Taste of China on Cressing Road is a classic Braintree Chinese takeaway that’s ideal for an easy night in, with plenty of familiar favourites, shareable set meals, and reliable evening opening hours.

Taste of China sits at 8 Cressing Road, Braintree, CM7 3PP, and it’s very much a takeaway-first venue. It’s the sort of place you use when you want dinner sorted with minimal fuss, whether that means collecting on the way home or getting it delivered. The opening pattern is simple and consistent, closed on Monday, then open Tuesday to Thursday 5:00pm to 10:00pm, Friday and Saturday 5:00pm to 10:30pm, and Sunday 5:00pm to 10:00pm.

What makes Taste of China work well for real-life ordering is the breadth. You can keep it traditional and comforting, or you can build a proper table spread with starters, mains in different sauce styles, and a big rice or noodle base so everyone can share. On Deliveroo, you can see the menu is split into the categories people actually look for when they’re hungry and deciding quickly, appetisers, soups, chef’s speciality, seafood, rice dishes, chow mein, Singapore style dishes, udon, Malaysian style dishes, sweet and sour, then the main meat sections like chicken, beef, roast pork and duck, plus curry dishes, chop suey, vegetarian dishes, black bean sauce dishes, and foo yung. That layout is a good sign, because it means you can order by mood rather than hunting through one long list.

If you’re ordering for the first time, the easiest way to get the best experience is to aim for contrast. One crispy dish, one saucy comfort dish, and one bold, savoury option, plus a rice or noodle base. That simple structure nearly always turns a takeaway into a proper feast rather than “two mains and a tub of rice”.

A few popular picks shown on Deliveroo give you a decent starting point for the kind of food people go for here. Sweet and sour chicken in batter is listed as a popular choice, which is the classic crowd-pleaser for families and mixed groups. Crispy chilli beef also sits firmly in that “treat night” lane, crunchy, punchy, and great alongside something milder. Aromatic crispy duck with pancakes is another popular one, and that’s the sort of centrepiece dish that instantly makes the meal feel more special, especially if you’re ordering for two or more and want something shareable. If you like skewers, satay chicken on skewers appears as a popular item too, which is a great add-on at the start of the meal because it gives you that grilled, savoury bite before you even get into the mains.

Set meals are also a big part of the offering, and they’re genuinely useful when you don’t want to overthink it. For example, Set Meal J is listed for one person and includes chicken chow mein, sweet and sour chicken in batter, and egg fried rice. There are also larger set meals designed for sharing, with combinations that mix starters, king prawn dishes, sweet and sour dishes, vegetarian vegetable dishes, and special fried rice. If you’re feeding more than one person, a set meal is often the easiest way to make sure the order feels balanced.

For rice and noodles, the menu shows the usual staples you’d expect to build around, egg fried rice, special fried rice, boiled rice, and plenty of chow mein options, including a “complete meal for one person” style chow mein with a mix of meats, prawns and vegetables. Those are the items that make a takeaway feel filling and shareable, especially if you’ve got a couple of saucy mains and want something everyone can spoon over.

Dietary-wise, there are clear signs of vegetarian availability, with vegetarian dishes listed as a menu category and vegetarian labelling shown on items like egg fried rice and stir fried chow mein on Deliveroo. There’s also a vegetarian set meal listed, which bundles multiple vegetable-based dishes together. Vegan options: Not stated. Gluten-free options: Not stated. Allergen information: Not stated. If you have allergies or strict dietary requirements, it’s best to contact the takeaway directly before ordering so you can check what’s suitable for you.

Location-wise, Cressing Road is a handy part of Braintree for collection, and it’s easy enough to reach if you’re coming from around town or nearby residential areas. The listing also notes onsite parking is available but very limited, which is useful to know if you’re collecting by car at peak times. If you’re walking in, it’s a straightforward pickup, and if you’re ordering delivery, it’s the kind of place that suits those evenings when you want comfort food without leaving the house.

Handy details are clear. Payment methods listed include cash, credit or debit card, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Phone numbers are provided for telephone orders, and email is shown as not available. The business also shows a top food hygiene rating on the Food Standards Agency ratings site, with a date of inspection listed as 19 November 2024.

Overall, Taste of China is a solid Braintree choice when you want a dependable Chinese takeaway with enough variety to suit different tastes. Go in with a simple plan, one starter or sharer, one crispy option, one comfort sauce dish, and a rice or chow mein base, and you’ll end up with the kind of spread that feels like a proper takeaway night at home.

Food Types: Takeaway/Delivery; Chinese

Dining Type: Takeaway; Delivery

Area: Braintree, Braintree