Twenty years ago, you might have been hard pressed to find Asian cuisine in the city that did not consist entirely of curry. Thankfully, Oxford's food scene has diversified and improved since then and Japanese, Chinese, Lebanese and Thai restaurants are all in good supply. Al Shami is an excellent Lebanese option, especially for large groups, since its long tables and mezze style menu make sharing a doddle.

Undeniably the best place to eat Chinese food in Oxford, Zheng served up a Chinese-Malaysian fusion of dishes. And with high praise from the likes of celeb Chef Ken Hom and food critic Giles Coren, it looks like we aren’t alone in loving this restaurant. The menu is handily split into regions, so whether you fancy Singaporean Kung Bao or Cantonese Crispy Shredded Beef, you’ll be able to find it easily.

Then another flipping food reviewer beat us to it, Giles Coren at Zheng. He raved about them, saying they were possibly the best authentic Chinese/Malaysian in the country. Having visited shortly after Zheng had opened, it was quickly agreed that this should be our next visit but due to holidays, life in general and Bitten Street, it was months before we finally got round to it.

If you’re looking for the best Chinese restaurant in Oxford, then Zheng is the restaurant for you. Located on Walton Street on the sunny side of Oxford in Jericho, this restaurant is amazing in all departments!. With a lively atmosphere on busy nights and a cosy atmosphere on off-peak times, this restaurant has an ever-changing environment that always keeps things interesting.

One customer took to Tripadvisor: "Delicious Malay/Chinese food in a friendly, cosy atmosphere. I’ve never been to Malaysia but I’ve travelled and eaten extensively in Indonesia, Singapore and China, and I can tell you Zheng’s soup noodles are the spicy, coconutty real thing. The staff and service were excellent and my Chinese wife and her Chinese friend were impressed.

2022 Review: “So good – writing this now makes me crave their tofu noodles!. ” – this Oxford institution takes a culinary tour tracing the voyages of China’s legendary fifteenth-century admiral Zheng, with a handful of dishes from each of Sichuan, Canton, Malaysia and Singapore. There’s now a smarter branch in Chelsea.

The menu at Zheng is extensive, the type you are still scanning over as you help yourself to a second serving of prawn crackers. While dishes on offer range from authentic Malaysian and Singaporean, to Cantonese stir-fries and Shanghai braises, the dim sum options are also blisteringly good, and should be explored.

In the spirit of Zheng’s voyages, this namesake restaurant delivers a rich, diverse and authentic dining experience with the underlying influence of the food still unmistakably Oriental – from authentic Malaysian and Singaporean to spicy Szechuan, Cantonese stir-fries and Shanghai braises.

This Malaysian and Chinese restaurant in Oxford is a real gem. After travelling in Malaysia, I was thrilled to come home and find delicious Malaysia food in Oxford. The star dish is the sweet and salty ‘cereal prawns’ although you can’t go wrong with the nasi lemak or dim sum, either.