I was really impressed by this restaurant! The dishes were unique and fresh. The flavors infused were delicious. Service was great and quick! The space was very elegant yet relaxing to enjoy with friends and family. I would definitely go again! The Melon Blush Margarita was amazing as well as a cocktail. I didnt get photos of the desserts but I will say these were interesting. I felt like they were trying to put a lot of things together in one dessert and it wasn't bad but I think keeping it simpler would be better. We got the dark chocolate mousse and the panna cotta? I think I can't remember what it was called and I only liked one ingredient from each. But I would recommend this spot either way! read more

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Came here for dinner and had reservations, so we were seated right away. I came in with high expectations. The ambiance inside was lively but quite loud. That makes sense to why the drinks were quite stiff. I understand why many of the older guests chose to sit outside on the patio, where it was much quieter. Danielle was wonderful. Even though she was handling a large party, she remained attentive and checked on us regularly. Food-wise, it fell short for my Asian taste buds, which tend to prefer bolder and more layered flavors. For starters, we had the tartare, which was enjoyable and very flavorful. For the main entrées, we had the beef carpaccio, but it unfortunately missed the mark. The vegetables on top were visually appealing, but flavor-wise it lacked depth. It needed extra mint or perhaps to be wrapped in a sesame leaf to give it more bite and contrast. Next, we tried the lion meatball with veggie fried rice. The meatball was dry and had a grainy texture. It needed more fat in the blend for better richness. Pairing it with a baguette or even a savory donut stick would have added a nice contrast in texture and flavor. I'm usually not a fried rice person, but I kept eating it because it was the only dish I genuinely enjoyed and found well-seasoned. It wasn't the traditional wok-hei style fried rice; instead, it tasted fresher and lighter. I understand and appreciate the direction of the flavors and dishes, as they seem intentionally designed to be more subtle, calming, and approachable for American palates. However, from my perspective and personal preference as someone who enjoys stronger Asian flavors, it lacked the "wow" factor I was hoping for. read more

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So let's talk about Chu Mai. First let me say I really wanted to give this place 5 stars but I had to deduct a star. The restaurant is really nice and clean, the decor is dope and they have a full bar. The service was A1 and I'll gladly be returning to this restaurant. Our waitress was spot on with every recommendation that she provided us. They did not miss on a single dish that we ordered and thats impressive. My favorite was the Lobster and Shrimp Cheung Fun. The only reason this is not a 5 star rating is because the kitchen over cooked our Steak. Other then that it was a great meal. Pho-Spiced Steak 8/10 Lemongrass Pork Steak 9/10 Lobster/Shrimp Cheung Fun 9/10 Crispy Rice Cake w/Beef Tartare 10/10 Oysters 8/10 Taiwanese Fried Chicken 8/10 read more

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Overall it was good. As a Chinese-American myself, I liked the concept of a modern take on Chinese food, but if I actually wanted Chinese food I'd go to a traditional restaurant. And it was a little pricier than I expected. Food: 4/5 My favorite dim sum is shrimp cheung fun and Chu Mai's Lobster and shrimp "cheung fun" was certainly a take on it.. It was extremely sour and too vinegar-y. The fried rice with crab was delicious and worth the price. The ginger ice cream was hands-down the best. It was refreshing, sweet, and spicy, a perfect way to end the meal. Service: 5/5 All the waiters frequently checked-in and refilled water. Ambiance: 4/5 Cool, sleek, and modern vibe. The restaurant was not even half full but it was so loud with the music turned up. I enjoyed my dinner at Chu Mai, but I probably wouldn't go again soon. Also, how can they be named Chu Mai and not serve Siu Mai! I love siu mai and wished it was on the menu. read more

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4.5/5 rounding up to 5 Came here on a Friday night and it was pretty busy. We were a party of six adults and two babies, this spot is very lively and maybe not as food kid friendly as it has limited items for kids to eat. The service really stood out. Our server was kind, attentive, and stayed on top of everything despite how busy it was. The kitchen was clearly backed up, so the food came out gradually, starting with appetizers and then each dish arriving one at a time as we ate. We ordered the Duck Liver Mousse, Egg Salad, Chili Eggplant, Lobster and Shrimp Cheung Fun, Spring Congee, Garlic Black Bean Fried Tofu, Fried Whole Fish, and Lemongrass Pork Steak. Everything was delicious, unique, and beautifully presented. I do wish the dishes had come out closer together, but there was a small upside. Since each plate arrived separately, everyone at the table got a chance to focus on and share each dish, which made it more interactive. It did make for a longer dining experience overall. The menu leans spicy, and some dishes cannot be adjusted to be mild, so that is something to keep in mind. Overall, it is a great spot with flavorful and creative food. I would come back, ideally on a less busy day if possible, and would love to try the desserts next time since we did not get to them on this visit. read more

