Zuju Restaurant in Newcastle upon Tyne

This Chinese restaurant has been our go-to spot for years. The food is consistently delicious, with a wide range of authentic Sichuan dishes. Love the option to customize the spiciness to suit your taste. The service is always friendly and efficient. Highly recommend for anyone seeking a flavorful and satisfy authentic Sichuan cuisine experience.

Whilst the food is tasty, the service has let this place down. We’ve been before, hence we know that the food is good. However, we tried to go recently and we were told of a 40 minute despite there being an empty table. After waiting for 10 minutes, we were told that the card machine doesn’t work and we must have cash. The head waitress was rude, and made us feel like we weren’t wanted in the restaurant. Chilli Padi up the road has much better customer service to match the tasty food. Make the walk up the road, it’s worth it!

First visit and very impressed. Nice venue, friendly staff and excellent food. Generous portion size too, well worth the money.

Authentic chinese food fantastic service unbelievable food .I was mine and my partners first time there last night and it's by far the best in newcastle unbelievable choices on the menu we will definitely be going again 😋

Boiled frozen fish dumplings, not fresh, very salty, the taste is hard to describe, I can’t believe this is a signature dish

We walked past this place that was full of Chinese people eating which is usually a good sign. How wrong I was. The starters were fine although I had a hint of meat that was off that could have only been my pork dumplings. The main meal was the worst Chinese food I have had served to me in 51 years. The beef speciality dish was over seasoned greatly with a great deal of salt and pepper (unpalatable) the beef was so tough there was a real chance of choking, the few pieces I did eat I had to tear it with my fingers and teeth. The chicken Szechuan was a large mound of crispy batter covered strings with no sauce whatsoever which did not relate to the luscious looking photo on the menu. My wife asked if this was the correct dish they had brought out and was assured that it was and the photos don’t always relate to what is served. My wife asked for a sauce to go with the dish and the waitress returned a minute later with a very very small dipping dish of sweet chilli sauce. Both meals were inedible. When the waitress came back to lift the full plates which had barely been touched I told her this was the worst Chinese meal I had ever had in 51 years. Her reply was sorry - our chef has 30 years experience. If there was a post without a star I would have hit that button. Keep walking past this restaurant as China Town is 100 yards up the road.

I love the food here so much, but the service in general is not very attentive.

Excellent Chinese food served by very informative staff was good value for money. The restaurant was very clean, modern and had a real Shanghai vibe. First time there - I'll be back!

I would highly recommend Zulu the food and service were impeccable, really authentic dishes will return with family when next in Newcastle!

Lovely. Best fried rice in Newcastle.

Really impressive restaurant and the food is far superior to any alternative Chinese restaurants in the area And its all halal, pork cooked separately

Asian also ambitious in terms of prices, however I found the chicken dish disappointing, all bone and very little meat

The dishes in this restaurant are so delicious, the serving speed is also very fast, and the service attitude is very very good. It was a good dining experience, and I am looking forward to tasting other dishes again next time！

Zuju is a very authentic restaurant . The food and staff are amazing . Newcastle is lucky to have such a great restaurant . The prices are also very reasonable.

Apparently amazing food was delicious staff friendly and very welcoming

The best Chinese restaurant I've ever tried in the UK

Very authentic food. Been around 10 times and never been let down. Staff are great too.

The environment is really good and the service is also very satisfying

It is said that drinking wine is the top Chinese food in Newcastle. I came here because of the reputation, and it turned out to be true. From the restaurant's design, service, and tableware, they are all on a higher level than ordinary Chinese restaurants. In terms of dishes, the sweet and sour short ribs are of course good, and the various pressure cooker dishes are a surprise. The most important thing is that the price is not expensive. Really good price. Some Chinese restaurants are ridiculously expensive even if they are slightly delicious. Update January 2024: New menu, tastes better.

After we sat down, we got told that we didn’t order enough food/drinks, and have to spend a minimum of £15 per person, otherwise we would be charged with compulsory 10% service fees. That’s is very illegal and not acceptable!

