ChinaTown Colchester
Quick info
About ChinaTown Colchester
Ask for the separate Chinese-language menu at ChinaTown Colchester and the kitchen opens up a spicier, more exotic set of dishes alongside the standard list. The restaurant sits on Osborne Street in central Colchester, serving Chinese food with Thai and Malaysian specialities across a menu of around 163 dishes, among them 4pcs Malaysian Charcoal Grilled Satay Chicken and 5pcs Tempura King Prawn. Sundays run differently, with an all-you-can-eat buffet that is ordered at the table and brought out by the team rather than collected from a counter. Chicken and sweetcorn soup and prawn crackers feature among the starters. Special orders can be arranged in advance for birthdays and similar occasions. Midweek evenings tend to be quieter, with tables generally available without difficulty. The restaurant opens through the week and closes on Tuesdays. There is no draught beer.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingPaid multi-storey car park · Paid parking lot · Plenty of parking
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating · Does not have assistive hearing loop
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs available
- DietaryServes vegetarian dishes
Menu & Prices
163 dishes · mains £3–56- Peking Mixed Hors D Oeuvres Minimum For 2£19.00
- Thai Mixed Hors D Oeuvres Minimum For 2£19.00
- Vegetarian Mixed Hors D Oeuvres Minimum For 2£17.00
- 4pcs Malaysian Charcoal Grilled Satay Chicken£8.20
- 4pcs Malaysian Charcoal Grilled Satay King Prawn£8.20
- 5pcs Tempura King Prawn£7.20
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sunday all you can eat buffet, secret chinese menu, chicken and sweetcorn soup and prawn crackers.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sunday all you can eat buffet, secret chinese menu, chicken and sweetcorn soup and prawn crackers.
Customer Review Summary
The cooking draws the most consistent praise, with several reviewers calling it genuine or authentic Chinese food and one weekly regular describing an off menu, all Chinese list of heavier, spicier dishes not offered to walk ins, ordered on the recommendation of a waiter who doubles as manager. Close behind is the service, described as friendly, helpful and professional, including patience with a visiting family who spoke little English and a special order arranged for a birthday. Others mention the prawn crackers and the welcoming decor. The recurring reservation is cost: one reviewer found the dishes expensive and another was surprised by the bill after previously using the Sunday all you can eat buffet, where you order at the table. That buffet drew the sharpest complaint, a diner who found the chicken and sweetcorn soup pleasant enough but said the chicken did not taste like chicken. One reviewer was left without soy sauce or salt on the table, and another missed draught beer.
Customer Review Summary
The cooking draws the most consistent praise, with several reviewers calling it genuine or authentic Chinese food and one weekly regular describing an off menu, all Chinese list of heavier, spicier dishes not offered to walk ins, ordered on the recommendation of a waiter who doubles as manager. Close behind is the service, described as friendly, helpful and professional, including patience with a visiting family who spoke little English and a special order arranged for a birthday. Others mention the prawn crackers and the welcoming decor. The recurring reservation is cost: one reviewer found the dishes expensive and another was surprised by the bill after previously using the Sunday all you can eat buffet, where you order at the table. That buffet drew the sharpest complaint, a diner who found the chicken and sweetcorn soup pleasant enough but said the chicken did not taste like chicken. One reviewer was left without soy sauce or salt on the table, and another missed draught beer.
Featured reviews
- Henry Wai
“Excellent service on a Saturday night. We enjoyed the dishes but were surprised by the cost, as we had prevously made use of the Sunday buffet.”
- DAVID MORRIS
“Lovely environment for dining, warm, comfortable and feels very authentic. We've eaten here a number of times, mostly midweek evenings so generally reasonably quiet and no difficulty getting a table. The menu is wide enough to suit all tastes and the food has been excellent every time we've visited. The staff are very helpful and professional. Prices are very reasonable too. Only real disappointment is a lack of draught beers! We will be back!”
- Santiago Vargas
“Honestly some of the best food I have ever had, plus the people were lovely and really patient with my family who were visiting from Spain and didn't speak to much English”
- alex ho
“The food is great, being Chinese were order from the secret all Chinese menu, it’s not offered to walk ins because of how spicy most of the dishes are, and some can be exotic, the owners from Dalian, one of the closest regions in China winters drop down to -15 to - 20, it’s right next to Russia, so the cuisine steers to heavy and spicy side. Not for all taste but his culinary skills are top notch. I visit weekly, and they always look after me, the waiter/manager Poon, he is great always gives good suggestions. Please visit. It is well worth it”
- Rajib Ahmed
“Food is expensive. At least to me. On the table they didn’t leave any sauce; no soya sauce or even salt. …”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Relaxed establishment featuring a wide variety of Chinese food, plus Thai & Malaysian specialties.”
- Has great tea selection
- Popular for popular for dinner
- Popular for good for solo dining
Amenities
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Paid parking lot
- Accepts reservations
- Offers delivery
- Offers takeaway
- Serves dine-in
Show more amenities
- Good for kids
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Serves alcohol
- Casual
- Always offers all that you can eat
- Serves beer
- Dining options· 5
- Serves dinner
- Has counter service
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
- Has table service
- Highlights· 1
- Has great tea selection
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Offerings· 4
- Serves coffee
- Serves late-night food
- Serves spirits
- Serves wine
- Accessibility· 2
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Does not have assistive hearing loop
- Family-friendly· 1
- High chairs available
- Popular for· 2
- Popular for dinner
- Good for solo dining
- Crowd· 2
- Good for groups
- Popular with tourists
- Parking· 2
- Paid multi-storey car park
- Plenty of parking
- Planning· 1
- Dinner reservations recommended
Location
Chinese restaurants near ChinaTown Colchester
- Oriental House4.01320.2 mi
crispy chilli beef, chicken satay, pepper squid
- Chef Canton4.56850.2 mi£20–30
salt and chilli wings, satay prawns, lemon chicken
- Tins Willows Garden4.11241.2 mi£10–20
sweet and sour chicken, egg fried rice, crispy tofu
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChinaTown Colchester | 4.3259 | — | £10–50 | sunday all you can eat buffet, secret chinese menu, chicken and sweetcorn soup |
| Oriental House | 4.0132 | 0.2 mi | — | crispy chilli beef, chicken satay, pepper squid |
| Chef Canton | 4.5685 | 0.2 mi | £20–30 | salt and chilli wings, satay prawns, lemon chicken |
| Tins Willows Garden | 4.1124 | 1.2 mi | £10–20 | sweet and sour chicken, egg fried rice, crispy tofu |
The 3 nearest chinese restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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