Becoming a successful Chinese restaurant in the United States is tricky. You need to cater to the American palate, but still be authentic enough to be considered a reputable Chinese joint.
With more than 41,000 Chinese restaurants in the United States, it’s not easy picking a top 50. But, based on interviews with chefs and Chinese restaurant associations, surveys of local food writers and polls, and our own experiences, here are the 50 best Chinese restaurants in the country, arranged by state.
Arizona
1. China Magic Noodle House, Chandler
Watch through a window as the noodles you just ordered are handmade and pulled for you. China Magic Noodle House serves outstanding beef noodles for less than $10. Huge portions and you can get them dry or with broth.
The egg rolls are a good appetizer, but spicy marinated pig ear is also on the menu. If that isn’t enough, they serve freshly squeezed juice and boba milk tea.
2015 N. Dobson Road, Chandler
California
2. Beijing Pie House, Monterey Park
Beijing Pie House isn’t a traditional Chinese restaurant. No white tablecloths, moo shu pork or dim sum carts here. The place trumpets the glories of meat pies – flaky pies stuffed with searing hot pieces of meat. All for $7.
If you haven’t gotten your carnivore on yet, you can always pair your pie with a savory beef roll. Cash only.
846 E. Garvey Ave., Monterey Park
3. Chef Chu’s, Los Altos
Extensive selection, big portions and reasonable prices. Chef Chu’s was opened in 1970 by Lawrence C.C. Chu himself. Since then the chef has made countless media appearances and become a best-selling cookbook author.
The Los Altos-based restaurant serves dishes covering all regions of China, but manages to cater to the American palate. Specialties are Peking duck (order four hours ahead) and a scintillating chicken salad with hot-mustard peanuts.
Notable diners include Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev, Jimmy Carter and none other than the Biebs, Justin Bieber.
1067 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos
4. Class 302, Rowland Heights
Class 302 is as close as you get can to authentic Taiwanese food outside Taiwan. The restaurant is structured like a traditional Chinese classroom.
The pork belly rice gets it just right and you know you’re in a solid place when you see customers flocking from all over Southern California just to get their tongues on the highly touted shaved snow (shaved ice). Cash only.
1015 S. Nogales St., No. 125, Rowland Heights
5. Del Mar Rendezvous, Del Mar
Located close to the ocean, Del Mar Rendezvous sports acclaimed and extensive gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan menus. The craft beer selection is also impressive.
With top-notch service and an inventive Chinese fusion menu – the duck breast Shangri-la with teriyaki glaze is superb – Rendezvous is a long-time favorite among locals.
The Xango dessert is a banana cheesecake wrapped in a cinnamon pastry topped with caramel and chocolate sauce. It’s like your cell phone – leave the restaurant without it and you’ll have to go back.
Del Mar Plaza, 1555 Camino Del Mar, No. 102, Del Mar
6. Dintaifung, Arcadia
This dumpling house’s reputation stretches far and wide – especially in Taiwan, where it originated.
Dintaifung is known for its succulent xiaolongbao, or soup dumplings. The dumplings are tiny, but there are pocketfuls of juice in every bite. Definitely be prepared for a long wait. The restaurant is always busy. Additional location in Seattle.
1108 S Baldwin Ave., Arcadia
7. Enjoy Vegetarian Restaurant, San Francisco
A veggie restaurant with two branches in San Francisco, Enjoy has vegan food that not only looks but tastes like real meat. Lots of gluten-free options and a fair selection of Americanized-Chinese food, such as sweet-and-sour chicken.
No MSG, garlic or onion in any dishes. Even meat eaters have become addicted to the place. Well, some.
754 Kirkham St., San Francisco
Visiting San Francisco? Insiders share tips
8. Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot, San Mateo
With locations all over the world, including China and Japan, Little Sheep sets the standard when it comes to hot pot.
You can get different flavored broths, but the favorite tends to be the spicy one. You can also divide your pot in half if you have people in your party who can’t stomach lots of spice.
It’s family style, so this is a group event. You’ll walk out smelling like hot pot. Additional locations in Texas, California and New York.
215 S. Ellsworth Ave., San Mateo
9. San Tung Chinese Restaurant, San Francisco
The main attraction at San Tung is the dry-fried chicken wings – juicy wings lightly fried and drenched with a sweet and tangy sauce.
San Tung adopts the Shandong (the Chinese region known for its flour-based foods) style of cooking and so plays up the pot stickers and fresh noodles. The restaurant is usually packed, so be prepared for a wait.
