The waitresses are very friendly. The decoration looks nice in the restaurant. But, the food is not very tasty. We ordered duck soup pho, jujube bolognese and steamed bbq pork belly dumplings. They are all too salty and sweet. I believe they put too muched soy bean paste in the bolognese. The sizes of the dishes are big though. read more

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A Chapel Hill favorite! Amazing Asian fushion cuisine. Fantastic service, superb bar and beer/wine list and distinctive culinary treats. Take a group and order family style. Guaranteed pleaser for all. Wednesday dumplings are on sale. They usually have at least five different dumplings each night, order them all. Also, don't miss the short rib and goat cheese wontons, cucumber salad, calamari or any of the entrees. read more

I had a great dinner with three friends tonight. Natalia was our excellent server. Knowledgeable about the menu, great wine service and friendly personality were all great traits in a server. We were surprised when she told us she had not been working there long. The food was all excellent. We shared many dishes, and none were less than superb. No complaints whatsoever. read more

Nice ambiance, though a little dark. Everything we had was good, but the baby bak choy with mushrooms and the crab cakes wore particularly excellent. read more

blah. BOO and REALLY? that about sums up my experience at this place. I'm trying to recall any redeeming qualities about this place, but i REALLY cannot. It's just not possible. The really sad part is that I was looking forward to Jujube and I was in a fantastic mood when this night began. We had a reservation and a Groupon. We were sat quickly. But maybe We weren't served so diligently because we had a groupon. Jon and I ordered a cocktail.... that took me impatiently looking around to receive. I don't like negative reinforcement, but apparently that works here, cause we NEVER got the appetizers we ordered. That, right there, knocks a star off. There is little more that irks me more than a bird-brained waiter who can't remember my order.... if you have a farty brain WRITE IT DOWN. seriously! Jon's soup had the consistency of a liquid that I won't identify here. It was ick looking and upon tasting it, my mouth lit on fire. Which I assume had to be done to cover up what it really tasted like. Comrades, I love spicy food, but, when it's done tactfully and correctly, it compliments the actual food you're eating. When the waiter placed Jon's main meal down on the table, I actually laughed out loud. Had they really just used the soup to be a part of this mysterious meal? I'm really close to saying YES. It just wasn't as spicy as the main course. I had the duck. It was perplexing and almost cold. Was it a rubber ducky from my bathtub? Wasn't the same color... surely there must have been a mixup between the bathtub to my plate. Cause that was hands down the WORST duck i've ever put in my mouth. I didn't finish it. It was insulting. I KNOW DUCK. i eat all the time, this could not have been any other duck than the rubber ones that sit next to a child's bathtub! Congrats Jujube, you could have pulled off a two star... maybe if the service weren't so horrible. I get the decor, I really do. and i don't mind a little noise at dinner. There are perhaps some other dishes that would be worth a try, but I will never know. Holy crap was this the epitome of a disappointing meal. Five star for that Jujube! ---------- it's becoming more and more of a joke. Perhaps the owner is technologically challenged... Making fun of yelp/yelpers as a restaurant owner is like a musician saying "F$%@ the FANS!" Good luck Axle! read more

WOW! I had dinner here a few nights ago and I can not stop talking about how amazing everything was! We arrived to Jujube and our table wasn't ready so the manager sent us to the bar for a drink (which he comped) - great customer service! Once our table was ready, we ordered a few apps - and they were to die for! We started with the BBQ pork belly dumplings (SERIOUSLY AMAZING), the duck and chive dumplings (equally amazing!) and the spicy tuna wontons (also amaze!). After stuffing our faces of these awesome apps we ordered a great bottle of wine and our meals. I ordered the hanger steak with peanut sauce and cucumber salad because I had seen so many reviews mentioning it. It did not let me down - wow was this steak packed with flavor and cooked just perfectly! This place is great for dinner with friends, date night or just drinks and apps! I highly recommend everyone giving Jujube a try! read more