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The first time we came here was about 2 years ago and remember really liking it so I was excited to come back. The ambience and drinks are great here however the service was lacking. Food took longer than normal. The also forgot one of our small plate dishes and had to cancel it. The main entrees were a disappointment though-especially the friend fish. The fish fried in a batter and was way too much batter and not enough fish. It was too sweet for my liking. If I come back, I'd only order drinks and food off the small plates as I felt they were the best. read more

Chu Mai - Fried whole fish - Pan Asian Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Very pleasantly surprised to stumble upon Chu Mai. The place is absolutely beautiful inside and the service and food both match the high standard they set with the decor. We were blown away by the rice bites (with curry crab), the fried rice and the pork entree. All of them bursting with flavor. But surprisingly (and i never thought I'd say this) but the SALAD stole the show! It was so amazing, I've never smiled so much eating salad. Please get the Celtuce salad and thank me later. Also the service was incredible, I can't remember her name but she had pink hair, a bunch of tattoos and was really sweet! Oh! And the portion sizes are large! We happily left with many leftovers! Must try Food: 4.7 Service: 4.8 Ambiance: 4.8 Marcels foodie score: 4.76 read more

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This place was pretty good. Appetizers were great.. the entrees were less so. the server was excellent & the overall ambiance was nice. modern and more fancy, but not too fancy.. you don't really need to dress up for a meal here. Most of the dishes are intended to be shared & eaten family style, so go with a group. Our server was helpful in letting us know how much food was appropriate for our group size. She was very warm and attentive. I liked that they gave a quick little spiel to describe the dishes as they hit the table. on to the food (also, make note that the menu posted on their website is not up to date.. so check out the toasttab online ordering for a more up-to-date menu).... - chili eggplant (Fried Eggplant tossed in honey-doubanjiang aioli, candied cashews, fresh mint, pickles, chilies): best dish of the night. it brought all the flavors... sweet, salty, spicy, tangy.. I loved the fresh mint.. definitely get this... even if you aren't crazy about eggplant. - popcorn chicken with house-made ranch sauce: this was a solid dish. just good popcorn chicken. the dipping sauce was good enough.. didn't really taste like ranch (less tangy), but it paired nicely with the chicken. - soft shell crab & cold noodles (chilled sichuan chili-fish fumet, bean sprouts, shaved celery, salted turnips, trout roe): tasty dish. you can't really go wrong with soft shell crab.. and there was some additional crab meat as well. this wasn't a very good dish for sharing (though, the portion size was) since it is rather soupy & can get a bit messy to eat. nonetheless, a good dish. - charred napa cabbage (garlic oyster sauce, vietnamese furikake, perilla, radish): this was another goodie. it was actually a soup dish in disguise. they chop up the cabbage into bite size pieces, and it all sits in a yummy broth. just make sure you douse your cabbage bite in the broth before consuming since that's where most of the flavor is. - garlic black bean tofu (english peas, crispy tofu skin, pickled chilies, celery leaves, cilantro, thai chili aioli): this dish was just okay. the black bean tastes like black bean. the texture of the tofu was a little off-putting; it was unpleasantly firm. I'd pass on this one. - whole fried snapper (Fried fish filets with head and tail, tamarind sweet and sour sauce, cabbage, pickled citrus, rau ram, fried garlic): this one was kinda disappointing. I love a whole fried fish, and I liked that they mostly de-boned it, but the sweet and sour sauce was not to my liking. it was a bit too sour & just not great. the sliced kumquats just added to the overly acidic flavor. - grilled lemongrass pork steak (Grilled Lemongrass Pork Shoulder Steak with Nem Nuong, "Green Sauce", Carrot & Daikon Pickles, Cabbage-Herb Slaw): this one was a little disappointing as well. better than the fish, but still not great. they slice the pork, which is nice; however, the pork itself was a little too chewy... the slices were quite a mouthful to eat in a single bite, but the meat was too chewy to easily break apart... and even when popping the whole thing in your mouth, some of the pieces were just too chewy. not sure what cut of pork this is, but it probably should've been cooked a bit more (and I'm actually someone who thinks that if your pork isn't pink, then it's overcooked). I did like the char on the outside though, and the green cilantro sauce & chili oil were a good pairing. - white rice: it's rice.. but I just thought I'd mention that a single $3 serving can easily serve two people (and our waitress was kind enough to mention this)... well, I guess if you really like to eat a lot of rice, then one person could eat one order..... and, you'll definitely want to get some rice if you order the fish or pork dishes. I'd like to come back some time and try out some of the other dishes. I appreciated the inventiveness/originality of the dishes. and, I liked all the fresh veggies that garnished most of the dishes. if all the food was as tasty as the "smaller plate" dishes, then I would've given this place 5 stars, but the middling "larger plates" knocked a star off... but don't let that deter you. this place is still definitely worth checking out. read more

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Visit my son & his Fiancé at Sacramento, came here last night around 6pm, quite impressed. I like the foods, the services, the ambience. We had Chinese donuts with sauces; Chicken popcorn; Citrus salad; Fried Whole Fish; and Beef Fried Rice, I actually like them all. My kids had few drinks, I forgot their name. The thing is they take all very ordinary ingredients and put magic in them, made them became very delicious and they did a well-done job. Servers are great! read more

Chu Mai - Pan Asian Near Me - Sacramento, California

Made a reservation for 2 on a Thursday night. There were definitely people there but I was surprised it wasn't busier since they are also the owners of Kru! We sat at a 4 person table near the window and we were immediately greeted with menus and water. Our waitress was incredibly kind and attentive from the start and explained the entire menu. We started with drinks - I got the boy with the dragon tattoo which was delicious! Not too sweet, not to sour and beautifully presented. We ordered the Crispy Rice bites off the special menu with the lobster, citrus, and reserve caviar. It was AMAZING - I probably could have eaten multiple but wanted to save myself for the rest of the food. We ordered the Lolla Rosa Salad with fried tofu, the Lobster & Shrimp "Cheung Fun" and the Roasted Half chicken. The salad was delicous, we loved the cheung fun and the half chicken was perfectly seasoned. It was more than enough food for the two of us! They ended up bringing us Ube ice cream as dessert for a belated birthday celebration too. Really, really enjoyed it and looking forward to going back! read more

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As huge fans of Kru, it was exciting to hear the chef endeavoring to another restaurant. The restaurant ambience and decor is beautiful, elegant while maintaining a business casual/casual atmosphere with a peep into open kitchen and friendly service. Every dish we ate tasted decent but if you're looking for high taste-to-value ratio, this place is definitely on the pricy side and one can likely find something that fits the flavor profile and will satisfy the craving of their offerings for 1/3-1/2 the price vs at Chu Mai. For example, Taiwanese fried chicken on the menu has very similar taste profile to popcorn chicken that one order at a boba shop. Laksa curry is $50, likely based on the fact it comes with 3 scallops and 2 shrimp, but for the same price at any Chinese restaurant can get 3x size lobster/seafood noodles to feed a family. Overall, I think this is a nice option for those wanting a nicer dining experience but likely more for special occasions than a frequent meal experience based on the price and value. Props for providing a tan yuan offering for Chinese lantern festival today, way to go! read more

Chu Mai - Mushroom congee and laksa curry egg noodles - Pan Asian Near Me - Sacramento, California

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We came here for my birthday and loved everything we ordered. The service was great and the interior decoration was beautiful! Another restaurant by Kru shed did not disappoint us! The food was tastefully decorated and yummy! We ordered rice, vegetables and beef; pork steak, chili eggplant, rice bites, and popcorn chicken! We highly recommend this Chinese fusion place!" read more

Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Been eyeing out the new Vietnamese restaurant since it opened. I was excited to try out this place for our anniversary, but yet had a lower expectations, since homemade Vietnamese food has always been my best experiences thus far. Reservations were amazingly a breeze. Location is downtown, and parking can be challenging, so give yourself a little time. Inside the restaurant, we were breath-taken by the beautiful modern architecture. Our server was very friendly, and very helpful, wish I remembered her name. We started our order with some cocktails and we received complimentary champagne too. The cocktails beats my expectations so far, really gives that strong speakeasy quality drinks, which we love. Can't go wrong with any cocktails of choices, try them if you can. The appetizers, we ordered the special tuna with Cavier and quail eggs; must try them if you steak version too. 5/5 Kumamoto oysters were very good 5/5 Beef tartare 5/5 Braised Pork belly 4/5 Custard medley 5/5 Fried rice 5/5 Fried fish 4/5 Mushroom congee 5/5 Dessert: Pear Ube pie 4/5 Egg tarts: 4/5 Cocktails 5/5 This place beats my expectations so far for an Asian Vietnamese fusion restaurant. I would be back to try their seasonal menu. read more

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Really good food and a beautiful space overall! The ambiance is chic with modern décor that feels stylish and thoughtfully designed. Service was also excellent--attentive, friendly, and efficient without hovering. The turnip cake is great--crispy on the outside and very flavorful. That said, I'm knocking off a star for pricing. The portion sizes feel small compared to how high the prices are, so the value just isn't there. And one thing that really bothered me: charging the same price for a non-alcoholic drink as an alcoholic drink... bffr. People are out here trying to be healthier and restaurants charging cocktail prices for NA drinks feels like they're straight up taking advantage....and in this economy... Good food and a nice atmosphere, but just be aware of that pricing approach, read more

