China Chef food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Gateshead
China Chef holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the takeaway met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 7 August 2025, 11 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 56a Durham Road, Birtley, DH3 2QJ
How it compares in Gateshead
That puts China Chef among the 1,170 places in Gateshead holding top marks, 81% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,170 | 81% | ← China Chef | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 197 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 58 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 202 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At China Chef none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to China Chef, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birtley Branch Library Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 93 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 December 2023 |
| Casa Rosa Takeaway/sandwich shop | 96 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 February 2026 |
| Benelli's Takeaway/sandwich shop | 134 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 May 2025 |
| Continental Delicatessen Retailers - other | 146 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 July 2025 |
| Afro Asian Market Retailers - other | 234 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 July 2025 |
| Aioli Restaurant by Chris Finnigan Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 243 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 January 2025 |
| Burger 8 Takeaway/sandwich shop | 271 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2026 |
| Bright Star Nursery School/college/university | 280 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 November 2025 |
Questions about China Chef
What is China Chef's food hygiene rating?
China Chef has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Gateshead Council on 7 August 2025.
Is China Chef safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this takeaway to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was China Chef last inspected?
China Chef was last inspected on 7 August 2025, 11 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Gateshead Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at China Chef?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does China Chef compare to other places in Gateshead?
81% of the 1,436 rated food businesses in Gateshead hold the top rating of 5, and China Chef is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Gateshead Council inspects China Chef and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch China Chef and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
China Chef is one of 102 rated food businesses in Birtley. See every hygiene rating in Birtley →
Gateshead inspects and rates 1,638 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Gateshead →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.gateshead.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →