First of all Billy is such an artist wit food Second, must get a Baijiu highball! Wow We got so many things and everything was amazing Diana took great care of us and knew the menu back and forth read more

Service was great! Our server checked in on us often. The other staff members made sure our glasses were full and finished dishes were taken away. Food was presented beautifully but can't say we loved the taste of all the dishes. We ordered: Lo Bak Go (turnip cake) with orange glaze. It was a part of the Sacramento Vegan Chef Challenge. I liked the turnip cake but thought the orange glaze was over powering. It tasted like Panda Express orange chicken but with turnip cake. 3/5 for taste. Fried Mapo Tofu, again part of the Sac Vegan Chef Challenge. It was tasty but if you closed your eyes and ate it, it resembled nothing similar to mapo tofu - not taste or texture! 4/5 for taste but 2/5 for calling it mapo tofu. Steamed snails and clams, loved this dish! Very fragrant, garlicky and hits close to home. We enjoyed dipping the fried donut in the shellfish broth. 5/5 for taste. Dan dan lobster, unfortunately was too spicy for me to enjoy. I thought the peanut sauce would mellow out the spice but it didnt. I saw a previously posted photo on Yelp and was expecting something similar. However, the dish we got had a much more red (spicy) sauce. 2/5 for taste, due to spiciness. Laksa Cappallecci, this was the star of the meal! The pasta was stuffed with crab meat and it paired so well with the laksa sauce. Also enjoyed the bright notes of the pickled bean sprouts. Must try this dish! 5/5 for taste. Overall, we enjoyed our visit. I thought the dishes were thoughtfully and beautifully presented. We enjoyed the lively vibes inside the restaurant. However, one thing our whole party felt was that the chili oil was quite heavy in most of the dishes. For us, it was too heavy. We all ended up with "yeet hay" feeling afterwards, if you understand the Cantonese/chinese saying. read more

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I've come here twice and I just want to say service and ambiance are both 10/10! I have been super pleased with the service for both my visits and my only comment would be to give all the servers a nice bonus! They really made my experience always good. Now unfortunately I did have to dock 1 star purely for the food because I would love for this restaurant to keep thriving and I would be so happy to come back again and give a higher rating! I'm a long term fan of Kru and Kodaiko so I was really excited for Chu Mai. My first time, I ordered the lobster shrimp cheong fun and this was bougie dish that I enjoyed! We also ordered the laksa pasta which was a seasonal item (unknownst to me) and even though our kind server told us it was spicy, my friend's and I were thinking we eat spicy korean food all the time, it'll be fine. It was not fine, it was really spicy BUT it was delicious. Picture 3 asian visibly sweating and going back for more while downing copious amount of water and eating the roasted cabbage as a palete/spice cleanser. I actually took some of the pasta home to share with my partner who also thought the flavor was sooo good and wanted to come here for our anniversary. I totally forgot to write a review back then, because I would have suggested an option small cup of coconut milk or broth that people can mix to make the curry less spicy. Now for our anniversary dinner, I want to restate, service was impeccable! They went above and beyond! I really enjoyed the Cà Ri Khaoi Taylor, I love me crispy potatoes! But unfortunately the Bún Riêu not only came a bit later than expected. It was also slightly undercooked so it made for a harder mouthful when I bit into the dry/raw pasta parts. Our amazing server offered to change the dish and we took the lobster dandan noodles to go since we were on a time crunch, so I didnt really eat the noodles super fresh. It was good but it didnt have the kick and enticing flavor that the laksha curry pasta had. So I mainly wanted to come here and praise the servers, but also bring up that yes the laksa pasta back! We can handle the spice!! read more

This restaurant is beautiful. I love the calming ambience, and the food was amazing. Very flavorful! the customer service was great as well. Our waiter was very attentive and kind. I got the Mai Tai. It was the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. I'll definitely be back! read more

Chu Mai - Fried rice and chili shrimp - Pan Asian Near Me - Sacramento, California

My first time dining here for dinner. Street parking can be tough. The restaurant is spacious and beautiful. Love all the windows and street views. Service was great, very attentive and professional. Food: Loved the oysters and desserts. Those were my faves. The crab fried rice was a bit oily for us and the pork steak was tough but we loved the flavors. read more

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Came here for my birthday and it was soooo good! Creative Asian dishes and the flavors were delicious! I could eat a bunch of the rice cakes, they were so good. The donut bread was so airy and fun to eat! Highly recommend for special dinner. The service was excellent. Though if I can suggest more comfy chairs in the middle section. I don't love when nice restaurants have clustered tables in the middle I think it makes me feel like I'm on display or something but it could just be me. read more

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This restaurant is incredible! We arrived and were seated and greeted with water and had a very kind waitress. We ordered drinks and I got the Canton Fiesta drink, this was so fresh and a great summer drink. We then got the crispy rice bites with beef tartare and a curry crab. I've never had beef tartare and have been skeptical about it but this was amazing! Then we ordered dinner, we got the watermelon salad, popcorn chicken, shaking beef, shrimp fried rice, and the roasted potatoes. All the portion sizes are pretty big so we ordered more than enough food for three people. Everything was incredible, so fresh and great flavors. We had leftovers so they boxed those up for us and told us they'd have them for us at the front to take before we left. I thought this was a nice touch so you didn't have a big bag sitting at your table at the end of your meal. All in all I would definitely recommend this restaurant and am looking forward to coming back again! read more

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Don't skip the shrimp whole fried fish was pretty good. Hella good ambiance. Great for girls night. read more

Chu Mai - Whole Fried Snapper Chili Shrimp - Pan Asian Near Me - Sacramento, California

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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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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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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Appetizers were pretty good. Unfortunately the entrees were not. Had the Dan Dan noodle with lobster. The sauce was too overpowering and I was not able to really taste much of the lobster. There was also a dumpling with lobster which ran into the same problem. With this price point, they should have paid better attention in how they choose and pair their ingredients. read more

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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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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One of the best meals I had during my visit down in Sacramento. Chill atmosphere, great service, and amazing food. Highly recommend for anyone visiting. read more

Chu Mai - Pan Asian Near Me - Sacramento, California

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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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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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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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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Really good food. Service is amazing. Beer menu is a little lack luster. The egg plant dish is amazinggggg read more

Chu Mai - Bo la lot - Pan Asian Near Me - Sacramento, California

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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Wow, Billy bringing the fire again. He and his team have created a plethora of delicious dishes that are flavor bombs for the mouth. I most recently have been visiting for lunch which is a newer thing. If you get a chance, stop by for the fried fish sandwich or the Bo Kho Dip, or the Banh mi. My go to right now is the fried fish sandwich but one can't go wrong with any of these items. Currently open Tuesday and Wednesday for lunch. Get some! read more

Chu Mai - Lunch Menu - Pan Asian Near Me - Sacramento, California

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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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This is a very beautiful Asian food fusion restaurant in midtown. Super nice and friendly staff, they have celebration freebie (a sparking wine or non alcoholic sparking drink) if you reserve and tell them an occasion. Food wise, as an Asian picky eater, I think the food is too salty and more like Americanized Asian food (like panda). Fun experience, but with the price, I would go local Asian restaurants which is more authentic! 5 stars for vibes, but can only give 3 for food taste. Presentation is amazing tho 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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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

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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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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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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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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Absolutely amazing. The service was wonderful, very attentive without being annoying, and our server made great recommendations from the menu. The food was delicious - we didn't have a single bad thing. Definitely order for the table, the menu seems to work better sharing dishes. Cocktails were inventive and well balanced. The ambiance was very elevated without feeling stuffy. read more

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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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

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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