We tried Chu Mai on December 6th for a semi early dinner around 7:45 p.m. . The place was definitely packed but not crowded. Because of the layout of the space you definitely felt that it was much bigger than the outside let on. First off the Ambiance of Chu Mai is very warm and cozy because there is a lot of soft lighting but, the bright mural in the corner right with the flowers and birds really brightens up the space. As you walk in because it is an open kitchen, you get a whiff of all the delicious aromas. As we were walking by I definitely took a look into the kitchen and saw some of the amazing dishes that they had available. When we were seated we were asked if it was our first time here and our server gave us a rundown of the specials and some of the more popular items. One of the main questions I had was around the Baijiu. I had not had that before and they were gracious enough to give us two little sample cups to see if we would enjoy it. I will say the flavor is very distinct. For me there was a lot of herbal notes coming from it. So if you're not a fan of let's very herbal based drinks then maybe not the best thing to order but definitely give it a try it might surprise you. The lobster and shrimp cheung fun was a little bit deceiving at first. When I took a bite after they had cut up the noodles at the table, I grabbed a little portion ate some and thought it was a little bit bland, but that was not the case. What really happened is I did not stir the noodles within the sauce that was on the plate. I say that because I got another section that had drippings of sauce on it and total night and day. Recommendation is to ensure you first mix up everything together and if possible ask for additional sauce I say that because later on I ordered a side of rice and through the rice inside the remaining sauce that was on the plate so it could soak it up. The special rice bites with the crab were very nice because you could tell the crab was fresh. I'm a person that likes texture so the crunchy outside of the rice bite really was appealing to me especially since it had the contrast of the soft rice inside that pair nicely with the crab. I would definitely add a little bit more lime or citrus depending if you want lemon for it. Because it enhanced the flavor the little bit that I had put on there. I will say the star of the show was the half roasted chicken. I felt a little starstruck because the owner came to our table and actually delivered the entree to us and explained his way of eating the dish. He mentioned making a paste using the Szechuan pepper salt and chard lemon. I put a little bit too much lemon juice so I did not get a pace I got a citrusy lemon goodness. But definitely would want to try the mixture again so that it's a pace that I could smear on the chicken. It was cooked to perfection, the char was beautiful and again the combination of the flavors with the seasoning just superb. Definitely looking forward to going back and trying out the other dishes on the menu. Our goal next time is to try the whole fried Tai snapper! read more

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Had an ok experience at Chu Mai, but not one I would hurry back for. I wanted to love it but sadly left with disappointment in the air. I'm always curious when a meat-centric restaurant participates in the Sacramento Vegan Chef Challenge because it can be such a hit or miss delivery. Chu Mai was somewhere in the middle. The restaurant has a nice vibe to it and a hip aesthetic. This is the kind of place you go for a date night or a celebration. There was even a sighting of a certain well-known morning show host. Service was friendly and efficient. One server patrolled around just filling water glasses. The upscale Asian food, however, wasn't a stand out. The best dish we had was the Lo Bak Go | Turnip Cake. We both agreed it was tasty, and wished for $16 it was more than an appetizer portion. The Lotus Root & Wood Ear Mushroom unfortunately lacked flavor, like it was missing a key ingredient. Sadly, even the peanuts couldn't save it. The Congee tasted (and looked) like most of the ingredients repeated from our first two dishes thrown on top of porridge. The menu made no reference to spice, so it was surprising to find a mysterious addition of hot peppers, which made it too spicy for my dining companion to enjoy and had to be sent back. All in all I wouldn't rule out Chu Mai completely because I did really enjoy that Turnip Cake, but I'd have to see some different plant-based dishes that feature more flavor to bring me back. read more

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We booked a reservation for a birthday. Overall we had a great experience. The dishes are very creative, most of them are unlike anything you would get at a traditional Vietnamese restaurant (although the dishes are mostly Asian/Southeast Asian inspired). The dishes we ordered were fish crudo, egg salad, chili eggplant, lobster and shrimp cheung fan, fried rice with seasonal vegetables, roasted half chicken, lotus root wood ear mushrooms. Fish crudo: probably one of my favorite dishes. They mix the crudo in front of you. The fish was very fresh and it seemed to be a generous amount. This dish had pretty good seasoning. Egg salad: do not expect this to be a traditional salad! This featured a steamed egg on the bottom with preserved egg slices and tea egg slices on top. This dish was fried garlic heavy. I would have liked to have more preserved egg slices (I think there were only 2 slices of each type of egg, and it would have been nice if there was at least 4 pieces of each--to make a whole egg for each). Chili eggplant: it had like fried/stir fried eggplant. It was a bit reminiscent of the sauce in honey walnut shrimp, and may even have tasted like it if we had ordered shrimp instead. The mint added a nice freshness to the dish. Lobster and shrimp cheung fun: not was I was expecting. It was egg sheets that were layered in a butter sauce with nuoc cham (essentially a fish sauce). It had chunks of lobster and shrimp. This dish was pretty fishy smelling for me, even though I've grown up around fish sauce. The pickled shiitake mushrooms were interesting but added quite a bit of acid, making it a very acid forward dish despite having butter in there. It seemed to be missing maybe sweetness to balance it out. It seems my mom liked it. I probably could have skipped this dish. Fried rice with seasonal vegetables: another favorite! The rice is kinda like a more starchy rice, wide grain. I think it was a cal rose rice. The fried rice had a nice char to it, good balance of salt. It had a fried egg on top. We didn't add any other proteins, but it might have been a nice addition! Roasted half chicken with Szechuan pepper salt: this came with a charred lemon, which gave the dish some acid. The Szechuan pepper came through the salt. The chicken was pretty tender and the skin was crispy. This was a solid dish! Lotus root and wood ear mushroom: it is exactly what it sounds like, with vinegar and peanuts. I think it was missing some sweetness and/or salt. It was very acid forward, as well. If probably skip this dish in the future. Service was very patient, attentive, friendly. They gave a little scoop of ube ice cream, too, which was a nice touch. The restaurant is very clean and modern. It's close by to Ice Blocks. There's paid street parking. We had a great time and would recommend Chu Mai for your next nice meal out! read more