The decoration is nice, the tables are well arranged and there are flowers. I ordered spicy fish and beef, both were very salty and tasted average. The waiters were very busy. 10% off for students, no discount for cash.

Great food and service from staff.

The best Chinese food in Newcastle

Nice place to have some good authentic Chinese food, mainly Sichuan style. Good service and good atmosphere.

The dishes were neither very hot nor smoking when they were served. They were not freshly fried at all, but seemed to have been fried and then heated in a microwave. After observing the dishes on other tables, there was no smoke when they were served. The yellow beef tastes okay, but the beef frog smells so bad that I can't eat it at all. It's not a lot and it costs 20 pounds a plate. Summary: Serve me this kind of semi-prepared dish at this price? A little disappointed, a thunderbolt

Overall it’s a good place to enjoy Chinese cuisine, the food is delicious, and the staff are very friendly, I’ve ordered 3 times including takeaway, and the restaurant didn’t lower the quality, which is beyond my expectations, but one thing I need to mention is that the restaurant did not allow me to pay by card

Truly authentic experience. Thank you. From the moment we arrived, tasted the food, to leaving; everything was exceptional.

Best traditional Chinese food in the entire town

Such a fresh eating experience . Chinese food that is a new level of creativity , exceptional in quality , quantity , flavoursome and well presented . Staff were beautifully dressed and the venue is a modern clean environment. We opted for salt and chilli squid which came in the most perfect tempura batter and cut into crisscross rolls and some salt and chilli prawns which were also in tempura batter , large, juicy and succulent . For our main course we tried fish and it was moist light and buttery with lots of chilli mushrooms and bean shoots . The noodle dish was the best I’ve tasted . If you want to tickle your tastebuds and have a new dining experience go here

Most authentic chinese restaurant in Newcastle, absolutely would recommend.

The boss is very kind and arranges the seats very patiently every time he comes. Everything in the restaurant is delicious, ranging from sweet southern dishes to spicy Sichuan dishes. Every waiter in the restaurant has a very good service attitude. Even if the restaurant is busy every time, the boss will dutifully serve every customer. It's really good. It's the best Chinese restaurant in Newcastle.

My child celebrated his birthday here. He was very happy. The service was very good. He helped cut the cake and played music, which made us feel warm in a foreign country. The food is delicious and the portions are okay. There are 6 dishes for 6 people. If you don’t eat, you’ll have to take it away.

Zuju is easily the most authentic and high-quality Chinese food in Newcastle. I have been on multiple occasions and the food is always consistently good. I would highly recommend.

The food is delicious. Very authentic Sichuan cuisine. The boss is kind and kind.

ZUJU, consistently delivers an exceptional dining experience. From authentic flavors to generous portions, this restaurant has become my go-to for an amazing culinary journey. The menu at ZUJU showcases traditional Chinese dishes, each a masterpiece in taste and presentation. The freshness of ingredients is evident in every bite, making the dining experience truly remarkable. Portion sizes at ZUJU are not just generous; they are a feast for both the palate and the eyes. Whether captured in photos or savored in person, the dishes at ZUJU leave a lasting impression that keeps me coming back.

Food was good to be fair but the service could have been much better. One of our dishes wasn't served until 20-25mins later when we were nearly finished - It would have been ok as usually it's the kitchen and not the waitress fault but it was the defensive attitude that irked me. The children (5-6 y/o) were given paper cups and wooden bowls/spoon - Probably not the biggest deal if they say it upfront if they are being cautious with kids...but the straight faces from the waitresses (a middle-aged lady and a young lady) literally shouted if you bring children don't expect a good service. Bad dining experience overall and left as a disappointed customer.

This Chinese restaurant is excellent, and the dishes are delicious. It's the best Chinese food I've had in Newcastle, leaving a lasting impression on me. The owner and staff are very friendly and attentive, and it was a pleasant surprise to find fresh flowers on every table. Overall, it was a fantastic Chinese dining experience.