Hidden in the corner of a strip mall, this place is super easy to miss. Even though I've had it bookmarked for ever, I've unwittingly driven right by it many times without ever noticing. I love all types of Asian food, so Asian fusion just always seems so enticing to me. Unfortunately it usually just ends up being disappointing. Jujube looked like a winner to me, so when I heard Lisa W. and company were down to go I had to tag along, and it was anything but disappointing. The cocktail menu here is pretty stand-outish. Once I saw the Bangkok Fever and that it had Thai-chili infused tequila, you know I had to get that! The drink was, surprisingly, very spicy, but the tequila still had a good smooth flavor and was well balanced with the passionfruit and cinnamon salt on the rim. Everything in the drink just worked together great, I'd highly recommend if you can take some heat. The amount of dumplings offered here are kinda extensive for the type of restaurant Jujube is. We all ended up ordering different dumplings and sharing, allowing us to cover the most dumpling ground. I had high hopes for the Duck and Chive dumplings, but I'd have to say the BBQ Pork Belly and the Pan-fried Pork and Cabbage dumplings were the clear winners of the night. It would be essentially impossible for me to go somewhere that offers BBQ pork dumplings, let alone BBQ pork belly dumplings, and not order them. So yeah, you know I was getting some of those, and they were incredible! I could definitely destroy several orders of those, and they were my favorite of the night. The pork had a flawless sweet BBQ flavor, and it's shredded like pulled pork. Just try it, you will not be disappointed! I went with the Pan Roasted Duck Breast for an entree and it was perfect. Duck was cooked just right, the kale and beet salad was a great accompaniment to the rest of the dish, and even the green curry and taro tots were legit stand-outs. Basically all three parts of the dish would be worth ordering on their own, so all thrown together it was a exceptionally outstanding entree. I also got to try samples of the Pan-Fried Crab and Shrimp Cakes, and Seafood Clay Pot entrees and they were both extremely delicious. I left Jujube completely satisfied. They are pricy, but unlike other comparable places I've been to I feel like you do get your money's worth. I really like their diverse and imaginative menu, and the overall atmosphere of this place. I had good service here, but I guess I would say it is a little more casual or different than most places. This is definitely a once in a while/special occasion/date night spot that I'd highly recommend. All I can say is it's hard to find a place that prepares several Asian cuisines well and from what I tried here, Jujube actually pulls it off and does it well. read more

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A man who, upon liberating himself of his oppressive cable box at the Time Waner next door and appearing at Jujube on a whim for some take-out lunch, should not be trusted as a reviewer for said restaurant. True enough. Don't trust this review. Having exempted myself from your criticisms by excusing my lack of credibility on the subject of Jujube I nonetheless must insist that based on the paucity of my evidence Jujube is an excellent establishment. Perhaps I have scant evidence but perhaps this sparse data is rich and informative. I walked into Jujube and saw an excellent pan-Asian menu. Normally my nose turns up at pan-asian cookeries and with plenty of experiences to support such pedantry. The menu appeared to be very nice, smart. The wine list was clearly well thought-out with many wines quite appropriate for the type of cuisine. No gewurtztraminers or pinot blancs to my recollection but the brief wine list is long on old world whites with fantastic minerality and acidity. You can spend $6 on a glass or $100 on a bottle and everything in between. The appearance of the restaurant was chic with a bold color palette (reminiscent of the interior of my own home--I'm biased), nice tables and chairs, some suprisingly lovely outdoor seating (noted for spring and fall visits), a large bar that seems to make the place feel more cozy, and some fantastic light fixtures. Ambience, excellent. Done on a budget it seems, but done quite well. Immediately upon walking in I was greeted. The woman who greeted me took my to-go order swiftly, efficiently, and with an appropriate smile. She then informed me my order would be ready in "seven minutes." I ordered some shumai and vietnamese summer rolls. My order was ready in seven minutes. Just like that. I'm obsessed with vietnamese food and love making my own summer rolls in all sorts of ways. It's a marriage of the raw herbal flavors, the texture of the rice ingredients, and the dipping sauce. The sauce was delicious, although a bit too americanized and sweet as it was heavy on the tuong, or hoisin sauce, and light on the fish sauce. Nevertheless it was simply delicious. The rice wrapper and noodles were of a perfect texture, all of the vegetables and seasonings were of the right size, and the taste made it all perfect. The siu mai, wow. The pork/shrimp dumplings had that certain flavor I've really only encountered in China and cannot identify the ingredient(s) that impart it. Oyster sauce? Chinese parsely seeds? Fish sauce? Something comes out of the synthesis and it is wonderful. My regrets are now many. I regret not sitting down and having a proper lunch. Further, I regret not visiting Jujube for dinner in the years since it has opened. With this fleeting take-out experience I am compelled to correct my sad omission. I expect I will be visiting Jujube for dinner soon and will be sure to enjoy a nice bottle of French white along with it. read more

