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Restaurant Chu
Restaurant Chu

Restaurant Chu Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Dining
  • Website: http://www.restaurantchu.com
  • Phone: (510) 601-8818
  • Hours of Operation: Lunch: Daily: 11:30am - 2:30pm; Happy Hour: Daily: 4:00pm - 7:00pm; Dinner: Daily: 4:00pm - 9:30pm
  • Payment Options: MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: Chinese, Asian, Fusion / Eclectic
  • Executive Chef: Philip Chu
  • Dress Code: Casual Dress
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access
  • Catering: Please inquire with host.

Getting there

  • Cross Street: Manila
  • Parking: Street Parking
  • Parking Details: Rockridge BART
A word from Restaurant Chu
Restaurant Chu offers quality, fresh ingredients with strong Asian flavors. We "re-create" the best of Chinese cuisine in an innovative and satisfying mode.
Diner Reviews
  • "Good food, good drinks. Good variety on menu. Service was very good. Not loud and noisy like many other College Avenue restaurants."
    Dined on 5/9/2014
  • "Not bad but not great either. Clean flavors but not exciting. Better options in the area."
    Dined on 4/1/2014
  • "We wish the Chus had kept the cook from Ching Hua/Alameda, who had a lighter, more skillful touch with both sauces and deep-frying than the Oakland Chu kitchen. Still, the dumplings are good, as is the custard tofu (a special). Hot & Sour soup pleases me and spouse, one of the few versions that do. But the Sweet/Sour Pork isn't as good here as Ching Hua's Cherry Pork version, and the Spicy Chicken Wings aren't really spicy but are overfried. Tried the Zha Jiang noodles but prefer the Dan Dan noodles instead; not Chu's fault on this one, we've tried this at two other places and just don't see what all the fuss is about this and Jajangmyeon, its Korean twin. Noodle bowls are very large. Service is excellent, a real positive here."
    Dined on 3/24/2014
  • "After experiencing this restaurant with my husband twice, and really enjoying it, we had a wonderful time taking friends to dinner there. It was even more pleasurable, because we could get more dishes to experience by sharing them. I love their vegetarian dishes, especially the steamed spinach dumplings. And although it was crowded, because we had a reservation, we got a table within 5 minutes. Some nights you can walk in, but weekends are getting busier, so make a reservation first! Enjoy!"
    Dined on 1/10/2014
  • "Familiar and new dishes, all well prepared. We love the duck bao & the lamb curry. We keep going back, & enjoy sharing with friends."
    Dined on 12/26/2013
  • "We're sure that on any normal day we wouldn't have had too wait at the table over an hour to be served. Our party had varying views of the food. My dad liked the bland steamed snapper and Buddha vegetables; my husband and I thought the mushroom-broccoli dish was unusual and outstanding. Sister opted out of the vegetarian sharing pool to have hoisin pork, which she said was wonderful but she wished it included vegetables."
    Dined on 12/24/2013
  • "We've been searching for a great Chinese restaurant to replace Hsiangs in Orinda (Hsiang's owner/chef retired about a year ago), and I think Restaurant Chu might be it. Everything we had was excellent, and the menu was incredibly creative. Only drawbacks were parking - but I think we were there at peak hour on Saturday. Also bar service was slow - but I believe they were short a bartender. We will definitely go back again"
    Dined on 11/23/2013
  • "BIG FYI: If you book on opentable, you can NOT take advantage of the happy hour!!"
    Dined on 10/25/2013
  • "Food is tasty, albeit somewhat high priced for Chinese. That said, there are many interesting dishes, served in somewhat unusual ways, such as the Garlic scallops with noodles. Some confusion ensued as the hostess told us she was caught a bit off-guard by the reservation. We ended up a small, very noisy table to the side of the the stairway, adjacent to the kitchen. I could barely hear my husband speak. We also sat there for quite as no one stopped to ask if we wanted water let alone anything from the bar. I eventually flagged down a server and asked whether I could order a drink with him. At that point he took our full order. The service improved from that point forward, plus the food was tasty and plentiful."
    Dined on 10/18/2013
  • "Great new restaurant, sister to Kirin on Solano. I was a bit surprised that no one spoke Chinese though - LOL Despite that the food was authentic (declared my Chinese friend) We will definitely go back there. Many more dishes to check out."