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Expectations were quite low for this spot as Sac hasn't really had the best track record for upscale Asian fusion restaurants, but surprisingly Chu Mai manages to (sort of) deliver. The interior, although spacious, isn't the best for parties larger than 4. Our party of 6 was tucked into the back corner of the restaurant with another larger party only an arms length away. Not a deal breaker, but maybe something that can be adjusted for the future. Now onto the food. We ordered the beef tartare as our appetizer which might've been one of the best dishes we had. We loved how citrusy it was, which reminded us of ceviche. Slathering it on shrimp chips just made so much sense, although FYI refills on the chips are extra. Another standout dish was the mushroom congee. Such a comforting and traditional dish that was executed very nicely. The mains we ordered weren't as notable. If you're at all familiar with decent Asian cuisine outside of Sac, the crab fried rice, laksa curry, and skewers were all pretty ordinary. The only highlight was that at least they didn't skimp out on the portions. What I would avoid are the rice bites, which were pretty unspectacular flavor-wise and definitely not worth the price. Chu Mai is a much needed Asian offering in the more modest/upscale restaurant sphere, but like getting a B+ in school, still falls short to high Asian standards. read more

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Another great restaurant in Sacramento by Billy Ngo. The location and interior are fantastic. Service was also friendly and professional. The dishes are all very tasty, including the oysters, chicken wings, and fried rice. Overall a great new addition to Midtown! read more

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I went there for a work event so my review is based on their outdoor dining area and small plate foods. The outdoor is a covered, fenced-in patio. We enjoyed a variety of offerings - I especially enjoyed the chili shrimp and the grilled oystered. The shrimps were huge and meaty. The grilled oysters were succulent soaked in broth. Definitely recommend 8/10. read more

Chu Mai - Pan Asian Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Came here for our dinner date. We had reservations and even though we were a bit early they went a head & seated us. The restaurant design was very upscale & beautiful art work all over the main walls. We had hop to try their pork belly dish but the server told us that dish was no longer part of the menu. I assume they have a seasonal menu. We went ahead and order our drinks which came in on time. They were tasty and looked very fancy. the ice inside the drink has some fancy imprint on the ice. The spicy shrimp we order as an app was really good crispy and spicy. There were only a handful of shrimps. The NY strip was super good I order a side of rice to go with all the proteins. The lemon pork chop was also really good. The steak was season really well good flavors. The pork chop was super good also. The portion was huge.. I think our meal would had feed 4 people instead of 2. The server came back to see if we wanted dessert but we were too full so we ask for to go boxes. Which they packed for us. I would really like to come back to try more items from the menu. The service was great and the restaurant is was on point. Great place for date night. read more

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Our group was greeted quickly and seated just as fast. Servers were lined up and welcomed us as we were being seated. Service was very, very good. Wait staff was very helpful to explain dishes for us. We settled on several delectable plates (see photos), although everyone loved the Chu Mai wings, Lolla Rosa salad, and turmeric fried tofu. The skewers & cha gio platter was standard fare, while the shrimp Cheung fun was delicate and delicious. The fried whole shrimp laksa curry was another fragrant and amazing favorite; okay, everything was tasty good on our visit. Am also glad I tried the Baijiu fresh peach highball - it had a subtle essence of peach, and packed just enough punch to ease into a fun evening. It was also pretty to look at. Interior is very modern with gorgeous paintings of owner Bill Ngo's beloved mom Mai Chu. Vibe is an upscale cool and has an inviting pull I can't quite describe, but thoroughly enjoyed. Street parking can be a pain, but the pleasure gained from a Chu Mai dining experience will be more than worth it! read more

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Great experience! We went in on a Saturday evening and the wait wasn't too bad. After signing in, it was only about 10 min wait. We shared some plates which were all delicious. We ordered their steamed egg, bread and their pork dish. Only downside from my experience was that our server kept recommending items that weren't very pregnant friendly, and I am very pregnant (lol). All in all, we enjoyed our stay! We will be back. read more

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Best date night ever! The bartender makes the best martinis in Sacramento! The food is amazing!