Elizabeth did an outstanding job of describing most of the meal and ambiance of Jujube (in fact, why are you still reading this review?! Go down and read hers... I'm just going to talk about my Pomegranate drink and my impressions of my entree... her review is much better). Anyways, the food is quite excellent. The appetizers were very good, and my entree (the lobster-tuna sliders) were really good: the roll-like thing they were on was excellent, and the wasabi aioli was awesome: not too spicy for one's taste, but an excellent kick. The sweet potato fries that came with the food were also quite good, as they were thin and exciting. And my pomegranate drink was very good too, combining pomegrante, lime, ginger, and vodka for a nice refreshing cocktail. If you're looking for good Asian fusion, and want a nice date place, go and check it out :) read more

Excellent place. One of Chapel Hill's most innovative. Never disappoints and for the price, one of the Triangle's best. The appetizers are reason enough to go by themselves--sweet potato fritters, shitake dumplings, spring rolls were all outstanding. Was tempted to order a few more appetizers and call it a night, but ordered the slow roasted chicken. No complaints there--extremely moist and well seasoned--just that chicken is chicken in the end. Should have opted for the spicy seafood or the one of the other more interesting entrees. Oh, and a quick comment w/re Stacy W's one star vitriol. Yelp is full of over the top nasty comments that masquerade as reviews but ulimately are much more about the reviewer ('hey, look at how witty I am!") than about the place being reviewed. But this particular review, besides being way off the mark, was extreme and just plain rude. (p.s. even the very best restaurants have off nights and few of the chefs/owners of those places would dignify such a review with a response, much less a measured and thoughtful one.) read more

This asian fusion place is one of the best I have been despite having come from a big city like Boston. While most fusion places have a poor combination of authentic ethnic and western flavorings, this place does a great job - each dish is unique in itself, with different flavors perfectly melting together. You never notice the dichotomy of asian vs. western flavoring in these dishes. I have come here multiple times now. Some of my favorite dishes include (1) the crab cake, which has a very rich flavor; (2) the calamari that is fried perfectly crispy outside and tender inside with 3 amazing sauces that I wish I knew how to make myself. Their specials are also good. I had a pork dish here once that was a special. It speaks volumes I believe when a restaurant does a great roasted pork dish because pork is so easy to overcook. The pork I came out was perfectly tender and juicy, absolutely amazing. You should know that foods there are all fried with peanut oil. Drinks to try if you are a girl include the lychee sangria (delicious). For the men, there are a variety of good Japanese beer you should try. Lastly, the ambiance is rather romantic with candles lighting the table and a red wall to create the romantic feelings. If you are a inner hippie, they have great black and white photographs and portraits decorating the wall. Beautiful place. To sum it up, worth every penny. GREAT DATE place. (But don't tell too many people, cause I'd like to be able to get reservations here anytime I want ;) read more

It's like the asian version of Watt's-- cool atmosphere, good food, reasonable prices. Everything we ate here was delicious. The pan-fried dumplings were good. The short rib and kimchee were really good. I think they used a different kind of pepper when they were making the kimchee so it had a lingering spicy flavor, almost like a jalapeno salsa? it was really good. I had the lobster wonton claypot and they were not skimpy on the wontons. I always think it is sad when there is a whole bowl of soup and only four wontons. Not here! M. had the red curry pork and it was amazingly soft and full of flavor. The best asian fusion in town, for sure. read more

Great ambience, but hidden from the street a little, and not in a place where one would expect to find such a nice restaurant. The prices are great, the most expensive thing on the menu is $20. My dad and I got two starters, two entrees, and a dessert, and racked up $75 (saved $25 with Groupon.) The starters are probably priced better than the entrees, and you get a lot, but it's just enough to satisfy and entertain your appetite until the main course. We got calamari and mussels, and devoured the mussels. They were perfectly tendered and savory, and in a salty black bean broth. My only complaint is that the calamari was too heavily salted, but the dipping sauces served with it to die for. I got the red curry in a clay pot and ate all the seafood out of it, and my dad got the steak. They had a really good selection on the menu, and a good dessert menu to follow. read more

When I arrived I was informed that the computers were down and that I would have to pay with cash. Ok, no problem. Once seated, just feet from the door, I overheard the bartender explaining to the manager why a vegetarian patron was extremely upset with his/her meal, so now I'm starting to worry a little. Nice decor, modern and comfortable furnishings, interesting contemporary art. I felt a little out of place in my jeans and sweatshirt, as most patrons were slightly business casual. I always stick out like a telecommuter. I can take it. Service was prompt, courteous and helpful. The menu was intriguing, but the delivery fell short. I ordered the Vietnamese barbeque soy chicken sandwich. The soy chicken had nice texture, but was over-salted to the extreme, which really killed the meal. The complimentary salad was nicely flavored with sesame oil, but the vegetables were soft (borderline wilted) - to be expected I guess, as it was the middle of Winter. I may come back and try the noodles some day, then again there's a Subway across the street. read more

