Bath's longest-running and best-known Chinese restaurant is Peking Chinese Restaurant at Kingsmead Square, open since 1985. For something more casual and considerably cheaper, Chilli Family Noodles, a cash-only Sichuan noodle spot near the bus station, is the pick if you want authentic, spicy noodles rather than a sit-down meal.
Peking Chinese Restaurant, Kingsmead Square
Peking, at 1-2 New Street, Kingsmead Square, is a family-run restaurant that's been serving Bath since 1985, making it the city's oldest established Chinese restaurant. It's independent, originally from Hong Kong, and its menu draws on Cantonese, Szechuan and Peking cuisine, from classic sweet and sour and ginger and spring onion dishes to lobster and crab.
The restaurant holds a food hygiene rating of 5 (the top rating) and a 4.3 rating from over 1,000 Uber Eats reviews. Set menus are available for groups: Menu 1 (minimum 2 people) is £34.95 per person for mixed hors d'oeuvres, crispy aromatic duck and a choice of three mains with special fried rice; Menu 2 (minimum 4 people) runs £38.95 per person with a similar structure. It's closed on Sundays.
- Address: 1-2 New Street, Kingsmead Square, Bath BA1 2AF
- Phone: 01225 466377
- Hours: Monday to Saturday, 12pm-2pm and 6pm-10:30pm. Closed Sundays
- Price range: À la carte or set menus from £34.95pp
Chilli Family Noodles, near the bus station
Chilli Family Noodles, at 1 Dorchester Street, is a small, no-frills Sichuan noodle spot tucked beside Bath's bus station. It's cash-only, and the menu is built around a short list of genuinely spicy, authentic dishes: Chongqing noodles, hot and sour noodles, crispy duck with noodles, and a cold, mouth-numbing chicken dish that regulars rate as highly as the noodles themselves.
Dishes are priced from around £7 to £12 per person, and the restaurant doesn't serve alcohol, though you can bring your own beer or wine. It holds strong, consistent review scores across platforms: 4.5 on Google and 4.6 on Tripadvisor from several hundred reviews each.
- Address: 1 Dorchester Street, Bath BA1 1SS
- Hours: Daily, 11am-8pm
- Price range: £7-£12 per person, cash only
Peking vs Chilli Family Noodles, compared
| Peking Chinese Restaurant | Chilli Family Noodles | |
|---|---|---|
| Style | Traditional sit-down Cantonese, Szechuan and Peking cuisine | Casual, authentic Sichuan noodle bar |
| Typical spend | £20-£35 a head à la carte, or £34.95-£38.95pp set menu | £7-£12 a head |
| Payment | Cards accepted | Cash only |
| Best for | A proper sit-down Chinese meal or group set menu | A quick, cheap, genuinely spicy noodle fix |
| Opening days | Closed Sundays | Open every day |
Other names worth knowing
A few other Chinese restaurants and takeaways turn up regularly in Bath listings, including Happy Garden on Coronation Avenue and RUI on Bathwick Street, both cited by local guides as well-regarded options, though neither could be independently verified for this guide at the level of detail above, so check current opening hours and reviews before relying on them.
Tips for booking
Peking is popular with groups because of its set menus, so booking ahead is worth it at weekends, especially since it's closed Sundays entirely. Chilli Family Noodles doesn't take bookings in the way a sit-down restaurant does, and because it's cash-only, it's worth having notes on you before you go, since there are cash points nearby if you forget. If you want more variety nearby, our guide to the best restaurants in Bath covers other cuisines, and our eating on a budget in Bath guide has more cheap-eat options like Chilli Family Noodles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Chinese restaurant in Bath?
Peking Chinese Restaurant at Kingsmead Square is Bath's longest-running Chinese restaurant, open since 1985, with a 5-star food hygiene rating. For something more casual and considerably cheaper, Chilli Family Noodles near the bus station specialises in authentic, spicy Sichuan noodles.
Is there a cheap Chinese restaurant in Bath?
Yes. Chilli Family Noodles, near the bus station on Dorchester Street, prices dishes from around £7 to £12 per person. It's cash only and doesn't serve alcohol, though you can bring your own.
Is Peking Chinese Restaurant open on Sundays?
No. It's closed on Sundays and opens Monday to Saturday, 12pm-2pm and 6pm-10:30pm.
Does Chilli Family Noodles take card payments?
No, it's cash only. There are cash points nearby on Dorchester Street if you need one.
Does Peking Chinese Restaurant do set menus for groups?
Yes. Menu 1 (minimum 2 people) is £34.95 per person, and Menu 2 (minimum 4 people) is £38.95 per person, both including mixed hors d'oeuvres, crispy aromatic duck and a choice of mains with special fried rice.
What should I order at Chilli Family Noodles?
Regulars rate the Chongqing noodles and the crispy duck with noodles most highly, alongside a cold, Sichuan-pepper-spiced chicken dish that's less obvious from the menu name but worth asking about.