This place had some of the best contemporary Asian food I've had in a long while. We were able to secure a reservation easily and the staff was very friendly. Gave us a ton of recommendations. Some items we got that I highly recommend - Chinese donut - egg salad (this comes with different types of eggs for you to try) - Chili Shrimp - Chu Mai Wings (huge) - lobster & shrimp cheung fun (this was my fav dish and ended up getting 2 of them) read more

Shoutout to Chu Mai -- what an absolute gem in West Sac! From the warm welcome the moment we walked in, to our attentive and awesome server, talented bartenders, and most importantly, Chef-Owner Billy Ngo, who handled our chaos with incredible patience and good humor The food deserves its own spotlight. Chu Mai delivers elevated Asian fusion, blending Vietnamese and Chinese flavors with bold, thoughtful execution. Every dish was beautifully presented, packed with flavor, and perfect for sharing and the kind of menu that keeps the table buzzing and ordering more. Thank you for putting up with us crazy ladies and proud titas of Sacramento County -- BWAHAHAHA! We celebrated our wildest Galentine's here and the experience was absolutely fun, memorable, and unforgettable. The food, service, and ambiance exceeded all expectations. Stylish, welcoming, and full of great energy! Chu Mai truly knows how to host a GOOD time. I'll definitely be back soon, but this time with the mister Highly recommend if you're looking for amazing food, great drinks, and an unforgettable night out. read more

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The service is always amazing here, I forgot our servers name but she was incredible/ontop of making sure we were all doing well despite the busy foot traffic within her section! The shrimp appetizers are a MUST. 4th time here & will definitely be back read more

Chu Mai - Galentine's Dinner 3 - Pan Asian Near Me - Sacramento, California

The oysters were really good! My mushroom congee was also really good as well. It was a bit salty but overall I still liked it. The menu was small but has a lot of flavor. My group also ordered the fried rice, which was a bit salty as well. We were seated at the bar because we were told that it would be a long wait for the next available table so we did not want to wait. Although there were a lot of empty tables, my friends and I assume that it was either reserved or there wasn't much staffing, but it didn't really sit well with them. It wasn't as loud since there were not a lot of customers. It was bustling on one side but not a full house when we went. read more

Chu Mai - Mushroom Congee - Pan Asian Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Normally I stay away from places that serve elevated Chinese food in a pretty surrounds because usually the food is okay to good and beautifully presented but overpriced. But we had friends who organized the dinner and wanted to try it. Ordered Yu Sang, Pate Toast, Wing, Bun Rei, Mushroom congee and fried rice. The food was good, service was friendly and the restaurant was nicely decorated. However for the food quality I thought it was very pricey (hence the 3 stars). If you went to a regular Chinese or Vietnamese restaurant you could get the same food (not as nicely presented) for much less. Overall we enjoyed the experience but I would come back unless friends insisted. read more

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Kitty corner from the now closed Beast + Bounty, this new spot, launched by the family behind sushi legend Kru, is an impressive addition to the Midtown restaurant scene. Again, my Sac bestie Cam tops herself with the restaurant recs. She is also the one who introduced me to Beast + Bounty and Kru, and she never misses. We ordered quite a few dishes for our table of four to share, but my favorites were the lobster cheung fun (although not serve hot): "egg salad" with trout roe, century egg, and chuwanmushi-style steamed egg, pork belly, and steak. I would skip the fish crudo (ahi was featured that day) next time as it was mostly uncooked bean sprouts. Drinks and desserts were also well-executed and beautiful. Service and atmosphere are perfect. Can't wait to go again! read more

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I really, really, reeeaally wanted to like this place but it fell short of my expectations. The service was outstanding, our server was exceptional but the food was just okay. We got: - chu mai chicken wings - chili oil focaccia - mushroom congee - beef stew inspired pappardelle noodles (forgot the name) - charred Napa cabbage - dessert: chocolate mousse - drink: phoenix breath mocktail - drink: girl with green eyes mocktail Our favorites were the drinks, the cabbage and the dessert. As for the other dishes, they all sounded really good and interesting, especially the entrees as we love the more traditional versions of these. Unfortunately, the wings were tough to eat and not as crispy and flavorful -- the sauce tasted like a store bought sweet chili sauce and nothing special. The focaccia was denser than a traditional focaccia, but it could be because it looks like it was baked in the personal-sized cast iron that it was served in. The chili crisp was placed on top of the focaccia which kept falling off with each bite; it would've been nice if the chili crisp was baked/folded into the focaccia. The mushroom congee needed a few tablespoons of fish sauce, like 3-crab brand fish sauce (IYKYK), and when we asked for chili oil, they gave us a chili infused oil, but it would've been nice to have a spicy Lao Gan Ma style chili crisp or something (maybe I didn't ask for it properly?). The beef stew inspired pasta was an awesome concept but, out of everything we tried, it lacked the most in execution and flavor. It was super bland and needed more sauce/gravy, which maybe could've helped with the lack in flavor. Traditional Vietnamese beef stew is hearty, salty, tangy, oily, and a tad sweet, while the soup is thicker (thicker than a pho broth). Chu Mai's beef stew pasta dish had none of these, which was quite disappointing. The pappardelle noodles and beef pieces were good though! All in all, I felt super underwhelmed, but can appreciate the effort and can see the vision. For the price and the name behind this restaurant, I expect more. I would definitely give Chu Mai another shot, to try other dishes. I hope my opinion changes next time, as I love all of Billy's other restaurants/concepts. What did impress me though, was the space, decor and bar area. I love the attention to detail and aesthetic! read more

