The best Chinese restaurant in every US state and DC
Dim sum winners and chow mein champions
The US has some incredible Chinese restaurants, from longstanding Chinatown mainstays serving roast duck and chop suey to popular dim sum spots. There’s so much good food, in fact, that picking the best place to eat can be as overwhelming as deciding what to order. We’ve done the hard work for you and sought out the most highly rated Chinese restaurant in every state and Washington DC, from sleek modern spots to family-run favorites.
Scroll or click through to find the best Chinese restaurant near you, wherever you are in the US.
Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.
TheGreatWallBirmingham/Facebook
Alabama: Great Wall Chinese Restaurant, Birmingham
There are many crowd-pleasing dishes served at the Great Wall Chinese Restaurant in Birmingham, but it’s the wontons in spicy peanut sauce that people really rave about. Along with this tasty Chinese-American hybrid, the restaurant offers a range of Shanghai-style dishes, pad Thai, and Korean-style noodle soup, as well as daily $11 lunch specials.
charliesbakeryandchinesecuisine/Facebook
Alaska: Charlie's Bakery & Chinese Cuisine, Anchorage
As the name suggests, it’s not just traditional dishes on offer at Charlie's Bakery in Anchorage. It's a classic American bakery with a twist – it serves great Chinese food too. As well as turning out everything from won ton soup to Mongolian beef, this place is known for its phenomenal dumplings, steamed buns, and Cantonese-style egg tarts. There are also specials available, such as this crispy pork belly.
thelittleszechuan/Facebook
Arizona: Little Szechuan, Tempe
Family run Little Szechuan in Tempe has been dishing up amazing Chinese food for over 40 years. The dining room is currently closed until further notice, but the restaurant is running a full menu for takeout. Pretty much everything they serve is delicious, but the most consistently raved-about customer favorites include the potstickers (fried and steamed dumplings, sometimes served crispy, pictured) and kung pao chicken.
Arkansas: Three Fold, Little Rock
This modern, Chinese-influenced café in Little Rock is the perfect place for a light and healthy lunch of made-from-scratch dumplings, noodle salad, steamed buns and noodle soup. The menu at Three Fold, which has two locations in the city, is simple and pared back with only a few options, but everything gets rave reviews. The taro chips are praised for being unique and tasty; the plump, tender dumplings are the perfect comfort food; and the beef noodle soup is just delicious.
California: China Live, San Francisco
Voted Eater's restaurant of the year, China Live is located in the heart of Chinatown and features a seasonal menu of farm-to-table ingredients by award-winning chef George Chen. Dishes burst with flavor while customers also love the fun and vibrant atmosphere. Standout dishes include kung pao chicken and spiced chili crab with garlic noodles. There is also an impressive private dining set menu experience, Eight Tables, available for something really special.
YangChowRestaurant/Facebook
California: Yang Chow Restaurant, Los Angeles
Chinatown spot Yang Chow has been serving its famous slippery shrimp since the restaurant opened in 1977. It consists of fried shellfish in a sweet and sticky chili, ginger, garlic, and vinegar sauce, and remains the resounding favorite dish here. Yang Chow also has locations in Long Beach and Pasadena.
Courtesy of Flower Pepper Restaurant
Colorado: Flower Pepper Restaurant, Boulder
The dining experience at this cozy restaurant has been compared to eating in someone’s kitchen – assuming that someone happens to be a master of Chinese cuisine. Flower Pepper is said to serve some of the best Sichuan food in the States. Dishes include spicy dan dan noodles, pork belly stew over rice, and soup dumplings, as well as more interesting options such as Tiger Food – a zingy combination of shredded cucumber with jalapeño and cilantro – and tofu stewed in a spicy, umami-rich broth.
Connecticut: Peter Chang, Stamford
Located in Stamford, this restaurant from award-winning chef Peter Chang is regularly cited as the best in Connecticut and, for some, the best Chinese food anywhere. Elevated dishes include seafood simmered in a complex stew and served in a hot stone pot. The Peking duck (pictured) is legendary and said to be better than that served in world-class restaurants.
