Trying Sunday Roast in Oxford: The Chester Arms

Over the weekend, we drove to Oxford with some friends. It was a short day trip, and for us food lovers, eating is always the main event. Before we left, we found a restaurant with good reviews and great photos online – The Chester Arms. Their steak picture looked so good, we were already hungry before getting there.

The restaurant is a bit far from Oxford University, so having a car helps. From the outside, it looks very simple. But once you walk in, the space is open and clean. There’s also a bar in the middle, which gives it a casual pub feel. There were plenty of seats and it didn’t feel crowded, which was nice.

We sat down, ready to order steak, but the server said, “No steak today, it’s Sunday!” We were surprised, but then they told us about the Sunday Roast – their special Sunday menu.

So instead of steak, we got to try a classic British meal. Sunday Roast is something many locals eat on Sundays, and it’s part of British food culture. It turned out to be a great experience.

New Spring Lamb: The lamb was tender and juicy with almost no gamey taste. The black sauce had a light mint flavour that worked well with the meat.
Overnight Roast Pork Belly: The pork was soft and fell apart easily, kind of like Chinese-style braised pork. The crispy top gave it a nice texture. It came with a sweet and sour apple sauce that balanced the rich meat. The roast potatoes were crispy on the outside and soft inside. The carrots and broccoli were cooked just right. One surprise was the crispy pork skin – I thought it was an almond chip, but it was salty and crunchy like a snack. It tasted even better with the pork.
Yorkshire Pudding: Each meal came with one. It looked like dessert, but it’s actually a savoury dish. The outside was crisp, the inside soft. It tasted like a mix of bread and pudding – not sweet, but full of egg and flour flavour. We really enjoyed it and joked that we’d miss it when we go back to Taiwan.

The Chester Arms isn’t a fancy or trendy place, but the food is made with care. Their Sunday Roast – whether it’s lamb or pork – is worth trying. If you’re visiting Oxford and not sure what to eat, this place is a great option to enjoy a true British meal.

📍Chester Arms
19 Chester St, Oxford OX4 1SN United Kingdom