free menu with lots of options which the staff have an impressive knowledge of. I'd particularly recommend the ribs!

Didn't book as it was a Tuesday night, but felt lucky as it was very full. Great food and very helpful front of house. Decor and atmosphere very good.

We have moved out of the area in the last year and China Chef is definitely one of the things we miss the most. Six of us enjoyed a ‘reunion’ dinner and the food was memorable; best it has ever been. As always, the staff were welcoming and attentive. This really is a first class Chinese restaurant, Colchester is lucky to have it.

Came up from Kent to visit our friends in Colchester and celebrate her 50th Birthday. They booked the China Chef for her celebratory meal. Well what an excellent choice. The food was out of this world and the service to match. Would highly recommend this restaurant and will without hesitation be visiting this restaurant again. Book this restaurant, you won't be disappointed.

On two occasions we have had a takeawy meal ordered and collected within an hour of opening in the evening. On both occasions the food has been dried up. Hard dry rice, chicken that was advertised as in sauce had dried and just left chicken. Amazing even the noodles were dry. I suspect the food early evening are left overs from lunch or it is cooked long before collection and then kept warm where it dries up.Much more expensive than other chinese restaurants in Colchester.

We wanted to celebrate Chinese New Year and decided to support our local Chinese takeaway. They quoted £19.80 for a single set dinner. But you can only order for two which equals £38 .60. Misleading? So as there was no way round it, we ordered for two . Very disappointed. Cremated duck and all the portions were for one person. Even more disappointing was that there was no one in the restaurant who could manage my concerns. Passed on to a manager who didn’t call back. Wish we had stuck with our reliable Chinese takeaway

Our second visit and it was as good as the last! - can’t wait to come back and enjoy it again the ribs are to die for

I ordered a takeaway on Saturday night at 5.45pm, the man on the phone explain that the next pick up slot is 8.15pm. I said ok, he take my phone number and my name. I tried to call the restaurant at 8pm but no answer as I wanted to ensure that when I came to pick up the food it is ready. At 8.15pm, I turned up and I paid. I learned that my food need to be cook and it will not take long. The restaurant did know about this order more than 2 hours ago and I will have to wait. I asked for a gesture by a discount. The restaurant refused. the only choice was I wait for the food or have a refund. I did take the refund. The customer service was very poor and I feel like I was the service provider not the client. Very disappointed as the food is quite good but this poor service does not want me to spend my hard earn money there.

My partner and I went to China Chef last night for a meal. We called in advance to make sure we could get a table. Service was quick and efficient. Staff were attentive and food was tasty. The only quibble is that it is on the pricey side

Very disappointed with take-away Friday evening. Chicken wings starter and main course duck meat was hard and appeared re-heated. Main course beef and black bean sauce were in small single container.Realise it is challenging times but I do not expect this from China Chef. You can do better!

The food was excellent, the drinks on the pricey side, the service was very good, just one downside, we went as a family of 3, plus one couple and one single person, we asked could we order and have 3 separate bills and was told no, so we had to sit and work it out afterwards, only to find the bill was 8 pounds too much, when we questioned it, we were told it was for the containers that they supplied us to take away some of the food we had not eaten, so would suggest taking along your own containers, apart from that all was good

We were a group of nine so thought the banquet would be easiest, I’m not always the greatest fan Banquets in Chinese restaurants but this one was really good. There was the usual hors d oeuvres followed by duck pancakes, then we had a variety of dishes that were just awesome, a mixture of flavours, meats, sea fish and sauces.Nothing dull about this banquet, we all really enjoyed it, thanks China Chef for a great evening.

Afraid to say quite possibly worst Chinese we have had for a long time. It’s deep fried and tasteless walked out after 1 course don’t waste ur time going there! Leanne’s witham a lot better option and what a chinese should be.

Staff and food great as always Could not recommend highly enough Make sure you visit they are always exceptional

Excellent food beautifully presented by cheerful , helpful staff, in a smart trendy setting. Better that most other Chinese Restaurants that I have visited. Thank you.

