Chinese New Year is almost upon us and as the Year of the Rabbit prepares to come bounding in there will be lots of people around Newcastle keen for any excuse to join the party.
And the good news is that the city's traditional celebrations are to make a return for the first time since Covid. And that means the popular lion and dragon dances, which bring such colour and entertainment to the city centre, will be in action again around Stowell Street, the heart of Newcastle 's Chinatown.
There are plenty of ways to celebrate Chinese New Year and the most obvious is by going out for a meal. Newcastle, which is currently celebrating Restaurant Week, has a wide selection of Chinese restaurants worth a visit and it can be hard to pick from them, especially if you're looking for somewhere new to try.
Read more: Chinese New Year animals and how to find out yours
So, to help guide your way through the temptations of such classic dishes as crispy wontons, dim sums and chow mein, here's a pick of restaurants around Newcastle which you may like to try for Chinese New Year. Hopefully you'll find plenty food for thought.
Top Chinese restaurants in Newcastle
Nan Beia
Grainger Market, 48 Grainger Street, NE1 5JG, 07879 440087, facebook page
The dumpling bar in the market wins praise for its value and "lovely food and atmosphere". One online reviewer wrote "One of my favourite cheap eats in Newcastle - you can get five dumplings and a bun for £5. Service is quick and there is even a small bar area to enjoy your food".
Another said: "We stumbled across this little restaurant and take away and had the most delicious noodle soup with spicy beef in a chicken broth. Absolutely gorgeous, super fresh, light flavours and we can’t wait to go back!"
Jakki's Chinese Takeaway
138 Heaton Park Road, Heaton, NE6 5NR, www.jakkis.co.uk
One happy reviewer called Jakki's "the best Chinese takeaway in Newcastle" and one regular called it the best in the North East, adding they would travel there from Alnwick - "a 40 min drive just for their food!"
One reviewer praised its delivery service while adding "If you haven't yet tried this place, you're missing a treat. Pick up is just as much fun, with very friendly, personable staff keeping you entertained". The review described the food, staff and service as excellent; the ingredients as good quality and portions generous, adding "wouldn't go anywhere else these days." Another customer wrote: "great food, great people, great fun".
Gosforth Palace
6A Salters Road, NE3 1DJ, 0191 285 2288, www.gosforthpalace.com
Among the reviews, which highlighted the likes of "first-class" food and service; a "delicious" takeaway and "lovely" staff, was one from a diner who visited in a party of four vegetarians and said: "Wow, we've just been for a meal at this restaurant for the first time and it won't be the last, great service, fabulous food" .
Other reviews included "chicken and sweetcorn soup was especially nice" and "overall, once of the nicest places we have been to in the last couple of years and we eat out a lot."
King Neptune
Parkside, 34-36 Stowell Street, NE1 4XQ, 0191 261 6657, kingneptune.uk
A recent reviewer, who tried the set menu, described the restaurant as "the best in Stowell Street" and added "delicious food served with lovely people."
Another called its Emerald Banquet "excellent", with "stir fried King prawns in satay sauce" the highlight, and said of the experience "will definitely come back for more of the same".
One found "every dish was excellent" while another thought a starter of salt, garlic and chilli prawns was "gorgeous", adding "would order as a main next time. Prawns in blackbean as a main was also delicious".
Amaysia
18 Stowell Street, NE1 4XQ, 0191 242 2330, amaysia.com
There was praise for "warm homely food", highlighting the likes of fried chicken wings and Mala Hotpot "with quality ingredients, premium beef slices and lotus root", while another review said: "Great portions and a menu that suits those looking for ‘traditional English’ Chinese food as well as those looking for something nearer the real thing. Great service and very fair prices."
Another said "one thing to note is that if a dish is written as spicy, it really will be spicy" and went on to add "I would wholeheartedly recommend Amaysia as it’s one of my top three restaurant picks in the UK!"
Landmark
Stowell Street, NE1 4YB, 0191 261 0882, www.landmarkoriental.co.uk
"Best Chinese restaurant in Newcastle for sure," says one review which marks it 10 out of 10, adding "Great service, welcoming atmosphere and superb tasting food".
One party of six which visited on a busy Saturday night singled out the owner as being lovely and said "the service was great and food was very impressive.... really good portions".
Little Asia
14 Stowell Street, Newcastle, NE1 4XQ, www.littleasia.co
The idea of this 'hot pot Asian-style cafe restaurant' in the heart of Chinatown is for an interactive, personalised experience that sees diners sit around a steaming pot of soup to which they add their own pick of ingredients and mix their own sauces. One first-time hjot pot customer wrote: "The food was excellent quality, broth was hot and spicy and the service was very attentive."
Another fan noted: "Wide choice of meat, fish, vegetables and tasty broths. The tom yam was very good".
New Rendezvous Chinese
3-5 Bell Villas Ponteland, NE20 9BD, 01661 821775, www.newrendezvous.co.uk
A visit prompted one customer to call this place "amazing", having especially enjoyed the prawns, and writing: "We started coming the this restaurant around 15 years ago. In this time they have moved premises, and the owners have changed, but the quality of the food and the service has not changed and is as amazing as ever. "
The review of one first-time customer meanwhile included "the food was delicious" and described it as "one of the best Chinese I’ve ever had".
Wok Inn
10A Northumberland Road, NE1 8JF, 0191 222 0208, see it on JustEat here
Among the words of praise for this venue was mention of first-class food and its description as "a real find for authentic Chinese cuisine".
One said of a delivery meal: "Oh my word. The starter of Chilli Spare ribs was delicious. A big portion full of flavour and loads of meat on the ribs. Main of House Chow Mein was full of meat, chicken, beef, pork and prawns. Again superb."
One called restaurant experience "wonderful", saying "the staff are so helpful and cater to whatever you need. The prices are fantastic and the food is delicious". Another praised "warm-hearted waiters" and "mouthwatering" noodles.
Chinatown Express
63-65 St Andrews Street, Newcastle, NE1 5SE, see it on Just Eat here
One customer rated the food at this cafe-restaurant as "very tasty and good quality" and "100%" recommended a visit, having been particularly impressed with its salt and pepper king prawns, king prawn chow mien and chilli beef. Another review rated the fried rice and was keen to try the claypot dishes.
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