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Have been to this location twice now, very different experiences I must say. The first way pleasant, this go round had a different feel to it. Service was excellent but seems they have gone through some head chefs. The drinks were really good but the food was just okay. Certain dishes were better than others but I think there is room for improvement. Great looking restaurant and nice bar but hard to say I loved it. read more

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Beautiful new Asian restaurant on S Street and 17th Street near the Ice Blocks. The interior is sexy and elegant. And, the front-end and wait staff are trained to make your experience amazing. My friend and I shared the following dishes: Country Pork Pate with Toast (pickled shallot, Maggi aioli, rau ram, chicken liver mousse, and sunny-side up egg), Bun Rieu Capelleni (crab, pork, tomato, and fresh herbs), and Seasonal Vegetable Fried Rice with fried egg). For cocktails, I tried the Golden Child (boubon, cognac, palm sugar, ngo spiced bitters) and my friend had the Chu Mai Tai (aged rum, pineapple, macadamia nut, raw sugar, lime). The Country Pork Pate with Toast was such a perfect balance and crazy delicious. We both absolutely loved the fried Chinese donut with the Pate and running egg yolk. The Capelleni dish was like a strongly flavored Bolognase sauce... different tasting that's hard to describe.. but another dish that I found delicious. The fried rice was also strongly flavored and, again, simply delicious. I didn't expect a recently opened restaurant to excel with the food (as it can take some time to work out the kinks) but they knocked it out of the park. As for our cocktails, my Golden Child was like an Old Fashioned but I didn't think it was good-tasting and wouldn't get it again. My friend and I liked her Chu Mai Tai better but she also felt it was an okay drink. Next time, I'm getting beers! Lol The service was impressive. Our waiter checked up on us and our water glasses were always filled. The hostess even boxed up our leftovers and handed us a nice bag (of the leftovers) on our way out. I will definitely be back to try more of their dishes. Billy and Company really did a fantastic job and I understand they'll have an outdoor dining area when the weather permits. read more

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I had high expectations for the newest venture from the same owner as Kru and the expectations were definitely met! It was very easy to snag reservations for a party of 6 online. I was glad that I did because the place was packed by the time we left. They have a great location just on the other side of the Ice Blocks. Plenty of street parking all around! The interior is beautiful. It has the same modern and classy casual feel as Kru - perfect for a date night or special occasion dinner with friends. The menu is just one-sided, so I'm curious to see if they will introduce more dishes as time goes on. They did have special dishes for the night, and we tried the brussels sprouts. Everything else we ordered from the regular menu. The waitress explained that it was best to order family style, which was perfect for our group. The dishes are on the smaller side though so obviously the more people you have, the smaller amounts you get from each dish. The portions are small enough that you can still get a good variety if it was just two people, and of course there's nothing wrong with leftovers! Loved the Chinese sweet rolls! Perfect starter for the table - it comes in a set of 3. The CM wings were also really delicious! They had a kick to them from the chili and the skin was perfectly crispy. The bun rieu capellini was probably my favorite dish! The lime made so much impact to the overall flavor of the dish. It was like a Vietnamese version of bolognese! I could have eaten that all by myself. The braised pork belly was also a hit - so tender and flavorful. The waitress suggested pairing it with fried rice because of the rich sauce. I loved the filet mignon in the fried rice too - also super tender and cooked nicely! At the end, they brought out ice cream with a candle for me and my friend, since we were celebrating our birthdays. It was so sweet of them! Such a wonderful first experience here. I will definitely be recommending the place to others, and wishing Billy and his team the best! read more

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I'm torn between 3.5 and 3 because the service wasn't the best. Throughout the night we kept having to look around for our server. We had to wait extra long to order, get water. After our first dish, we really enjoyed it so we wanted to order another and literally could not find her so another server got our order for us. Then towards the end we were interested in desserts and it took an extra 15-20 mins just for the menu. It felt really prolonged. Another server ended up giving us the menu, we ordered, then that same server brought us the spoons then our original server came and ask what we wanted for dessert even though we already ordered... I'm not sure how their servicing works there. (If the tables are split and servers all help each other out or not) The ambiance is very modern, cute. The place is super spacious. There's only one bathroom though and it's co-Ed. Ok now onto dinner. We had reservations for 4 on Tuesday night at 6:45 pm. A friend decided to come the day of and the host was super nice and accommodating about this. I was really excited this new restaurant, but to be fully transparent overall I was wow'd by the dishes and the price point. The best item I got was their lobster and shrimp chueng fung. It's their take on the dim sum rice roll and the sauce it came with was really different. It was light and citrusy. I believe they said this was a newer menu item and I hope they keep it because I would come back for this. We also tried their Bo tai Chanh, drinks (we got phoenix breath, this was pretty good), egg salad, fried rice, Brussels sprouts, half chicken, pork belly, coffee mousse, pandan mochi. So we tried a good amount of food. The egg salad was interesting, a very different concept but for $18 I don't think it was worth it. Along with the fried rice, we paid an additional $8 for beef and there were barely any for $8! The chicken actually was definitely overpriced but actually pretty good. It was juicy and tender. My favorite items were probably the lobster cheng fung & Vietnamese mousse. I will said though you barely get any lobster especially for the price. between 5 people half didn't even get to try the lobster (see pic). I do want to try their version of bun rieu. Overall it wasn't a terrible experience but it wasn't like WOWd either. read more