One of the best Chinese restaurants in Newcastle/Durham. It’s so delicious that my friends and I would take the train here to eat it! highly recommended! !

The food is very good and authentic. Really good place to enjoy the food.

Refused payment of master card. Didn’t told before going in. Just because I’m Chinese???

Good restaurant well prepared food.

Clean and tidy restaurant, delicious food, good value for money, low consumption requirement

Very very very bad customer service we experienced. The staffs are very rude and we were so disappointed because of their services and faces. I would never come back to this restaurant again. If there is the rate lower than 1 star, I would give it.

Every time, I visit I enjoyed my food as is always so good 😊 . The staff is always so kind and helpful . Everything is lovely.

Been here many times. The owner is very nice, but the staff are quite oblivious, especially when there are more than 3-5 tables, they just keep forgetting to give you water until you reminded them third or fourth time. The food are pricy but very tasty, authentic and good quality. My suggestion is go there during noon or afternoon, don’t just walk in during dinner time. When there are too many people, they will serve you very very slow, however, I think it’s the issue of lacking staff and cook, the restaurant overall( environment + food quality) are good enough.

I will leave Newcastle soon. I can guarantee that this is the best Chinese food in Newcastle. Although there are relatively few waiters in the store, if you can accept this, you will definitely have a good experience. Highly recommend the hand-cooked lamb (dinner only) and cumin lamb chops. 😉

The food is delicious and the waiter’s attitude is very good 👍

Authentic Chinese food. Great quality and reasonable prices.

Been here several times. Excellent authentic food, and friendly service, for a fair price👍

I eat at the canteen in Newcastle, which I must eat every time I go to Newcastle. Dry roasted seabass is highly recommended

The service was terrible. The head waitress (age around early 40s) was super rude. Despite being escorted to our table no cutleries were placed on our tables. The worse part was when I unknowingly made a hand gesture while talking to my friend and the head waitress approached us and asked if we wanted to order with an aggressive tone and we apologised as we needed more time to decide on what to order. The head waitress proceeded to say the exact words “why did you raise your hand then?” looking annoyed and left abruptly. We were so shocked by her response and service we decided to just leave. This wasn’t the first time she had made such an impression on us and I’ve heard similar incidents from friends as well. Even though the food is good, the service brings this place down to a 0.

I came here for a friend's birthday and the food was absolutely delicious and the service was wonderful. 10/10 recommend!!

We arrived without having booked. There were circa 15-20 tables. One free, one with some English people, the rest full of Cinese diners. This was a good sign, telling us this must be good and authentic. We were not disappointed. The menu was not like your usual Chinese, infact quite different. The food was THE BEST CHINESE FOOD WE HAVE EVER HAD. If we lived there we would go weekly, that is how good it was. If you get the chance, try it.

Food is amazing, and totally Authentic Cuisine. Well done guys x

I went there for dinner and it was lovely- delicious meal, excellent service, and left with a full belly! The staff were extremely friendly and accommodating, and I enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere. If you are looking for authentic, high quality Chinese food in Newcastle, I would absolutely recommend!

I visited this restaurant recently with family and it exceeded our expectations. The quality of food was amazing and the service was impeccable. Staff were extremely polite and helpful. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for authentic Chinese food in Newcastle :D

The spicy hotpot and fat intestines are crazy salty! I'm overweight and can't even eat.

Fantastic food. Would definitely go again. Full of flavour

Brilliant service, delicious food and very generous portions. Really lovely people and properly cooked, authentic food. If you like Szechuan cuisine in particular, you'll love this.

Authentic Chinese restaurant with reasonable price. Food are amazing delicious. But it would be better to have fork and knife for people who can't use chopstick.

Absolutely fabulous. Family run and it shows with the care which is taken in the front of house as well as in the kitchen. The only Chinese I would recommend for a bite to eat with friends or impressing anyone for a business lunch.

Food tastes okay, a bit overpriced. Long waiting time. Staffs are rude and unfriendly with scowling face expression like the emojis 😒😠

Food was overpriced, squid was served on a plate small enough to feed a hamster not worth the money at all

Our first visit to this restaurant & the food was delicious. The flavours were excellent and very healthy portions all round. We will definitely be back.