Jujube - Vietnamese sandwich with barbeque soy chicken - Chinese Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I tend not to have a very high regard for 'upscale/fusion' ethnic food (see my review of Mez). Not because I'm some sort of authenticity purist, but more because the ethnic flavors tend to become toned down rather than enhanced by the fusion elements. The food I had at Jujube did a good job of making good Asian inspired food that still had Asian flavors. I really liked that the waiter had to seriously warn us of the hot peppers on the sandwich ... and to my surprise, they actually had some heat. I also really enjoyed their marinated radish and carrots. I could have used more cilantro in the sandwich as the one I had was some much more filled with meat than a typical banh mi that I could barely taste what was there. Which brings me to an interesting point. I getting the impression that the point that a banh mi becomes a Vietnamese sandwich is about $4.50-$5 ... when they get over $10 it becomes a banh mi again. I was super impressed with the green tea ice cream and level of sweetness (or lack there of). You could really taste the earthiness of the tea. Much better than the green colored vanilla ice cream I've gotten in other places. read more

I went here last week and had a fantastic experience! I made a reservation for 4 and we were placed in the back separated from other diners by nice sheer curtains, it was a very pleasant atmosphere. Two of us shared a bottle of Sake but were very turned on by our friends' mixed drinks, the Hot date and the That thing yuzu, both whiskey drinks and both reportedly very good! We shared two types of dumplings for a starter. The pan fried pork and shrimp and edamame. There were 4 to a serving which was made for non-competitive sharing. The pork dumplings were pan fried and very flavorful. The shrimp and edamame dumplings were a surprise, the edamame was mostly mashed before being mixed in. They were steamed, and went nicely with the sauce served on the side. I had spicy stir-fried noodles with yellow curry with coconut milk, carrots and cilantro. The veggies mixed in were crunchy, the curry wasn't too spicy and the cilantro was perfect! Others had the bolongnase, lemongrass hanger steak with peanut sauce (yum!) and crab and shrimp cakes in sweet potato spinach curry. I enjoyed a taste of the hanger steak, especially the cucumber salad it was served with. It was unlike anything I've ever had before. One bump in the road was actually the directions via google maps. We got turned around trying to find the location. It is on 54 in the same plaza as Bin 54. read more

"Isn't it a bit sacrilegious to be an (quote-un quote, insert finger gesture here) Asian fusion restaurant and not have Asian beers on the menu?" Our server agreed; alas, my two unique cocktails made up for the libation faux pas. I started with a Pomegranate Love Child (Vodka, pomegranate, ginger and lime) - twasn't my fave, but I quite enjoyed the amusing Kid Charlemagne (Cava, Elderflower liqueur and Chambord). They have a rather extensive wine list/collection but unfortunately (or fortunately) I wasn't in the wine kind of mood. We split the butternut squash gnocchi as our appetizer. OMG YUMMY DELICOUS! I super loved the gnocchi! I got the Kung Pao Soy Chicken for dinner. It was good but I felt I could have made this dish at home. It didn't have the "OMG YUMMY DELICOUS" oomph I had just experienced with the gnocchi and was rather expecting. Oh well. Either way, it was very relaxing to sit out on the zen little patio on a warm spring night and enjoy an easy delicious dinner and a few cocktails - I love(d) the atmosphere. Ironically, It wasn't busy at 6 pm on a Saturday which was refreshingly pleasant (and rare). Did I miss something? read more

I came here expecting a solid 4-star reviewed-restaurant and was blown away by a 5-star experience. As previously recommended, we ordered the dumplings (shrimp) and they were outstanding. Next came the spring rolls, which come with leaf lettuce, shredded carrots, and an orange sauce and you can make little lettuce wraps with them. Delicious. I also had the spicy mushroom soup with coconut milk and chili peppers. So good. The romaine salad is too rich and I would have skipped it if not for the insistence of someone at the table. The combination of buttermilk and Chinese bacon are a bit much for a salad. I would go for the Jujube salad which looks more refreshing and light. Next I split the Vietnamese crepes and the lemongrass grilled hanger steak which came recommended. The crepe also had lettuce and accouterments that could be used to make a wrap. They used rice flour and scallions in the batter, a technique I will copy next time I make crepes (i'm thinking shaved orange peel in the batter for some breakfast crepes would be just the thing). The steak was unbelievable. The flavor was excellent and it was cooked a perfect medium. It was served with some pickled sweet cucumber salad and a peanut sauce. Others at our table got the Gado gado, a vegetarian tofu dish which was good and the noodle salad which fresh, flavorful and hearty. We also tried a couple of the unique cocktails, both of which were excellent. The Bangkok Fever (a thai margarita) was outstanding, with a combination of cinnamon and chili peppers on the rim that delivered a spicy punch once the sweet and sour passion fruit flavors begin to fade. Good service (server was silently attentive and willing to explain everything on the menu) and a well-adorned, quiet atmosphere that was elegant but not overly formal. All around a Yelp 5-star experience. read more