1031 Irving St., San Francisco
10. Savoy Kitchen, Alhambra
Savoy Kitchen is a hole-in-the-wall in Alhambra has developed a cult following for its Hainan chicken rice.
The chicken portions are substantial with much more meat than bone, with chicken-broth rice with ginger and an orange hot sauce on the side. Everything about the dish is well worth the money.
138 E. Valley Blvd., Alhambra
11. Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant, Rosemead
Located in the San Gabriel Valley, a Chinese foodie hotspot, Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant is a classic dim sum joint that’s always packed on weekends. There are no dim sum carts. Instead, you order from a checklist.
From the extensive dinner menu, the Hong Kong Dungeness crab is both a customer and L.A. food-critic favorite. With an amazingly flaky crust and hot egg-y center, the egg tarts are a dim sum dessert classic.
3939 Rosemead Blvd., Rosemead
12. Newport Tan Cang Seafood Restaurant, San Gabriel
Newport Tan is one of the most acclaimed Chinese restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley, especially known for its house special lobster. It’s smart to come with a large group so you can order a variety of seafood, such as fish with basil-and-walnut shrimp.
If you’re craving red meat, the filet mignon cubes are outstanding.
518 W. Las Tunas Drive, San Gabriel
13. R&G Lounge, San Francisco
Heavily promoted by restaurant personality Anthony Bourdain, R&G Lounge in San Francisco constantly rakes in rave reviews. The salt and pepper crab is messy, but delicious.
The Peking duck is served Cantonese style, so you get buns instead of pancakes to go with your crispy duck slices.
631 Kearny St., San Francisco
Colorado
14. Star Kitchen, Denver
Star Kitchen gets a shining star for its dim sum, which are priced around $3 a pop.
The dinner menu has a great seafood selection that comes from live tanks of fish, crab and lobster. The barbecue pork buns are memorable and you can get anything from tofu to goose intestine to frog from the hot pot menu.
2917 W. Mississippi Ave., No. 5, Denver
Florida
15. Tropical Chinese, Miami
A dim sum restaurant with a lot of class, Tropical Chinese sports a sophisticated decor. The restaurant’s website provides a good visual introduction to the upscale offerings.
Consistent favorites are orange beef, shrimp dumplings and egg tarts. For dim sum fans who don’t want to wait, there’s a take-out menu.
7991 S.W. 40th St, Miami
Georgia
16. Canton House Chinese Restaurant, Atlanta
This Cantonese restaurant serves dim sum for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Talk about commitment to craft.
Tables near the kitchen are the best. You get front row seats and dibs on the carts of steaming dumplings rolling by. Impressively fast service, too.
4825 Buford Highway, Atlanta
17. Tasty China, Marietta
Once you’ve tried the spicy fried eggplant with the numbing beef roll at Tasty China, a Sichuan restaurant, you probably won’t have enough sensation in your tongue to go for more. Get some raw vegetables with this combo, as they will tone down the heat. You’re going to need them.
585 Franklin Road S.E., Marietta
Hawaii
18. Legend Seafood Restaurant, Honolulu
Legend is a Honolulu dim sum joint by day and by night a seafood restaurant that’s very popular with the locals. Seats fill up quickly. It’s best to arrive before 10 a.m. on weekends. Deep fried taro puffs should be ordered without a moment’s hesitation. They run out fast.
100 N. Beretania St., No. 108, Honolulu
19. Sweet Home Café, Honolulu
A Taiwanese BYOB joint, Sweet Home Café is constantly flooded with locals who come to get their hot pot fix. Hot pots are served family style and you get to make your own dipping sauce.
The restaurant is so crowded that there’s a 90-minute time limit to eat.
2334 S. King St., Honolulu
Illinois
20. Lao Sze Chuan, Chicago
The spicy chicken at Chicago Chinatown’s Lao Sze Chuan will make your eyes water. It’s loaded with red-hot chili peppers. Despite the burning sensation, you’ll probably keep reaching for more because it’s absolutely addictive.
The Peking duck is perfectly cooked and served with the usual condiments. Go ahead and suck on the bones – they’re just that good.
2172 S. Archer Ave., Chicago
21. Sun Shui, Arlington Heights
Mixed genres are normally a red flag, but Sun Shui is a Chinese restaurant with a sushi bar that delivers high quality.
It’s a classy and inexpensive venue for a date. The “Dinner for Two” option comes with soup, a starter, two entrees and dessert. This the American heartland, so General Tso’s chicken is a popular pick.
155 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights
Louisiana
22. Trey Yuen, Mandeville