Courtesy of Confucius Chinese Cuisine
Delaware: Confucius Chinese Cuisine, Rehoboth Beach
Upscale Confucius specializes in Hunan-style cuisine and appropriately given its coastal setting in Rehoboth Beach, seafood. Devotees describe it as the best in Delaware, particularly praising the use of fresh ingredients that you can really taste in the dishes. Favorites include walnut shrimp and steamed halibut.
District of Columbia: China Boy, Washington DC
China Boy has few tables and even fewer frills, but it has developed a reputation as the best place around for dim sum and other Chinese favorites like pork fried rice. Rice noodles are made fresh in-house and used in many of the dishes – or people can buy them to cook with at home, a detail that many customers love. The restaurant is cash-free.
Zom Hee Chinese Restaurant/Facebook
Florida: Zom Hee Chinese Restaurant, Seminole
Family-run restaurant Zom Hee has been a fixture in Seminole since 1985 and is regularly described as Florida’s best, with everything on the menu more than living up to expectations. The huge dining room has a warm, welcoming ambiance that, together with delicious and generously portioned dishes like moo shu pork with vegetables, egg, and pancakes, makes this a reliably good option.
Yummy House Tampa/Facebook
Florida: Yummy House, Tampa
Yummy House also has locations in Ocala and Sarasota and is consistently called the best Chinese in Florida by its loyal customers. Fans love the authentic Chinese dishes such as sesame chicken (pictured), pan fried pot stickers, egg drop soup, and spicy Hunan beef. The restaurant also serves a popular dim sum lunch menu including sticky pork dumplings, fried shrimp balls, and steamed crab meat dumplings.
Masterpiece(名厨堂)/Facebook
Georgia: Masterpiece, Duluth
Masterpiece in Duluth is a Sichuan restaurant known for perfectly prepared, flavorsome dishes like the sour cabbage with streaky pork pot, spicy eggplant, and steamed fish in chili oil. Although, fans reckon there really isn’t a bad choice on the menu. The portions are wonderfully generous too and best shared (or saved for leftovers).
Hawaii: Wuwei Chong Qing Cuisine, Honolulu
There’s nowhere better in Honolulu for times when you’re craving a bowl of perfect hand-pulled noodles immersed in a wonderfully fragrant, flavorsome broth. For many fans of Wuwei Chong Qing Cuisine, there’s nowhere better in the entire USA. It’s a tiny spot with just four tables but feels chic and cozy inside.
Golden Wok Boise/Facebook
Idaho: Golden Wok, Boise
Golden Wok customers praise the food for being perfectly cooked and full of flavor. The quaint restaurant also features a drive-thru and serves a classic Chinese menu including dishes such as wor won ton soup (pictured), shrimp chop suey, and chicken egg foo young. It also has several set menu options available.
Illinois: MingHin Cuisine, Chicago
With six locations in and around Chicago, MingHin Cuisine is a far cry from a standard chain restaurant and is highly lauded by the Michelin Guide. The menu combines style and substance, with its Chinatown restaurant on Archer Avenue particularly renowned for dim sum. Standout dishes include siu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings), pan-fried turnip cake, rice noodle rolls, vegetable crêpes, and egg tarts.
Indiana: Imperial Palace, Indianapolis
The menu at Imperial Palace, a firm favorite in Indy, is packed with Chinese and Chinese-American classics like garlic chicken, beef with broccoli, and orange shrimp. Should you want something different, however, you only have to ask – the staff are so friendly and accommodating, they might just whip up something especially for you. Customers say it’s a cut above.
Long-Xing-Chinese-Restaurant/Facebook
Iowa: Long Xing, Iowa City
Casual in style and ambiance but serious when it comes to flavor, popular takeout spot Long Xing serves Chinese-American dishes, such as chicken with broccoli, vegetable lo mein, moo shu shrimp, and hot and sour soup, to much acclaim. Customers are seriously impressed by both the quality and the quantity of their food, as well as the great service.