The dumplings are DELICIOUS! I would just order them and nothing else! The shiitake dumpling as well as the pan friend pork and cabbage were both super delicious. Portions are large here, except for the fish. I had the Vietnamese noodle soup and it was missing a lot of flavor that I was used to. It was in a very simple broth. So, that is why I am giving 4 stars. Otherwise everything else was a 5! read more

Overall experience...probably about a 3.5. Sat outside on the patio which was great with a cute ambiance. Service was weird, not bad necessarily but awkward. Drinks were okay, overpriced for the quality (I got sangria). Food....dumplings were awesome, and the bolognese was pretty good. Everyone else food was the same....pretty good, not spectacular. Overall...overpriced for lacking a wow factor. But will def be back for half off dumplings on Wednesdays! read more

We went here for the third time last night. First, let me say: If you want awesome, inventive Asian and you can get in and/or afford it, try to get to Lantern. Otherwise (or if you're a vegetarian) Jujube is tasty. We've never had a reservation, though I'd recommend one if you are not willing to have a backup plan or if you have more than two people. Twice we got small tables near the bar; once we ate at the bar. All three experiences were just fine. What we ate: Jujube makes great cocktails! One in particular could be a sting competitor for best cocktail in the Triangle. The Hot Date is a combo of bourbon, cayenne pepper and jujube preserves (turns out jujubes are a type of date). Its hot, a little sweet, and bourbony - everything that makes a cocktail great. Plan to get starters - they do them really well! We had duck confit spring rolls with wasabi mustard and shrimp and taro fritters. The spring rolls were good, but not great. A little too ducky, and therefore a little gamey. (IMHO, duck pairs really well with strong Asian flavors since they help disguise the gamey flavor. This dish was very mild.). I'm still jonesin' for the fritters, though. They were almost like a shrimp version of a small crispy crab cake. They were paired with house-made sriracha and some of the best papaya salad I've ever had. For a main course, I had mahi mahi with soba noodles, ginger relish and watercress. It was tasty, light, and perfect for spring. My companion had crispy chicken with sweet chili sauce and Vietnamese noodles. It came with a sweet pickle relish that was amazing. The desserts are just okay, but at a flat $6 each it's not too painful to end the meal with a sweet bite. We got the apple-goat cheese wontons (meh) and the roasted banana ice cream with chocolate sauce (not sure how that could ever be wrong). After 2 Hot Dates, appetizers and entrees, I do regret dessert. Consider yourself warned. Two more things to know: 1. The menu is highly seasonal so your menu items will likely differ from the ones I described. Other trips have been not quite as stellar, but it's always good enough to make exploring fun. 2. They do have lots of vegetarian options - I mean, almost half the menu is veggie-friendly. They have lots of dishes with variations on soy protein. Overall, Jujube is worth a try. (But, seriously, if Lantern's an option, go there instead.) read more

This was already one of my favorite spots when visiting Chapel Hill, but I can't say enough about the precautions they have taken to keep you, and importantly their staff, safe right now. We had a lovely meal on their patio and felt very safe. We also felt like the health of our server was priority for the restaurant too. Well done Jujube. I already loved your restaurant and really respect all you're doing during these challenging times! read more

Went there for lunch today and came home feeling sick to my stomach. Had the cucumber salad and the fried rice noodles. Both were luke-warm - not good in either case. The place was deserted which should have been my first clue. Only redeeming factor was the nice wait staff. Fancy Asian usually means neither authentic or good. read more

My girlfriend and I went to Jujube for her birthday dinner on a Friday night on a friend's recommendation. We were very pleased with this place. For an appetizer, we got the calamari which is much more lightly breaded than is typical. It comes with three dipping sauces, two of which are really good and the other is just ok. My main course was pan-fried crab and shrimp cake curry and hers was the stir-fried noodles with shrimp. Both were very very good. She tried the mango sorbet with five spiced crispies for dessert and was delighted. This place has a really cool atmosphere on both sides of the restaurant. The wait staff was decent, though not exceptional. Overall, an excellent choice. Also, I've been told the cocktails are terrific so I have to go back soon. read more