    Dined on 9/21/2013
  • "Good neighborhood restaurant with friendly service and fresh ingredients. A little pricey for chinese food - but given quality of ingredients - worth it. The food is tasty - the shrimp dish was fresh, but somewhat grainy (maybe sugar or spice that didn't cook off?) that made it slightly off putting, otherwise - a good dining experience."
    Dined on 8/30/2013
  • "Decent food. Nothing stood out, it was a little salty for our taste, but overall a good experience. Nice decor. Could do with removing the kids handprints up the plexi/glass stair way and clean away the empty dishes left on the outside tables. But the drinks are decent and not over priced, and happy hours are good for this neighborhood where A-16 is trying to dominate."
    Dined on 8/23/2013
  • "String beans, eggplant, red curry, fried rice were all great."
    Dined on 7/13/2013
  • "We have been her appx. 3 times, and it just keeps getting better! Surprising that more people haven't discovered this Rockridge gem. Great food, service, and ambiance at decent pricing. Looks like a note club, but without the heavy noise. We will definitely return!"
    Dined on 7/6/2013
  • "We were there 3 times. The food quality varies somewhat. First two were great, but the last time food tasted more like your average Chinese restaurant. Not sure if anything changed. We were OK with paying the premium for Chinese food first 2 times but last time we feel that restaurant did not deserve premium for its food. It is still OK though. Maybe they changed the chef or the good Chef did not work that day."
    Dined on 5/12/2013
  • "Chi has a great menu but eating it not so much...cocktails are good.pork belly is best we tried. Try Morin instead"
    Dined on 5/10/2013
  • "We really liked it Helpful gracious service. Good food we had been before but not for awhile. I will go back."
    Dined on 4/5/2013
  • "Delicious, ample portions in this elegant Chinese restaurant near Ca College of the Arts."
    Dined on 3/11/2013
  • "Food quality was quite good. Ingredients seemed to be fresh. But like many Hunan style restaurants, most dishes had the same sauce and so they all tasted the same except that you had different meat or vegetable in each dish. The hot and sour soup was not bad although the ingredients should be cut into finer strips and more mushroom and wood ears were needed. It was a bit pricey for Chinese food - $30 per person without drinks. One can certainly get equal or better quality food for half the price elsewhere. But the restaurant is cleaner and service better for those willing to pay more for it. The Hispanic waiter seemed to have problem communicating with the Chinese cooks."
    Dined on 3/9/2013
  • "It's no slight to the cuisine served here, that the bar/bartender is/are spectacular! The Grand Margarita went down smoothly, but my wife's order for a Rusty Nail was declined politely. We had well-seasoned prawns, beef and veggies. Parking is problematic in the Rockridge area."
    Dined on 2/14/2013
  • "Go for Happy Hour; That's the best deal. Stick to the appetizers; that's the best food on the menu. Sit on the other side of the door, it's drafty down the one wall. Multiple servers, so order from whomever walks by first, or you may be overlooked. Kids going up and down the stairs was disappointing, but who to is to blame? Their parents or the resturant for allowing it? (If you don't mind the playground atmosphere, it's fine.) Sound too harsh? Not really, the food is good, the drinks are good, the service is good -it just could have been better...especially for Valentine's Day Dinner out."
    Dined on 2/14/2013
  • "Delicious and somewhat "westernized" Chinese food but in a stark, noisy room on the Main Street level floor. Tables near the door on a busy evening should be avoided as people waiting for a table are pushed up against your dining space. Try to get an upstairs quieter table. I generally avoid Asian restaurants when the majority of diners are not Asian, but Chu has a good menu and the servers were kind although very busy with little time to pause."
    Dined on 2/8/2013
  • "love the lychee martini! Came here for happy hour after work & we all enjoyed ourselves. The food was also great. We will definitely be back!"
    Dined on 1/13/2013
  • "It was New Years Eve, I booked this restaurant through Open Table, took my friend out at the only available time: 8.30. As soon as we sat down, the waiter informed us that the kitchen was closing in 3 minutes and that the whole place would shut their doors an hour later. Then they turned bright lights on and off with the music. Wonderful food but no time to enjoy, no celebrations like we had planned."