I organised a work outing, and there were 40 people attending, the food was outstanding, the service was exceptional, fast polite and friendly, the atmosphere in the restaurant was great. I can't wait to return. They offered Gluten Free meals for us and a great variety of vegetarian dishes.

Went out for a ‘girls night out’ we were greeted and served very speedily, lovely!! The food came out very fast and hot, it was beautiful would definitely recommend!! My one problem is that when it came to the bill a short haired ‘middle aged’ waitress came to take our bill but when we explained that we wanted to split it, she very rudely said that she ‘doesn’t split bills she just collects it’ and proceeded to walk away and, in front of us, clearly make rude gestures to our table and loudly have a go about us to her other colleges. She left us to ‘sort it out’. I felt that this ruined our lovely Friday evening as her attitude was to sum it up - unnecessary!

Best Chinese food in Colchester. Consistently excellent and fantastic service. Every dish delicious and we ordered A LOT.

Visited today with 3 friends, 2 of whom were in their lunch break which is why we opted for the express menu. 3 of us ordered Singapore noodles and we ordered a couple of extra dim sum dishes as a side order. My friends were too polite to leave their meal but I could not eat mine. The most boring, flavourless noodles I have ever had!! We needed to add a huge amount of soy and pepper. The two young men who were waiting on tables were uninterested, unfriendly and almost surly to the point of rudeness. The lady, on the other hand was polite and friendly.I have never been here at lunchtime before, perhaps everything is cut down to a cheap price to attract local workers. I won't be back.

Have always rated this restaurant highly and so we were looking forward to a special night out

We don't often order Chinese food as it can often be disappointing but I had heard good reviews about the China Chef and I know it has been in Colchester for years. We ordered the set menu B for two people and it was really tasty, and arrived quickly.

Excellent food and service , fantastic company . We ordered a mixture of dishes from the menu,enjoyed them all one small criticism the Lemon Chicken was dry .

Booked this restaurant to celebrate my daughters birthday. It is one of the best Chinese Restaurant I have visited. It was very clean, service was excellent and there was a huge choice of food. Will definitely return

We visited last night for the first time in years (not sure why we took so long) for a family birthday meal. We had forgotten how good the food was, but won't forget again . I can't remember having had better Chinese food anywhere with the Duck Pancakes and Spicy Tofu being outstanding. The food is not the cheapest, but portion size was good and the quality was extremely high. The service was prompt and efficient without ever being overbearing. All in all a really enjoyable meal out. Do be aware that we went on a Monday and booked, but were surprised that when we arrived at 7pm to find there were no spare tables. It is clearly very popular throughout the week

This is definatly our favorite Chinese restaurant, we had a differentb meal last night, we normally have set meal C which is amazing and good value to but we felt like a change last night so we had individual dishes from the menue after having the fantastic mixed gourmet starters, service is spot on, what an excellent evening.

A group of 9 of us went here last night to celebrate a friends 60th birthday and to be honest from the welcome we got when we arrived... the service we received while we were eating and drinking... the quality of the food ,, it was all top class and I mean top class.. not cheap by any means.. but if you get the quality we got last night … who cares. a truly superb night out and a fitting celebration of a good friends 60th birthday.. my wife and I live in Chelmsford and we will certainly be visiting together... 10 out of 10

Had highly recommended this to our family and was worried that the experience may not be as good as we remembered, there was no need to worry as it was better than I remembered. The service and food was amazing! The honey roasted pork was so succulent, it everyone s favourite dish. The Singapore noodles were very light and one option is enough for 4 people. Yes, it is expensive but you get what you pay for. Cant wait to go back again.

Went to China Chef for our anniversary meal. Not the first time we have been but the food seems to get better and better. The service is faultless, the restaurant is clean and the staff are friendly. You might find cheaper but I challenge anyone to find better. You certainly won't be hungry at the end of your meal either, particularly if you go with the Chef's Choice. A great asset to the Westside of the town. Easy to park right outside for free in the evening.

The waiters and service is excellent. It was a busy day, Father’s Day, but the service and time for the food to come out was very good. However, the actual meals and food lacked taste. We tried each other’s dishes incase it was one, it was all of them.

We visited very recently and as always the food and service was as good as it gets which is why its one of our favorite chinese restaurants.We have visited many times and always find it very good.

Excellent food and service. Pork a bit chewy but rest was spot on. Would have preferred not to hear the bass sounds coming from some other room/venue

Was given a very warm welcome. The food was excellent and the service was also excellent. Great value for money too. We will definitely be going again 👍

We have been patrons of this place for years, food is always excellent as is the service, probably the best Chinese in Colchester

I studied in Colchester 9 years ago, and then we often went to China blue restaurant. This time I visited Colchester with my husband and I really wanted to eat Chinese food again, because nowhere else in the world I tried such tasty Chinese food. When I found out there is no Chinablue anymore, I was looking for another Chinese restaurant and found China Chef. The Crispy aromatic duck was perfect, really Crispy, the taste that I missed so many years. Singapore style fried noodles - the huge portion with great taste. Thank you very much!

we were lucky to get in food is so good and the staff are really nice thoroughly enjoyable evening but as per usual we ordered to. much

Our first time at this restaurant, and very good it was too. The food was superb, the service and friendliness of staff top notch. Being a Friday it got busy around 8.30 and was full by the time we left. I can see why. Having spent considerably more money at the Banquet Chinese recently and got inferior food and service, this was most welcome. Maybe a bit more expensive than most but definitely worth it.

I visited with a friend a few weeks back. We both had the set menu; it was superb. The servers and staff were friendly and we both had a really enjoyable meal - thank you.

Very nice place. Very nice food, especially the starters! Ordered one of the set menus along with the starters and it was lovely. I believe the set menu portions are slightly smaller than other portions. However, you get more of a variety of food with this and you can always get some additional starters. Definitely a place worth going to again.

We recently booked a table for Mother’s Day evening,which was booked a month in advance. When I booked I asked for the banquet (which is a set dish menu of chefs choices) I had been before and had this and it was very good.

I would 100% recommend China Chef for Chinese in Colchester. Although a little more expensive than other Chinese options it’s definitely worth it!!

We shared a take away set menu for 2 with 3 extra sides last Saturday evening. We should have ordered well in advance as it was Saturday evening but it was well worth the wait. There was plenty for 4 people and was absolutely delicious. There was no greasiness and the chips were crispy and fluffy rather than the usual Chinese chips expected. We will definitely will be returning to the China Chef for our future take aways.

My wife and I regularly dine at this restaurant as the food is always of a good standard and the service being swift, hence why we use this restaurant regularly. We are very surprised and shocked that on our latest visit on Saturday the service was so poor as we had to wait for over hour between starters and the main courses. There were only two of us with three starter dishes and three main dishes so this shouldn't have been a problem. Also the waitress missed off one starter and one main dish from our order! The problem this restaurant has now is it favours the takeaway orders than the restaurant customer orders which get priority. Several tables were in the same position waiting for food. It wasn't until 21:00 before serving food to the restaurant was back to normal. We were left on our own for ages waiting to hear about our order and when we did, what they said never happened as they said it would. We got offered a glass of tap water for waiting so long! If this is the service what this restaurant now offers and gives priority to their takeaway orders, we will no longer dine here and will take our custom elsewhere.

My first visit with a group of friends for a special birthday celebration. We had the banquet dinner and it was delicious with more than ample helpings. As usual there weren't enough pancakes for the duck but our request for more soon rectified that. The meal was a leisurely affair lasting about 2.5 hours with no pressure on us to finish our meal. Hopefully I will return in the not too distant future.

My family and I love this restaurant and regularly dine there.

I want a quick lunch but end up nearly two hours food is not value for money service bad, they seem don't care of our visit food is ok, but not good for value. I wont go there no more.

Eleven of us descended on the China chef to celebrate a birthday. They were very welcoming to us on arrival, quickly seating us and asking for our drink choices.

The food is great but you always feel like you are being rushed.I wonder if the staff are the same with later booked tables.Not going back.