We snuck in here for lunch on a dreary Wednesday. The decor instantly warmed us up - cozy reds, fiery box lanterns, tidy bar. Alas, the draft from the front door sucked out some of the warmth (even three tables back). I was craving comfort food, so I ordered the chicken and cilantro dumpling soup and the sweet potato fritters with black vinegar dipping sauce. The soup was a little oily and not terribly special. The fritters were yummy though, especially with that sauce. Joel went with the Vietnamese crepes including an assortment of goodies - pork, shrimp, veggies, who knows what else. He really enjoyed them. I couldn't get past the really pronounced nam pla flavor (though we should probably blame that on my overly sensitive pregnant palate). Meanwhile, service was courteous and relatively quick. I realized at the end of the meal that what I'd really, really wanted was a giant bowl of steaming pho, and that was nowhere to be found on their menu, so this is a slightly grumpy 3 stars on my part. I would like to come back here in the evening though (or even sign up for one of their special tasting dinners). Only if I can sit further away from the door. read more

I tried Jujube for the second time recently, and it still was a refreshing experience that I remembered from the first time. As other explained, the atmosphere is a Cool Asian, which seemed to have become a trend (see David's Dumpling and Noodle Bar in Raleigh as an example). It is relaxing and peaceful, which is somewhat amazing given the location (intersection of 54 and 15-501) and that it is located in a strip mall. The food was great again; I had the Jujube "Bolognese," which is a reinterpretation of Bolognese with Asian ingredients (Rice noodles, braised pork, and hoisin). They managed to retain the concept of the original dish while bringing out the taste of the asian ingredients. This is definitely a restaurant that I want to frequent more often. read more

I've eaten at quite a few places in Charboro in only a year and a half and Jujube stands out as one of the best. AMBIENCE-- The atmosphere is great for a date or after-work drink. They pay attention to lighting and seat placement; the music is everything I thought made me cool five years ago (José Gonzalez, Phantogram, etc), which means its a safe place for aging hipsters who have real jobs now. APPETIZERS-- Unbeknownst to me, we went on half-price dumpling night, a pleasant surprise. We split an order of pork belly dumplings and duck and chive. Easily the best thing to eat in Chapel Hill under $4. If you just have five bucks in your pocket, go on a Wednesday night and order the pork belly dumplings. Or duck and chive. No, pork belly. DRINKS-- The drink selection is intimidating. I did not try a cocktail but I enjoyed selections from the beer (bottles) and sake list. ENTREES-- To be fair, I've only been once, so maybe my roommate and I did not sample the best entrees, or maybe the bar was set too high by the dumplings. I went with the duck, two ways. The duck cake portion was incredible and if I could choose, I would have gotten that one way twice. The pan-seared crispy duck was not as crispy as I would have liked. Maybe it's just my philistine taste buds, but the medium-rare duck was inedible to me. I'm not a fan of rare meats anyway, so don't let that dissuade you if you enjoy gnawing on cold meat. My roommate got the flounder special. It was mild, lacked any 'wow factor', but still a solid plate. The price of the entrees compared to the appetizers made me regret not just ordering a few rounds of dumplings. DESSERT-- We split a macadamia sablé tart (say that three times fast). It was the perfect size splittable dessert and quite delicious. Definitely for fans of pistachio and honey. If I weren't moving away I'd be back more often. I'll definitely make a point to come here when I visit Chapel Hill. read more

I was hoping to find some good food in Chapel Hill and this place delivered. I had the bbq pork dumplings, cauliflower, and calamari. All flavorful. None were too heavy or greasy. The dumplings were perfectly al dente. Service was great. This place was highly recommended to me by locals and I can see why!! read more

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I had a chance to come by for lunch today, so thought I'd freshen up my review. Sweet potato fritters weren't on the appetizer menu, so we had Shitake mushrooms, carrot & soy dumplings. They were very good. Bursting with flavor and cooked nicely. For the lunch entree, I had the vietnamese crepes which reminded me of mu shu pork. I love mu shu pork, and these were good too. A little confusing on how to eat it. Fork and knife or lettuce wrap with the mint leaves. Tasty though I probably won't order it again. Wife had the Jujube "bolognese" which were noodles with braised pork, hoisin sauce and some other stuff. The pork kind of fell all apart and the dish lost most of its texture. It needed something to really make it special. Service was great. Didn't help the my neighbor table had some dishes that I have to try next time: Vietnamese salad and meat, Shrimp with noodles. Those two dishes looked much better than ours. read more

