Mate's Table
Subscribe
Create
Share with the community

What would you like to make?

Add a recommendationShare a place worth gathering around.Create a guideBuild a useful list for your city.
For business

Restaurant

New China Restaurant

319 Barker St, Castlemaine VIC 3450, Australia

Recommended by 42 people

Updated

Find New China Restaurant

319 Barker St, Castlemaine VIC 3450, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 5472 3033
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 5:00 – 8:30 PM Wednesday: 5:00 – 8:30 PM Thursday: 5:00 – 8:30 PM Friday: 5:00 – 8:30 PM Saturday: 5:00 – 8:30 PM Sunday: 5:00 – 8:30 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

Plan your visit

About New China Restaurant

Spacious 1970s banquet energy meets lightning-fast regional Chinese cooking in Castlemaine. Longtime regulars return for the warm hospitality, while road-trippers stop in for rapid plates of Chinese sausage, tender pepper steak, and garlic prawns. The expansive dining room still sports its ornate decor, spaced tables, and retro charm—with deep-fried ice cream arriving at the table topped with a lit sparkler.

  • Retro banquet hall setting: The sprawling dining room retains its 1970s atmosphere, complete with ornate fixtures and widely spaced tables.
  • Wild game specialties: Alongside traditional Cantonese-style standards, the kitchen prepares specialty proteins including kangaroo and crocodile.
  • Sparkler-topped desserts: Banquet finales arrive with tableside theatrics, crowning deep-fried ice cream with an active sparkler.
RestaurantChineseRestaurant

What's On at New China Restaurant

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Dine at New China Restaurant

Why locals, travelers, and celebrating families choose New China Restaurant

  • Rapid, Hot Travel Meals

    The kitchen prepares orders with remarkable agility, serving hot, high-quality dishes fast enough to easily fit into road trips and quick stops.

    Also I didn’t mention, the speed of the food was unmatched. Even McDonald’s couldn’t beat their agility. We ended up taking longer to order than the food coming

    Prnav A

  • Specialty Game Meat Dishes

    In addition to traditional Cantonese favorites, adventurous diners can order regional Australian game meats prepared in classic Chinese styles.

    you will not be disappointed by an extensive menu which, in addition to traditional fare, includes kangaroo and crocodile.

    Cool “Cool Garfield” Garfield

  • Thoughtful Milestone Hospitality

    Staff provide attentive hospitality and thoughtful personal touches for celebrations, from tableside well wishes to wrapped gifts.

    Service was great and the waiters were attentive and friendly. Food was very tasty with generous serves. Corkage at $2/drinker was also reasonable. They even wrapped a box of chocolates as a gift for the birthday girl.

    Steve Milton

  • Enduring Personal Recognition

    Returning patrons and former locals receive a warm, familial reception that preserves lasting community connections across decades.

    Once I returned to this restaurant after a 10 year absence, and was still greeted with the same personal friendly greeting that I remembered from so long ago. They even remembered my name and even I forget that sometimes.

    Lifon Henderson

  • Nostalgic Ornate Dining Room

    A spacious, nostalgic dining room featuring traditional 1970s decor and generous table spacing sets an immersive scene for gatherings.

    Ornately decorated large dining room with well spaced tables. Food delicious with delicate flavourings letting the fresh ingredients shine.

    Martin Lenard

  • Sparkler Fried Ice Cream

    Dessert orders feature festive tableside excitement, serving golden fried ice cream crowned with a lit sparkler.

    But the little guy was very happy to squeeze in his first deep fried ice-cream especially when it came with a sparkler!

    Shan Welham

Customer favorites and classic dishes at New China Restaurant

  • Deep Fried Ice Cream

    the little guy was very happy to squeeze in his first deep fried ice-cream especially when it came with a sparkler!

    Shan Welham

  • Pepper Steak

    The pepper steak was tender and flavoursome

    rich the golfer bod

  • Lemon Chicken

    The Lemon chicken cannot be rivalled.

    Teddy

  • Curry Puffs

    We totally recommend the curry puffs! They were delicious!

    Tully Sonneman

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful hospitality touches that make milestone dinners and visits memorable.

  • Thoughtful Birthday Gifts and Greetings

    For birthday celebrations, staff wrapped a box of chocolates as a gift for the guest of honor and management came directly to the table to offer personal wishes.

  • Sparkler-Lit Deep Fried Ice Cream

    Dessert orders of deep fried ice cream arrive at the table garnished with an active sparkler.

  • Tableside Chef Recommendations

    The kitchen personally connects with diners, bringing the chef out to table to recommend specialty dishes.

  • Dedicated Quiet Table Accommodation

    Guests booking in advance with special requirements like a Seeing Eye Dog were accommodated with a dedicated quiet corner table.

Before you head over

Essential dining pointers for planning your visit to New China Restaurant.

  • Reserve Ahead for Groups

    Ring ahead to reserve a table if you are coordinating a larger family milestone or require specific accommodations like service dog space, as group dining is common.

  • Check for Specialty Game Meats

    Take time exploring the menu for rare regional game specialties like kangaroo and crocodile alongside standard banquet fare.

  • Order Fried Ice Cream for Celebrations

    Keep room for dessert if visiting with kids or celebrating, as the deep-fried ice cream arrives with an active sparkler.

Explore more places in Melbourne

Find familiar flavours, neighbourhood favourites and somewhere new in Melbourne.

Browse all Melbourne venues