Kansas: Blue Koi, Leawood
The loyal customers of Blue Koi know it’s the place for Chinese cuisine in Kansas, so it's always busy. Besides friendly staff, it offers consistently great food in large portions. The ginger basil chicken, crispy tofu, seafood noodle soup, and Fire Bird (roast duck, chicken, or tofu sautéed with chili, scallions, and bamboo) are top picks.
Kentucky: Oriental Wok, Fort Mitchell
Oriental Wok is a local institution in Fort Mitchell. It was opened in 1977 by Mike Wong, who still runs the business with his family. The orange chicken is said to be phenomenal, and the egg rolls excellent. General Wong’s Chicken is a favorite with diners thanks to its tender meat and beautifully balanced sweet and spicy sauce, while the service also gets a big thumbs up. There’s a second location in Hyde Park, Ohio.
Louisiana: Dian Xin, New Orleans
It can be tricky to get a table at this small restaurant in New Orleans’ historic French Quarter, simply because the food is so good. Dian Xin has plenty of favorites like wontons, bao, and salt and pepper squid on the menu, alongside specialties like jianbing (Chinese-style crêpes traditionally eaten for breakfast) and xiao long bao (soup dumplings). It’s a great spot for brunch too.
Empire-Chinese-Kitchen/Facebook
Maine: Empire Chinese Kitchen, Portland
The stylish Empire Chinese Kitchen serves what many locals describe as the tastiest Chinese food around, with customers raving that the bao and other dishes are simply perfection. On the menu are small plates such as honey walnut shrimp and lobster rangoon, plus shu mai (pork, shrimp, and shiitake dumplings) and Shanghai soup dumplings.
Maryland: Bob’s Shanghai 66, Rockville
The star dish at popular strip-mall joint Bob’s Shanghai 66 is the xiao long bao (pork and crab soup dumplings). Each of the huge dumplings is filled with a hot, rich broth and they're regularly described as the best in Maryland (or perhaps anywhere). They also come filled with shrimp and pork, chicken, shrimp and chicken, or just pork, and are a real specialty of the place. Other notable dishes are the spicy fried tofu, sweet and sour pork chop, and dan dan noodles.
Dumplinghouseinc/Facebook
Massachusetts: Dumpling House, Cambridge
Cambridge’s Dumpling House offers a varied range of fragrant and delicious Chinese dishes, including favorites like sesame chicken, braised eggplant, and noodle soup. But it's the dumplings that are the real star of the show here, with customers especially fond of the pork soup dumplings.
Michigan: The Peterboro, Detroit
Located in Detroit’s historic Chinatown, The Peterboro is a stylish yet laid-back spot with colorful, industrial-chic decor that serves a contemporary take on traditional Chinese cooking. Standout items include the crab rangoon and inventive twists on classics such as the cheeseburger spring rolls (pictured). There are great cocktails here, too.
Master Noodle -Magic Noodle/Facebook
Minnesota: Master Noodle, St. Paul
Hand-pulled noodles are the order of the day at Master Noodle, a cozy Chinese restaurant in St. Paul (formerly named Magic Noodle). They come in different thicknesses and sizes and are served in a variety of sauces and broths. Shanxi shaved noodle soup (with beef brisket, tomato, cilantro, pickled mustard, and scallions) and Lanzhou noodle soup (beef shank, radish, scallions, and cilantro) are among the favorites, while the Sichuan wontons are melt-in-the-mouth perfection.
Mississippi: Asian Foods Market-Restaurant, Starkville
The restaurant at Asian Foods Market specializes in Chinese cuisine and is considered something of a hidden gem, serving tasty wontons and more substantial dishes like seafood chow mein. The huge menu at the restaurant, which is attached to the grocery store, includes familiar favorites like sesame chicken and General Tso’s chicken, with a great value all-day special menu with a choice of main, sides, and a drink.