Eh. I ordered a Manhattan, and while the drink I got did have alcohol in it, it wasn't a Manhattan. (I'm not one of those "send it back" d'heads.) This might seem like I'm trifling over details but hear me out: I ordered "Duck Liver Pate on Rice Crackers with House Cured Pickles" - sounds good as hell right? Well the bring it to me and say, "Who ordered the pickle plate?" And it was a lot of pickles, and just a little pate... that's bullshit, right? Totally false advertising. Should have been called, "Pickle plate with a tiny bit of pate on the side." If you live within walking distance, and want to stumble home, AND you demand Asian fusion food, then go here. But if you're already in Chapel Hill, you should just go to Lantern, which isn't an order of magnitude more expensive, but is several times better. read more

So glad we stopped in. The restaurant is setup with a barin the center of the restaurant, one side being a proper fully stocked bar, and on the other side of the wall is the kitchen, where you can watch the chefs prepare your meal, as you eat, drink and be merry. As a lover of food, I love this option, it really adds to the dining experience when you can watch you meal be prepared. My wife ordered the Sorachi Ace by Brooklyn - smooth mild saison, brewed in America with Hops from Japan (Fitting) I had the Tokyo Black Porter by Yoho brewing company, Japan. I have been into porters lately and this is a very good beer. Read many of the reviews here on yelp while we were waiting for them to open, my wife and I agreed we would definitely have to try the hanger steak, served with a thick creamy peanut dipping sauce and perhaps the best cucumber salad I have ever had, ok I will go ahead and lock that one in. THE BEST cucumber salad I have ever had. My wife ordered the Shrimp rice noodle stir fry with mushrooms. The sauce was very good with just the right amount of heat, not over powering, but present and there. We finished the meal off with the Goat cheese apple filled dumplings and ice cream, all I can say is Oh My God. you will just have to try them yourself! Service was great, ambiance was perfect, I will be back! read more

The dumplings tasted like the ones I get at Trader Joes.. Crispy chicken was just fried fried fried chicken nuggets. Not impressed with this place. read more

Probably my favorite restaurant in Chapel Hill! Their food is delicious, their food/wine specials are always interesting and their prices are right. My favorite - the shrimp+crab cake over red curry with spinach and sweet potatoes. read more

Hands down one of the best restaurants I have been to in a while. I will admit, I am a huge fan of asian cuisine, and an upscale, though unpretentious, asian fusion restaurant such as Jujube is an ideal restaurant for me. Everything that we ordered was bold, had good-sized portions, and full of flavor, and it seemed like the other menu options were no different. We started out with fried calamari and pork belly dumplings. Fried calamari is a staple on many menus, probably because it is hard to mess-up, however at the same time it is not usually a dish that is outstanding. Well, this calamari was outstanding. One of the things that made it so good was the "roasted ginger aioli and scallion oil" that came on the side. We ordered the pork belly dumplings because 1) dumplings are arguably my favorite food and 2) because nearly everyone else on Yelp raved about them. They were very good, but nothing extraordinary as they seemed slightly one-dimensional in flavor. For the main course I ordered the Fried Chicken with XO sauce, garlic studded grits, and pea shoots. Ridiculously good. Fried chicken is not something you typically see on an upscale asian menu, however it was amazing. The XO sauce that was drizzled over the chicken is actually the "sauce", or broth, from their "Angry Seafood" soup which added a nice kick (the "Angry Seafood" soup/stew was very spicy) to the chicken. The creamy garlic grits were so amazing they melted in your mouth. I had been to Jujube many years ago and do not remember it being anywhere near as good as it was this time. I think they have improved tremendously recently and it is definitely worth going if you haven't been in a while or if you have never been at all! read more

This was our first visit to Jujube, and it was a great one. We started out with the BBQ Pork Dumplings - they were outstanding. I'm not sure how they got all the flavor in there, but it was like an NC cookout in a dumpling. My wife had the hanger steak and again, it was packed with a surprising amount of flavor. I had the pork and coconut rice, and while the consistency of the rice wasn't quite what I expected, the dish was really good. We finished things off with a banana ice cream dessert, complete with chocolate/pistachio bark. Not surprisingly, the flavors were awesome. Jujube has a very unique and tranquil ambience and is modern at the same time. It's a great place for a quiet - but amazing - dinner! read more

