Masefield is a well-established Chinese takeaway in Braintree that keeps things classic and comforting, with plenty of familiar favourites plus a few “treat night” extras like aromatic duck, munchie boxes, dumplings and salt-and-pepper dishes.

If you’re putting together a proper takeaway spread at home, Masefield makes it easy to build a table that feels generous rather than just “one main and a rice”. It’s very clearly set up as a takeaway operation, with ordering geared around collection or delivery, and the basics you actually care about are clearly shown, including address, phone number, estimated timings and opening hours.

The menu leans into the sort of Chinese takeaway dishes most people in Essex already know and love, but it also has enough range to keep things interesting if you’re bored of ordering the same two dishes every time. A good example of that “classic plus extras” approach is right at the top of the starters section, where crispy aromatic duck is available in different portions and comes with the usual pancakes, spring onion, cucumber and hoisin sauce. That’s an easy upgrade if you’re ordering for two or more and want the meal to feel like an occasion.

For sharing starters, there’s a mixed platter designed for two, described as a combination of prawn toast, spare ribs, seaweed and pancake rolls. That’s the sort of pick that works well when you’re feeding a group with different tastes, because you get a bit of everything without having to guess what everyone wants. If you like the modern takeaway “box” style, there’s also a salt-and-pepper munchie box listed, combining items like chicken balls, spare ribs, mini rolls and chips, with a choice of sweet and sour sauce or curry sauce.

If you’re someone who orders based on textures rather than categories, you’ll find plenty to play with. The starters list includes a wide run of spare rib options (dry BBQ, in BBQ sauce, sweet and sour, honey, plum sauce, salt and pepper, and more), which is handy because ribs are often the one thing people argue over in a group order. There are also crispy sides that round out a takeaway table nicely, like crispy seaweed, plus prawn crackers and chips, with a salt-and-pepper chips option if you like that punchier style.

A couple of items that are worth calling out if you want something a bit different from the usual rotation are the grilled dumplings and the satay chicken skewers. The dumplings come as a set portion, and the satay skewers are served with satay peanut sauce, with satay sauce also available separately in different sizes. That gives you a nice way to build a “sharing-first” order where the table starts with nibbles and skewers before you even get into mains.

If you’re ordering for the first time, the easiest way to get a satisfying spread is to plan it like this:

One “centre” dish for sharing (aromatic duck is the obvious one if you want that proper takeaway night feel).

One mixed starter or box-style sharer so the table has variety straight away.

One salt-and-pepper style item for a bolder, savoury hit (these tend to balance sweeter sauces well).

One comforting side that everyone dips into (chips, prawn crackers, or seaweed all work depending on your group).

That structure works whether you’re feeding two people or four, you just scale up the portions and add an extra sharer if needed.

Dietary needs are handled in a sensible, caution-first way. The site shows allergen guidance and highlights the standard UK list of 14 allergens, and it advises customers to get in touch if they have an allergy or intolerance. It also clearly warns not to order if you can’t get the allergy information you need. That’s good practice, but it also means you shouldn’t assume anything is suitable without checking if you have a specific requirement. Vegetarian options do appear on the menu (for example, vegetarian spring rolls and vegetarian mini pancake rolls are listed), but vegan options are not stated and gluten-free options are not stated.

Location-wise, Masefield is based at 41 Masefield Road, Braintree, CM7 1AA, with a contact number shown for the takeaway. Being in Braintree makes it a convenient choice for locals, and it’s the kind of spot that suits both planned orders and last-minute decisions. Parking is not stated, so if you’re collecting by car it’s worth allowing a couple of extra minutes for nearby parking and a quick in-and-out pickup.

The practical “how it works” info is refreshingly clear. Estimated collection time is shown as 15 to 20 minutes, and estimated delivery time is shown as 60 to 75 minutes. As always, it’s sensible to expect peak times to feel busier, especially on weekend evenings, but those estimates give you a realistic baseline when you’re planning dinner around kids, guests, or a certain time you want to eat.

Opening hours are also listed clearly: Monday is closed, Tuesday is 16:30 to 22:00, and Wednesday through Sunday are 17:00 to 22:00. That’s a useful pattern to remember because it’s consistent across most of the week, with Tuesday opening slightly earlier.

Overall, Masefield is a strong option if you want a classic Chinese takeaway in Braintree with all the familiar crowd-pleasers, plus a few “upgrade” items that make an at-home order feel like a proper feast. If you build your order around one main sharer (like aromatic duck), one mixed starter, one bold salt-and-pepper option and a couple of crunchy sides, you’ll usually end up with the kind of spread everyone picks at happily, rather than a pile of containers where everything tastes the same.

Food Types: Takeaway/Delivery; Chinese

Dining Type: Takeaway; Delivery

Area: Braintree, Braintree