Missouri: Wonton King, St. Louis
St. Louis staple Wonton King, a Hong Kong-style Chinese restaurant, is known for its excellent dim sum, which is especially good for a weekend brunch. The pork buns are hot and steamy, the roast pork is crispy and lean, and the shrimp dumplings are simply amazing. The restaurant even gets the approval of locals who have lived in Hong Kong.
JadeGardenHelena/Facebook
Montana: Jade Garden, Helena
A modest, family-owned restaurant, which opened in 1995, Jade Garden has become known for its great food and service. The menu is classic, with mainstays such as egg rolls and wonton soup, and everything is delicious and freshly cooked to order. The fried rice with barbecue pork wins praise, while people also love that there's a good range of vegan and vegetarian options.
dragonwokexpress/Facebook
Nebraska: Dragon Wok, Omaha
Everything is made fresh here, from the peanut butter chicken and crispy crab rangoon to the sweet and sour sauce and delicious egg drop soup. Customers describe the food and the experience as consistently exceptional. Dragon Wok also has another location in Gretna.
ShangArtisanNoodle/Facebook
Nevada: Shang Artisan Noodle, Las Vegas
There’s so much hype around the chic restaurant Shang Artisan Noodle (and often a long line), but it lives up to the high expectations. Customers consistently rave about the hand-pulled and knife-cut noodles, and the incredible depth of flavor packed into every dish. The Shàng noodle soup, with braised beef in a rich, flavorful broth (pictured), is among the dishes that get people talking (once they’ve stopped eating, that is).
Golden-Tao-Restaurant/Facebook
New Hampshire: Golden Tao Restaurant, Manchester
The casual ambiance and unassuming exterior of Manchester’s Golden Tao are deceptive because the dishes are exceptional – with the chow mein described as a particular highlight. Other favorites include the huge, tender chicken wings, perfectly crisp egg rolls, and ‘build your own’ combo plates. Fans reckon it’s incredible value for money too, especially with such generous portion sizes.
hunantastedenville/Facebook
New Jersey: Hunan Taste, Denville
This ornately decorated restaurant in Denville has gained a reputation for serving top-quality dishes in beautiful surroundings. It's picked up a string of glowing reviews since it was opened by the Hsiung family in 1986. Customers particularly love the crispy sesame chicken and the Grand Marnier shrimp (a twist on walnut shrimp). There’s a second outpost in Montclair too.
RisingStarChineseEateryABQ/Facebook
New Mexico: Rising Star Chinese Eatery, Albuquerque
The owners of Rising Star Chinese Eatery in Albuquerque pride themselves on their winning customer service. Family-run for more than 30 years, the restaurant serves Chinese-American classics to loyal customers who return again and again. Expect all the usuals such as General Tso’s chicken, sweet and sour pork, and egg rolls – all reliably delicious and dished up in generous portions.
New York: CHILI, New York City
CHILI opened in 2021 and since then has won rave reviews for its Sichuan cuisine, which is served in a gorgeous setting. People particularly love the atmosphere and service, with waiting staff going above and beyond for customers. The food itself is phenomenal, too, with diners wowed by dishes like spicy cumin lamb, truffle beef tenderloin, and tea-smoked duck, which come courtesy of the restaurant's Michelin-starred chef.
New York: Chow House, New York City
Customers say dining at Chow House, in Greenwich Village, is an authentic experience, with delicious food and outstanding service. The emphasis is on modern Chinese cuisine from the Szechuan region, with standout dishes including Sichuan spicy dumplings, smoked tea duck, and braised fish. The best way to dine is in a group, so you can share a variety of the menu's stunning dishes.
North Carolina: Ni Asian Kitchen, Raleigh
Raleigh has a growing reputation for great food and Ni Asian Kitchen, which serves Chinese, Malaysian, and Thai cuisine, is a local favorite. With a focus on healthy cooking, meals are prepared using fresh ingredients. Customers say they're never disappointed, with consistently delicious dishes from egg rolls and fried rice to bang bang shrimp and crab rangoon.