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3.5 stars rounded up! I was super excited to try Chu Mai after reading about it in Sacramento Bee and the touching story behind Chu Mai - a love letter from Billy Ngo (Kru's owner) and tribute to his late mother. The concept of the restaurant, unique ingredients, and the ambience deserves 5 stars. Sadly, I was disappointed with the food. As an immigrant from Hong Kong, I also grew up eating Mui Choy Kau Yuk (Braised Pork Belly) and it was also a dish my mom made weekly. It's comforting and it goes side by side with a bowl of warmed white rice. I was shocked that it didn't come with white rice (or an option to order white rice - NOT fried rice) because the dish is on the salty side and the white rice is supposed to balance it out. The pork belly and the sauce itself is good but with just two thin pieces of pork belly. I get that cost is a factor but surely they can add a bit more preserved mustard greens to make the dish look more fuller and to justify charging $26. We also tried the Bun Rieu Capellini, vegetable fried rice and Bo Tai Chanh. They all taste good but not exceptional. I didn't leave with the "wow, that was really good and I can't wait to come back and have that again" feeling. The Bun Rieu Capellini was not $32 good. I came with a group of friends and the mission was to try as many dishes as possible. I left feeling hungry. The Ca Phe Viet Mousse dessert was excellent with chocolate ganache, salted egg custard, candied pecans and white chocolate cookie. I would skip Pandan Mochi Cornbread. I didn't taste the Pandan at all. It was just cornbread. The House Cocktails was great. I had a sip of my friend's Golden Child, bourbon, cognac, palm sugar and ngo spiced bitters. I liked his drink more than the Boy with the Dragon Tattoo that I had ordered. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. They have to do something about the sunset rays that is hitting certain tables and customers right in the face. It might be tolerable now but it's not pleasant when it's 110 degrees outside and the sun is much stronger. Just a friendly suggestions. Needless to say, I am disappointed. Perhaps it's the high expectation. I noticed many reviews are reflecting the same disappointments. I hope to see some changes and improvement in a few months since it is a new restaurant. read more

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We walked in on a Saturday night. A table would be an hour wait but the bar seating was readily available. We chose an area with two open seats but the counter was still dirty and had crumbs. The bartender quickly cleaned the area but she had to lean over quite a bit and still be out of reach - a reoccurring theme during the entire dinner - to hand us the plates and dishes. I wasn't sure what to order but settled on the Bo Kho. It was papperdelle pasta with beef cheek. It came with an assortment of greens and some shredded daikon and shredded carrots but was underwhelming for $38. The roasted half chicken was tender, juicy, and crispy skin but the charred lemon with salt and spices was very overpowering. The service was a hit or miss. The bartenders who served us seemed quite busy as they were also managing drinks for other tables, but did their best to tend to us. They were friendly. The music must've also been too loud as the bartender and my boyfriend couldn't hold a straight conversation. They also missed our initial order for an appetizer and there was a bit of miscommunication there. And we were quickly overwhelmed with dishes and utensils. They handed us a tray with chopsticks and a fork and spoon to start, but proceeded to give us another pair of small bowls to share the Bo Kho (which was not requested and was unused), and then a fork and spoon in my bowl as it was served. Unfortunately I would not return for another visit. It was a very messy experience and not to my tastes. read more

First off, the interior is so beautiful and well done. The staff is super attentive and friendly and explain the dishes so well. We learned a lot about the Baiju they served there and I had never had it. The wings and the beef tartare were delicious! The flavors complimented themselves so well and I'd definitely order again. The fried rice other hand left a lot to be desired. I felt like it was missing some flavor and felt maybe too heavily buttered? I think it could be better. Overall though it was a fantastic dinner. I recommend making a reservation but they were accommodating even without us having one! read more

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This review is a month late, but we visited shortly after Chu Mai opened. The service was very attentive, if not a bit overbearing at times but better too much attention than being forgotten? The restaurant is nice inside, pretty spacious with a nice bar. Food wise was mostly good, oysters were fresh and I surprisingly really enjoyed the pork pate toast. Would definitely order that again. The braised pork belly and fried rice were both really good, very flavorful dishes and perfect to share. Dessert didn't blow me away, wasn't a huge fan of the pandan mochi cornbread, the chocolate mousse dessert was better. read more

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Food is TOP TIER here. The plating is gorgeous and food is tasty. Service was excellent (Diana) I believe her name was and she was such a sweetheart. read more

Chu Mai - Pan Asian Near Me - Sacramento, California

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