Zuju is really the best Chinese restaurant I have eaten in Newcastle, especially the braised pork is absolutely delicious and never gets tired of it, and there is also sheep in hand, which is really suitable for drinking in the cold winter. The spicy hotpot is satisfying. I want to eat beef and seafood at the same time. The boiled fish is very tender, and the stir-fried pork is also very delicious. . . . . It really satisfies my Chinese stomach. The service attitude of the proprietress and the young ladies in the store is also very good. It is worth checking in again.

ZuJu is my favorite Chinese restaurant. Red pork belly was impressed me,it tasted very good,pickled fish was also delicious.The environment is very clear and beautiful,there are flowers on the table.The staff is very friendly and lovely.

I was so impressed by my visit to ZUJU last week, honestly one of the best (if not so the best) Chinese restaurants in the UK, if I did not live in Newcastle, I would literally travel to Newcastle to eat their Chinese dishes. The red braised pork belly was definitely top of my list, along closely, followed by Sichuan diced chicken then followed by their three cup chicken, I have never tried this dish before, but it was so good. I highly recommend here definitely worth a visit!

BEST RESTAURANT IN NEWCASTLE! The food, the atmosphere, the vibes are just all so perfect. i have always been a great fan of Chinese cuisine, and to come across this restaurant as i was walking past i was immediately drawn in by the lovely bouquet of flowers they had besides the table (i noticed when i later visited that there are fresh flowers on every table, a very nice touch) it seemed like a very nice, clean and well kept place. We ordered 4 dishes to share between the 4 of us that went and it was more than enough, the serving sizes are very generous. We ordered 'water boiled' panga fish, it was one of the best fish dishes i've ever had the fish was so soft and the spicy kick was just perfect. I think we also tried the Sichuan diced chicken, yum！it was crispy chicken then cooked with lots of chillis, it was quite spicy but still so delicious. i can't possibly recommend this place more!

Decided to visit this new location as La Yuan was one of my favourite restaurants in Newcastle. The decor is the same. The place is busy. Staff are helpful and friendly but clearly overwhelmed by how busy the place is. They bought the wrong order twice and my starter arrived after I had finished my main course and was getting ready to leave. The menu has changed and I preferred the menu at La Yuan. I had questions about the items on the menu which the waitress couldn't answer. I ordered a Teriyaki noodle dish which tasted nothing like Teriyaki. The venue needs improvement and training for staff but is still well worth a visit for delicious food.

We called in on a Friday lunchtime and it was qute busy. You can see why when the food arrives. All the food was obviously freshly made and tasted amazing. We had a beef shortrib hotpot, teriyaki noodles, and salt and pepper squid. All perfectly cooked with amazing flavours.

Tasty food and a relaxing atmosphere.

Authentic Chines food. Good service reasonably priced considering excellent quality.

Really nice restaurant. Service is a bit slow.

Food is tasty, good distance between tables. Just a bit warm in the high temperature weather.

I was a fan of the previous restaurant here, La Yuan, so I came hoping Zu Ju would be as good as if not better. It's a nice space and they keep it tidy & clean. Others mentioned following staff recommendations so I did this. The waitress recommended that I order the braised pork off the specials menu and I followed suit. For me, literally the worst Chinese dish I've had in years, possibly ever. This dish is so sweet it was practically a dessert. As mentioned by others the service here is borderline surly. Perhaps because my waitress seemed to be a Chinese national she seemed a lot friendlier with other Chinese speaking customers. I'm hopeful that the rest of the menu has better dishes but why anyone would recommend the braised dessert pork is completely beyond me. edit: Thanks to Zu Ju for their professional reply. Will give it another try when I'm back in Newcastle.

