Chinese takeaway near me
Quick answer
Chinese takeaways near you, sorted by distance, each with its Food Standards Agency hygiene rating.
The British Chinese takeaway
Most Chinese takeaways in the UK cook a Cantonese-rooted menu adapted over decades for British tastes: sweet and sour, chow mein, egg fried rice, salt and pepper dishes and crispy duck. Many also offer a more traditional section or will cook off-menu if you ask. This list shows premises registered with the Food Standards Agency as takeaways.
What travels well
Stir-fried noodles, rice dishes and anything in sauce survive a journey well. Deep-fried dishes such as spring rolls, prawn crackers and battered chicken soften quickly in a closed box, so collect them if you can, or reheat them uncovered in a hot oven.
Ordering direct
Many Chinese takeaways still take orders by phone and offer a discount for collection. Delivery apps charge the shop a commission, and app prices are often higher than the counter price as a result.
Hygiene ratings
Each listing shows the premises' Food Standards Agency rating and the date it was given. A 5 means very good hygiene. Treat 2 or below as a reason to choose another takeaway.
Find them near you
Search by postcode or use your location to find results near you.
Where to find them
UK councils with the most matches in our directory.
Related dishes
Sweet and sour pork is battered pork in a bright, tangy red sauce with pineapple and peppers, the most ordered dish in British Chinese takeaways. Its Cantonese ancestor, gu lou yuk, is subtler and less sweet; the UK version is heavier on the batter and the sugar. Both are real; knowing the difference tells you what kind of Chinese restaurant you are in.
Chow MeinChow mein is stir-fried noodles with vegetables and a choice of meat, one of the staples of the British Chinese takeaway. The name means 'stir-fried noodles' in Cantonese. There are two schools: the soft-fried version most UK takeaways serve, and the crispy Hong Kong style where the noodle cake is fried until crunchy. Both are real; the difference is worth knowing before you order.
Egg Fried RiceEgg fried rice is cooked rice stir-fried with egg, spring onion and seasoning, the essential side to a Chinese meal and a dish in its own right. It sounds simple and is the hardest thing to get right: the test of it is separate, slightly toasted grains, not a wet clump. Day-old rice and a hot wok are the whole secret.
Salt and Pepper ChickenSalt and pepper chicken is battered chicken tossed with fried chilli, garlic, spring onion and a salt-and-five-spice seasoning, crisp and moreish. A Cantonese-British favourite, it is also made with squid, prawns, ribs and tofu. The dish is defined by the seasoning mix and the crispness; the best version is light and fragrant, the worst a soggy, over-salted heap.