    Dined on 12/31/2012
  • "The menu was exciting! There were so many options it was hard to decide what to order. There were classic Asian choices, mixed with new dishes, great flair, and rich flavor. Everything we ordered was delicious, but we found the staff was lacking. We had to flag down a waiter to ask for second drinks. We were having a late business dinner so that was awkward. It was a slow evening with only 4 tables taken... Very disappointing. I would go back for the delicious food, but expect to be more forthright about our needs with the waitstaff."
    Dined on 12/27/2012
  • "scallops with garlic and ginger ?, peea pods and mushrooms absolutely tasteless and watery. Other items available anywhere for much less cost. Cold space as far as ambiance."
    Dined on 12/11/2012
  • "Much better atmosphere for Chinese food than the usual."
    Dined on 12/8/2012
  • "Loved everything about it -- truly, a neighborhood gem!"
    Dined on 12/7/2012
  • "This is good for lunch. Prices are very reasonable and food is tasty. I always find Chinese food a little too salty, so with that caveat, the menu is varied and interesting. We had shortribs (no bones), lettuce wraps, salmon onion pancake, noodles, and shrimp dumplings. All were excellent except dumplings. Service is sometimes a little iffy. There were 5 of us in an empty restaurant for an early lunch and the server brought the lettuce wraps with just 4 leaves of lettuce. A well-trained staff would have noticed and added an extra leaf. However, water glasses were refilled regularly. When the restaurant fills up, the noise level makes it hard to have a conversation, but that seems to be the new "normal". It is annoying."
    Dined on 11/7/2012
  • "The staff was a tad clueless, the food was plentiful and tasty, and we'd probably go back again."
    Dined on 10/27/2012
  • "First time for lunch. The food was fabulous. The ceviche was our favorite. Will definitely go back for dinner to try out the interesting drink menu."
    Dined on 10/25/2012
  • "We typically enjoy Restaurant Chu. However, on this night, the food was poor to OK. The extra spicy chicken was both bland and had no spice; the combination fried rice was so bland I wondered if they purposefully were trying to sell it to some elderly diners nearby. The potstickers were good, as was the dumpling soup, but everything else was simply mediocre. The service is always slow, but we are OK with that if the food is good. Tonight, not good..."
    Dined on 10/12/2012
  • "Everything we ordered was delicious, and we ordered various meat and vegetarian dishes. We had the vegetarian spring rolls, hot and sour soup and the spinach and mushroom dumplings to start, then ordered the braised tofu, buddha's delight, kung pao chicken, mongolian beef and the vegetable chow mein....topped off with the fried banana dessert....seriously everything was amazing! The service was also wonderful and friendly....we can't wait to go back!"
    Dined on 9/7/2012
  • "This was my 4th time here. It's certainly a sleek and attractive space, service was good. Food has declined somewhat though, and I had an MSG headache afterwards for the first time. I'll give it another chance but if the food isn't better next time I will probably cross Church off my list."
    Dined on 9/5/2012
  • "Restaurant Chu is an asian fusion style of restaurant which is an upgrade from PF Chang's. I definitely recommend this place for asian cuisine. The pan-pacific won-tons are a favorite."
    Dined on 8/25/2012
  • "Surprisingly good modern Chinese food, inventive and creative, not at all greasy. Includes some favorites, updated for California taste with lighter treatments and intense flavors, and new creations. If you're wondering why every Chinese menu in the Bay Area seems to have been printed at the same shop and want something different, take a trip to Rockridge for sure."
    Dined on 8/3/2012
  • "The food and drinks are quite good, but it was so quiet and empty, the place had a sad vibe to it. Not a fun, energetic atmosphere. It's too bad more people don't frequent this place."
    Dined on 7/21/2012
  • "Why this place isnt packed all of the time is way beyond me!!! This place is incredible!! I absolutely love it!! Everything from the music to the staff is off the meter!!"
    Dined on 6/29/2012
  • "I was looking forward to dining chinese since I find most chinese food in the east bay very underwhelming. Chu was no different. The food was very salty and 3 of the 4 dishes we ordered were made with the same salty soy sauce base. There was no vegetables at all in their fried rice. The calamari was OK but served in a deep bowl that collected all the oil underneath the squid. Chu will have to change chefs in order to last longer on College."
    Dined on 6/29/2012
  • "Nice restaurant in a pretty good location. Food was similar to a PF Chang style menu, but a smaller more intimate environment."
    Dined on 6/23/2012
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