We wanted to try a different Chinese restaurant, and this was pretty good! 📍Zuju @ 7-9 Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4SG 🐟Fish Broth with Sour Vegetables 🌶️🌶️ -This was perhaps the richest version I've had in all of Newcastle. It was quite a large portion for around 16 quid. Spicy, and rich with flavour. 🫑Chilli & Pepper Tofu -As a starter, the portion was really small, but still really delicious. The tofu was fried to crispy perfection, and salted just nicely. 🎃Pumpkin & Ricecake coated in Salted Egg -A nice enjoyable dish to complement dishes. Overall, a good experience!

Im from China and this is The Best Chinese food I ever had in my 10 years in the UK, authentic and delicious. Yes long wait but definitely worth it!

I think it is the best Chinese restaurant in Newcastle. On days when I don’t want to cook, it is my canteen😍I recommend the lamb, beef ribs, pickled fish, boiled beef, pot-wrapped pork...the service attitude is also pretty good! Very kind~

I use to eat Cantonese foods, but I found Zuju restaurant foods was impress me when I first time to try. I am high recommend for people to book table before to go. Because this restaurant quite busy at dinner time. I had took long time to wait our meals, but it's worth it, very delicious foods. My kids love the dish call 锅包肉 it's similar like HONGKONG style 咕噜肉. I wll go to second time for a lunch, evening was too busy. Thanks chefs, good job👍

Just been to this restaurant for the first time after being recommended by a personal friend and a current member of staff at the establishment. Overall, amazing service by the young waitress who served me and my family who walked us through the entire menu and helped us to pick the most delicious of dishes during our stay. Would highly recommend this place to anyone wanting to try a different cuisine choice.

I frequent ZUJU and the food is very delicious! The proprietress is kind and amiable. When a friend is feeling unwell, she can coordinate with the kitchen to help make porridge.

Please treat your own people like you treat Americans. Thanks :)

The food was absolutely delicious with authentic and fresh flavours. I had no problems whilst I was there as the staff were happy to cater to any requests we had and we were served quickly. I would highly recommend as a restaurant to stop by in Newcastle.

I have just visited this restaurant again with my family and the food is as delicious as always. My son’s absolute favourite dish is the ‘egg yolk chicken wings’ (photo attached). Much more authentic flavour than the general buffet or takeaways. We have visited China before and would say that it comes very close in taste. The staff are friendly and make good recommendations. I would recommend you to give it a try.

After waiting for an hour, the dishes probably haven’t started yet. The most annoying thing was that at first the clerk said there were a lot of orders and wanted us to order later. We very understandingly waited 20 minutes before placing the order, and then waited another 40 minutes. We waited from 7 pm to 8:10 pm. My friend started to have some hypoglycemia. We were also very hungry, so we drank a few sips of the milk tea we bought. At this time the boss came over and told us not to drink our own drinks. We explained that it was not because we brought drinks in, but because we were so hungry that we had low blood sugar and took a few sips. We promised to put the milk tea in the bag and not drink it again. She said regardless of our reasons it was the restaurant's policy. Then she was still arguing with us that we couldn't have been waiting for an hour, and she confirmed the order time😃 This boss is really funny. First, we have indeed waited for an hour, but we just promised the clerk to place the order later. Second, what kind of magical restaurant are you asking customers to wait for an hour before they can get their food? My friend and I were understanding and willing to spend more time to give the restaurant a buffer. result. The foreign guests at the next table who arrived half an hour later than us had already served two dishes and had them packed. Why are you still picking people to sort, right? Students who seem to have a good temper can still be pushed back? Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

