Fifty Six Restaurant
Authentic Sichuan Chinese restaurant on North Road, known for properly spiced regional cooking rather than the usual takeaway staples.
About Fifty Six Restaurant
Fifty Six Restaurant, which carries its Chinese name 北街五十六号, is an authentic Sichuan restaurant on North Road that has built a strong reputation for regional Chinese cooking rather than the standard Anglicised takeaway menu. Expect the bold, fragrant heat of proper Sichuan dishes, from mapo tofu and dry-fried green beans to fish and hotpot-style plates, alongside milder options for those who prefer them. It draws a loyal following among diners after the real thing.
Centrally placed on North Road, close to the bus station and the shops, it is an easy walk from across the city. The focus is firmly on the food, so it suits anyone keen to explore beyond sweet-and-sour, and it is worth going with a group so you can share more of the menu. Booking ahead is sensible at busy times.
Featured in These Guides
Blog posts and guides that feature Fifty Six Restaurant.
More Food & Drink in Durham
Coarse
Independent Durham restaurant serving a six-course tasting menu of modern British small plates using local, seasonal produce, changing every few weeks.
Faru
Fine-dining restaurant near the cathedral quarter offering five- and ten-course tasting menus of local and British produce from an open kitchen.
The Cellar Door
Modern European restaurant on Saddler Street with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the River Wear and a rear garden used to grow some produce.
Never miss what’s on
Join the weekly Durhamcity.live digest — the best events, news and local tips, straight to your inbox. Free, one email a week.
What's On
Enter The Castle with Jon Ronson
See website · Gala Theatre, Millennium Place, Durham, DH1 1WA
Durham Folk Festival 2026
Times vary · Redhills (Durham Miners' Hall) and venues across Durham city, DH1 4BB
Georgian Gathering, Beamish Museum
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Beamish Museum, Stanley, County Durham, DH9 0RG
