Chung Ku — Restaurant in Liverpool

Awful experience at this restaurant. The staff has absolutely no interest in accommodating its customers, it was a case of get in, give us the money and get out. I found that items were added to my bill at costs that were significantly different from the menu prices. I watched the woman with the calculator add up my bill without using a menu, which is fine if she was getting the prices correct, however I had the menu in front of me and for every main meal we had, she appeared to be adding £1 - £1.50, for example salt and pepper chicken (several chicken balls with salt and pepper on) was set at about £6.90 on the menu - but rose to £8.50 on the womans calculator. When asked which sauces we would like, I asked for bbq to go with my chips - I couldn't of made it more clear that was the purpose of the sauce. A couple of minutes later a large portion of bbq sauce (suitable for around 7/8 meals) was brought to my table, I asked for a smaller size but was told that was the only size they do. (they were not lying). Upon paying for my meal, I found that the BBQ sauce I had asked for was for the amount of £3.50 (the price of a portion of chicken and sweet corn soup). We purchased soups, and prawn crackers were brought to the table several times without us asking - which was fine - until we were expected to pay for them. The food itself is standard - that's not so much a negative thing, I'm just suggesting it is the same as you would expect from any other restaurant which 'specialises' in Chinese cuisine. At the end of the meal, our party of 7 asked to split the bill separately, which we had asked to do at the start of the meal and we were told that was fine. Once we had ate, and was ready for pay, the server changed their mind and wanted just one of us to pay for the whole meal. There was no other reason for this as you can imagine, other than the server could not be bothered tallying up the bill. We requested once again to be charged separately however the server refused and would only accept one whole payment. Again, other than their own convenience and laziness, there is no reason why they could not allow us to pay separately. All in all, food - average - no complaints other than small portions. Service was awful. Prices - expensive which wouldn't be a problem - but were different to the prices...

🏮 Chung Ku – Riverside Liverpool ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Stylish Cantonese Restaurant with Great Service and Memorable Views

Chung Ku is an elegant Cantonese restaurant set on the dockside in Liverpool, known for its striking interior shaped like a Chinese junk ship and panoramic views across the Mersey. It’s a memorable dining destination, especially as evening lights reflect over the water.

🍜 Food & Flavors The menu offers classic Chinese favourites and dim sum, with standout dishes such as aromatic crispy duck, mixed roast platters, salt‑and‑pepper chicken, and dim sum variety lunch sets. While most guests find the food tasty and portions generous, a few have noted occasional inconsistency—some mains have been described as slightly over‑sweet or lukewarm on rare visits.

🤵 Service & Ambience Service is consistently praised: staff are polished, courteous, and attentive. They’re especially welcoming for special occasions—some diners have shared stories of anniversary surprises complete with a candle‑lit ice cream and a congratulatory message.

🪑 Atmosphere & Layout The interior is dramatic and photogenic—decorated with lanterns, warm lighting, and large windows that frame the riverside view. Tables are arranged in an open layout, which gives a lively vibe but can feel busy during peak hours. It’s ideal for groups or celebrations rather than intimate, quiet dining.

🗣️ Community Insights On local forums and Reddit, reviews often echo positive sentiments:

“Chung Ku is the best dim sum I’ve had, anywhere!” “Great setting on the Mersey… friendly staff… good portion sizes… lots of variety.”

At the same time, a few comments caution that food consistency varies and that the atmosphere can feel rushed when busy—but these are often outweighed by praise for the service and setting.

💭 Final Thoughts Chung Ku is a standout in Liverpool’s dining scene—perfect for a lively evening out, family celebration, or special occasion. It's a mix of beautiful setting, dedicated service, and generally solid Cantonese cuisine. Just arrive early or midweek if you prefer a quieter meal, but don't skip this one just because of occasional inconsistency—it’s still a top-rated spot that many return to...

The soup was cold to start with, so we ordered some bbq ribs and they come with honey ribs and dry! Like proper dry, when ever someone would come over if you asked them for anything they couldn’t understand and would have to get someone else to come over.

They left one of the meals out and it took 15 minutes to get it, then we had to get up from the table and go the bar to order drinks a couple of times because no one come near the table after they give us the food.

The salt and pepper chicken was really nice but that was it, the curry was bland and the Cantonese chops was dry even when they was covered in sauce.

The food is soooo over priced! We could’ve got a nicer chippy for even less than half, it was my sisters 18th and did not leave us with a good feeling at all, we then realised they as 10% to the bill… 10%? Average party probably looking at at £3-400 bill so £30/40 tip for what? Serving your self and jus then dropping the food at the table no chance when the service was this bad and the food.

We asked for the £38 tip to be taken off and got nothing but attitude “you not pay!” We said no we will pay our own tip and they was so rude, we gave them £20 however looking back they didn’t even deserve that.

The restaurant it’s self is lovely and has a nice view of the Mersey, nice relaxed environment but I won’t ever be going back unless it had a massive...