Poor service attitude and long waiting time. At the beginning, the clerk who arrived at the store said that the kitchen was too busy due to the large order volume, so he asked if he could order later. Out of consideration for the store, we sat there for 15 minutes. I ordered food later when I was really hungry. After sitting in the restaurant for an hour, I asked the boss if the food could be served faster. The boss's attitude was to argue with us for an hour about whether we had ordered the food, instead of doing his own work. But at the same time, the foreign friends next door who came much later than us had already served two dishes. I don't understand why we have to receive so many guests when we don't have enough reception capacity? I don’t understand why as a customer, we should wait for an hour before we get our food? Why did I get an argument instead of an apology after waiting so long? And why is it okay to treat customers differently? Therefore, I do not recommend it and will not come again in the future. Reply to the boss: 1. We have been sitting in the restaurant for an hour. My original words are the same. Your so-called "verification" is to frown and argue with us that we have not waited for an hour. 2. The so-called "notification" was that the food was served, but it was not served. We sat there for nearly ten minutes after the argument, but we didn't have a single dish before we chose to leave. 3. I did not ask for any service, but if you inform us of the waiting time in advance, we will not come to eat. And the saddest thing for us is that you chose to blame us after we raised objections. I believe this kind of service attitude is unacceptable in any restaurant at home or abroad. Is this something that would happen in a normal restaurant? 4. Everyone has the right to comment. What I explained above is my personal experience and I did not distort the facts. How can it become "venting on the platform"? And you even escalated it to a personal attack. Which behavior is more egregious? 5. I saw that other comments criticized the duration issue a few months ago, but instead of making changes, you didn’t even respond with a different attitude. 6. There is one thing that needs to be corrected about my above evaluation, that is, the other two service ladies had a very good attitude during the waiting time, and the communication with them was also very good. The poor service attitude I am referring to means that you have given people a very bad service experience, and I would like to specifically correct it here. 7. Finally, we initially chose the restaurant because the food looked good. Anyone who wants to try the food can give it a try. But I did have a very bad experience here. It was an unpleasant experience, but I was shocked by your personally offensive reply. I wish you a prosperous business and learn how to be a normal restaurant soon.

Lovely food really enjoyed it😊👍

Rock Sugar Elbow, Pork Belly Chicken, Guobao Pork, Fried Rice with Soy Sauce Pork, and Pickled Fish are all very popular! ! ! !

Visit Zuju everytime we are in newcastle.staff so friendly food brilliant spotless inside.service excellent.a must place to visit

Definitely the best Chinese restaurant in Newcastle. Went there with friends last night and the food, the service were excellent. Highly recommended.

Amazing food and good service. Only downside (which is partly our own fault) is the serving sizes were huge and I believe meant to be for sharing. However got to bag it up and had some fantastic left overs. 10/10

We've been to ZUJU a few times, and we highly recommend it. Definitely the best Chinese restaurant in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Very nice ambience, friendly staff. However, we have waited far too long for all our dishes to arrive (more than 40minutes and currently still waiting as I write this review). We booked our table in advance, and yet still have to wait for quite a long time for our food. If this remains a recurrent theme it will definitely put me off coming back even if the food is delicious.

Don't try it unless you are ready to wait for more than 1.5 hours to get your meal served. Fair enough food but terrible speed.

If there are potatoes in the gelatin vegetable pot, it would be perfect! ! !

Really interesting and delicious food. We chose from the exquisite menu and the portions were large (great to share). One dish was really a taste explosion and the owner was really engaging with customers. Also chic, minimalist venue that was very clean.

This newly opened Chinese restaurant serves authentic Chinese dishes, that are from different Chinese cuisines. The food we had were flavoursome with ample servings. Staff are friendly and attentive. Strongly recommended!

The staff was taking care of an extremely rude customer who got crazily angry because there was no spare table for her and her partner on Christmas Day in 2021. The staff was unbelievably friendly and patient, bearing with the ridiculous quarrel and providing take-away options . This lovely restaurant deserves guests who appreciate their service. Open on Christmas Day 2021, the interior decoration is novel and bright, the toilet is in the basement, clean and comfortable. The original price of preserved egg and lean meat porridge is £8.8, 10% off if you pay by cash or WeChat. The porridge is light and tasteless, the shredded pork and preserved eggs are flavorful, and minced lettuce is added to cook together. It is suitable for two or more people to share. The large dishes on the next table were huge, basin-level. The clerk has a very good attitude and treats customers cordially and sincerely.

Absolutely delicious Chinese food! Service was excellent too. :)

I am gonna vote ZUJU as TOP 1 Chinese Cuisine in Newcastle Upon Tyne. lol:)