Glen Lennox Plaza is indeed a strange place. Home to many things, including an optometrist and I think a hardware store, it is also home to 2 high end restaurants: Bin 54 and Jujube. Anyways, I was thoroughly impressed by my experience at Jujube. Their cuisine would best be described as a mix of Chinese and Vietnamese, with a mix of fusion thrown in for good measure. This mix provides for a great meal, as I had a blackened Cornish game hen garnished with a plum pesto. It was served on top of paella, which tasted great. It was incredibly rich. Overall, I thought it was a great dish, and it was a huge portion too. Overall, I thought Jujube was a great restaurant, providing a great atmosphere and a great mix of Asian Fusion. read more

Do try: pork belly dumplings, calamari, spicy shrimp stir fry with noodles, flour-less chocolate cake with coffee ice cream Don't bother with: vegetarian shaking "beef" -- looks like beef but takes like blah Fantastic food, cool ambiance, nice and attentive waitstaff and bartender. Hard to get a reservation, but sitting at the bar was just fine. A bit pricey, but totally worth it. read more

Jujube has some yummy dumplings. What's better is that it's half off on Wednesday nights! You can fill your bellies with dumplings. On my most recent visit, I saw that the types of dumplings have changed, so perhaps they rotate flavors. They've got steamed options as well as pan-fried or fried. I recommend trying one of both; they're pretty different. The steamed dumplings have a pleasantly chewy exterior and the pan-fried has a greasy crunch to it. As for the entrees, I've tried the hanger steak, bolognese, and currently they have some specials including a scallops dish and branzino (whole fish) dish. The hanger steak was quite good and more on the "healthy" side. However, my friend had ordered the bolognese and it tasted better than my steak! Recently, I chose an entree from their specials and was reassured by our lovely server that the lemon cream sauce with the scallops wouldn't be too overwhelmingly creamy, and she was absolutely right. The lemon in the lemon cream sauce really stood out to cut any greasiness of the dish. The scallops were cooked right and the sauteed mushrooms, greens, and bacon were a great addition, although my personal preference would be less/no bacon. I thoroughly enjoyed their dessert--a bruleed yuzu lemon curd. I wasn't a fan of the aerated strawberry yogurt that came with it...but the yuzu-lemon curd was that yummy, so I got over it. Overall, a great dinner/date spot in chapel hill that has a parking lot, and after a couple of visits here, I've got to say, I'd probably come back some more. read more

Update: After I wrote about our horrible experience, Jujube called me and refunded my credit card for the meal. They also sent me a $100 gift card to make up for my bad time. I have never experienced this level of costumer service . We came back this week and used our gift card and the food was AMAZING. Our waitress was on top of it and the experience was wonderful. We will definitely be back. I got the crab and shrimp cakes.. they were large and so tasty. So glad we gave them a second chance . We even stayed for desert this time.. YUM! I was really dissatisfied with our time at Jujube last night. My boyfriend and I decided to go there for a late Valentine's Day dinner and I was not impressed . He got a sake flight and two of them were actually the same exact beverage. The waiter seemed rushed and aloof the entire time. We got the goat cheese and short rib wontons, which were actually delicious. It took a super long time to get our entrees, which would have been fine, but we had a movie to get to. The movie wasn't until an hour and a half after our reservation, so I thought it would be fine . By the time our entrees came we had to rush and eat and ask for the check. The waiter said there was a mix up and our order had been lost and that's why it took so long to get our food. I couldn't believe they didn't offer anything to make up for our long wait . I got the kung pao chicken and was sort of confused. There was only tiny pieces of chicken in stir fry vegetables. I even asked my boyfriend where the chicken was ? We were in a hurry so we ate what we could and boxed the rest up ourselves . This is the worst $80 we have ever spent . We won't be back. read more

First, I want to throw out there that it's hard to get me to say an unkind word about a dumpling. So when one is declared to be unremarkable, that's probably as low as I'm willing to go, as far as my normal experience is concerned. Well, there's Jujube. I don't know if I'll ever be back in "the place with the unremarkable dumplings," but if I was, I'd hit up their lunch. If you're there at lunch, you can grab a reasonably priced Vietnamese sandwich that even those I know who swear by the ones at Raleigh's Dalat will tell you are worth the trip. The Glen Lennox strip mall that it's located in doesn't look like much more than a lost relic of the 70's, but the inside of Jujube is quite cozy; so a lunch during the workday might actually allow you to forget about the oppressive forces that pay you for an hour. Bonus! read more