North Dakota: Jade Dragon, Fargo
Located in a small strip mall, Jade Dragon is a real hidden gem with a cozy interior, great service, and impressive food. Customers rave about the large, flavorful portions and praise the vegetarian and vegan options. Popular menu choices include tofu lo mein, egg rolls, sweet and sour chicken, and shrimp pho noodles with bean sprouts, basil, lime, and hoisin sauce. It also serves daily lunch specials for around $10, consisting of a main dish, egg roll, fried rice, and soup of the day.
Edsel Little/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0
Ohio: LJ Shanghai, Cleveland
Cleveland locals (and visitors) in the know head to LJ Shanghai, a cute and homely restaurant in the city, for melt-in-the-mouth soup dumplings and warm, attentive service. Other must-orders are the spicy noodle soup with beef, the seaweed salad, and spicy chaoshou (spicy sauce over meat dumplings). Some dishes are pretty fiery, though customers agree they’re all mouth-wateringly good.
Oklahoma: Fung’s Kitchen, Oklahoma City
This dim sum restaurant in Oklahoma City takes classic Chinese dishes and gives them a modern spin. It’s especially renowned for its sensational seafood; customers rave about dishes like the soft-shell crab and salt and pepper squid. Dim sum dishes like potstickers and perfectly cooked greens are also to die for.
Oregon: Duck House, Portland
Duck House specializes in Szechuan cuisine, handmade baos, and noodles, and the food is so good that the place is usually packed out. Customers say it's the best place to get Chinese food in Portland and especially rate the pork and vegetable dumplings, pork wonton with chili oil, shrimp and pork bao, and the beef noodle soup (pictured).
Marissa Garza/Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Pennsylvania: Han Dynasty, Philadelphia
There are several Han Dynasty restaurants in Pennsylvania but the Old City branch on Chestnut Street, Philadelphia is particularly highly rated – not only for its incredible Sichuan food but also its elegant location. The restaurant is inside the Old Corn Exchange with vaulted, ornate ceilings and original features that add to its charm. The menu of much-loved dishes includes flavorful dan dan noodles, spicy, crispy cucumbers, and kung pao tofu.
Rhode Island: Cheng Du Taste, Providence
Fabulously fragrant and spicy Sichuan cuisine is the specialty of Cheng Du Taste in Providence, and it’s won fans with its fresh, flavorful dishes that use the best ingredients. The spicy country-style tofu is praised for its tender, silky tofu and complex sauce, while the Chongqing chicken – hot with dried red chilies – is described as crispy and delicious.
South Carolina: Jackrabbit Filly, Charleston
Shuai and Corrie Wang previously ran the highly acclaimed Short Grain food truck, before opening their bricks and mortar spot in Park Circle in 2019. Named after their Chinese zodiac animals, Jackrabbit Filly serves up inventive Chinese-American dishes in a cool, buzzy space. Customer favorites include pork and cabbage dumplings, Sichuan hot karaage, and fish tartare, and they also do a hugely popular dim sum Sunday brunch.
phnompenhsiouxfalls/Facebook
South Dakota: Phnom Penh Restaurant, Sioux Falls
Phnom Penh Restaurant does, as the name suggests, serve some delicious Cambodian specialties, alongside dishes from other Southeast Asian countries. But it’s also one of the most highly rated spots in the state for Chinese-American food. People praise the steamed buns (particularly the pork), sticky rice, and zingy stir-fries – though pretty much everything gets rave reviews.
Tennessee: Steam Boys, Nashville
Steam Boys’ mission was to bring Chinese comfort food to Nashville, and it's definitely succeeded. The menu (served at three locations in the city) is made up of fluffy bao, dumplings, and noodle bowls. Customers can’t say enough about how incredible the soup dumplings are, describing them as one of the best things to eat in the city and too good to share. It’s the sort of place people return to time and again, dreaming about those buns in between.
