The Mandarin Chef
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Quick info
About The Mandarin Chef
The Mandarin Chef is a Chinese restaurant on Winchester Rd in Romsey, where the all-you-can-eat buffet is served at the table and designed to reduce food waste. The kitchen prepares the menu fresh each day. Kung po chicken and shredded duck with beansprouts are among the dishes, and the menu also lists ribs and a range of noodles, including some marked as hot. Large tables fitted with a lazy Susan give groups and families room to share the meal.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree parking lot · Free street parking · Paid parking lot
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, parking lot
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs · Family-friendly
- DietaryVegetarian options
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention all you can eat buffet, lazy Susan table, ribs and not greasy food.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention all you can eat buffet, lazy Susan table, ribs and not greasy food.
Customer Review Summary
The table service buffet draws the most praise, with reviewers calling the portions immense, the food not greasy at all and the value great, and one group of six enjoying a large table with a lazy Susan. One recommends the buffet outright, and ribs are singled out as the best one diner has tasted. Staff are described as friendly, attentive and caring, and one server was great with the kids. One reviewer says the décor needs a freshen up. The kitchen draws mixed reports. One diner found the noodles marked hot had little flavour, the kung po chicken tasted more like sweet and sour with no chillies, and the shredded duck came as pieces rather than shreds. Another reported food arriving stone cold, one dish at a time, for a table of seven, and walked out halfway through after complaining without an apology. A fan of the all you can eat felt uncomfortable asking for more because some staff seemed to judge how much they ordered, even though every plate was eaten clean.
Customer Review Summary
The table service buffet draws the most praise, with reviewers calling the portions immense, the food not greasy at all and the value great, and one group of six enjoying a large table with a lazy Susan. One recommends the buffet outright, and ribs are singled out as the best one diner has tasted. Staff are described as friendly, attentive and caring, and one server was great with the kids. One reviewer says the décor needs a freshen up. The kitchen draws mixed reports. One diner found the noodles marked hot had little flavour, the kung po chicken tasted more like sweet and sour with no chillies, and the shredded duck came as pieces rather than shreds. Another reported food arriving stone cold, one dish at a time, for a table of seven, and walked out halfway through after complaining without an apology. A fan of the all you can eat felt uncomfortable asking for more because some staff seemed to judge how much they ordered, even though every plate was eaten clean.
Featured reviews
- Eleanor H
“Lovely, homely and calming atmosphere, staff are lovely, food is immense and not greasy at all, great value for money, amazing portion sizes, would recommend the buffet!”
- Graham Peel
“Unfortunately the food was very bland. Noodles marked as ‘hot’ had little flavour. Kung po chicken was nice but more like a sweet and sour, no chillies! Shredded duck with beansprouts was ok but the duck were pieces, not shredded.”
- Jasmine.Louise
“Lovely food! Our favourite chinese restaurant However despite having the all you can eat it does feel uncomfortable asking for more. Some staff members clearly judged us for how much we were ordering despite every plate being eaten clean!”
- Linda Lum
“I'm from Vancouver, BC, Canada. I'll be in Romsey in July to attend my daughter's wedding. I like to host a pre-wedding meal for guests of the wedding party. Do you have an email for me to contact you?”
- Zoe Barnes
“6 of us went for a family meal, we had the buffet option which i believe was £29.50 a head. All of the food was lovely, all the staff were friendly and our table was massive with a massive lazy Susan. Would definitely recommend and will be back the food was great. Thank you for a lovely evening.”
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
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- Wednesday
- ,
- Thursday
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- Friday
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- Saturday
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- Sunday
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Highlights
“Local delicious chinese restaurant with a popular table service buffet to reduce waste and to help the environment. Daily freshly made menu available”
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Popular for solo dining
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Accepts reservations
- Takeout
- Dine-in
- Family-friendly
- Vegetarian options
Show more amenities
- Bar onsite
- Casual
- All you can eat
- Beer
- Coffee
- Late-night food
- Dining options· 5
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Accessibility· 1
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Offerings· 4
- Alcohol
- Hard liquor
- Small plates
- Wine
- Family-friendly· 2
- Good for kids
- High chairs
- Planning· 1
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Crowd· 1
- Groups
- Parking· 4
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
- Paid parking lot
- Parking
Location
Chinese restaurants near The Mandarin Chef
- Chef Peking4.01121.1 mi£10–20
chicken curry sauce, peking duck, veggie crispy duck
- Hong Kong Takeaway3.3291.7 mi£10–20
sweet and sour prawns, chicken chow mein, egg fried rice
- Ashdown Oriental3.8623.5 mi£10–20
sweet and sour pork, long collection delays, special fried rice
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Mandarin Chef | 4.5464 | — | £20–30 | all you can eat buffet, lazy Susan table, ribs |
| Chef Peking | 4.0112 | 1.1 mi | £10–20 | chicken curry sauce, peking duck, veggie crispy duck |
| Hong Kong Takeaway | 3.329 | 1.7 mi | £10–20 | sweet and sour prawns, chicken chow mein, egg fried rice |
| Ashdown Oriental | 3.862 | 3.5 mi | £10–20 | sweet and sour pork, long collection delays, special fried rice |
The 3 nearest chinese restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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