Texas: Hu’s Cooking, Houston
Hu's Cooking is a laid-back Chinese fusion spot, which impresses with beautifully prepared, classic dishes. On the menu are traditional favorites like dan dan noodles and pan-fried pork dumplings, alongside some more adventurous dishes. People particularly love the dry pots – with choices from cauliflower to squid – and the incredible sweet-skinned duck, a take on Peking duck (pictured).
Royalchinadallas/Facebook
Texas: Royal China, Dallas
Royal China has been serving up authentic and innovative Chinese food since 1974 and continues to be one of the best places to dine in Texas. Specialties include fresh and crispy Shanghai dish crystal shrimp, Sichuan spicy fish and 'ants climbing trees' – yam vermicelli cooked with minced pork in fermented chili sauce. Customers love the welcoming and attentive service as well as the delicious food.
Utah: Mandarin Restaurant, Bountiful
Mandarin Restaurant has gained a loyal following – and legions of fans – since it first opened its doors in 1977. The sweet and sour almond chicken is a must-try, as are the house rice and the imperial noodles (chicken and shrimp with crunchy veg and egg noodles). Customers also appreciate that it offers a dedicated gluten-free menu with some very tasty options.
Vermont: A Single Pebble, Burlington
Burlington’s A Single Pebble is as charming as its name and a real favorite for a special meal, with some customers describing it as among the best Chinese restaurants in the country. The hot and sour soup is always a winner, while the mock eel and garlic broccoli are among the menu highlights. When on offer, the nine-course tasting menu – with the decisions left to the chef – is outstanding.
pekinggourmetinn/Instagram
Virginia: Peking Gourmet Inn, Falls Church
This place is a must for lovers of Peking duck. The Peking Gourmet Inn in Falls Church opened in 1978 and has become legendary for its signature tangy-sweet and crisp-skinned duck carved tableside and served with house-made hoisin sauce, freshly prepared pancakes, and home-grown jumbo scallions. All that extra effort and care clearly pays off, the joint receives rave reviews.
Tai-Tung-Restaurant/Facebook
Washington: Tai Tung Restaurant, Seattle
When a restaurant’s fans have included Bruce Lee, you pretty much know it’s going to be good. Tai Tung, Seattle’s oldest Chinese restaurant, was founded in 1935 and even has a Bruce Lee Booth, where the actor apparently liked to sit while eating beef with oyster sauce and garlic shrimp. Today people still love the food, including potstickers, flavorsome fried chicken wings, and sweet and sour pork ribs.
West Virginia: Rice Bowl, Cross Lanes
Rice Bowl's menu is all about showcasing fresh ingredients in its classic dishes, which can be ordered à la carte or presented on an impressive platter. While the restaurant also serves sushi, it's the Chinese food that really shines. People love that you can taste the amount of care that goes into every dish, from egg rolls to orange chicken. The service is great too with friendly, welcoming staff.
EmperorOfChinaMKE/Facebook
Wisconsin: Emperor of China, Milwaukee
With colorful murals, bright red lanterns, and decorative vases, family-run The Emperor of China certainly has ambiance, which is one of the things that keeps customers coming back. The food is another, with must-orders including orange chicken, sesame chicken, and prosperity shrimp. The latter is a slightly sweet specialty dish of crispy prawns in a creamy glaze with pineapple and candied walnuts.
Chinatown Restaurant/Facebook
Wyoming: Chinatown Restaurant, Jackson
People love the atmosphere at the cozy Chinatown Restaurant in Jackson, which serves fabulous Cantonese, Szechuan, Peking, and Hunan cuisine. The family-run restaurant’s menu favorites include shrimp in lobster sauce, chicken lo mein, and the amazing spring rolls. It’s all this – along with the warm service and decent value for money – that has earned the restaurant many loyal regulars.
Now discover your state's most delicious bowl of ramen