In Dallas, where Tex-Mex reigns supreme, authentic Chinese cuisine offers a delicious rebellion. For those craving hand-pulled noodles or fiery Sichuan peppercorns, we’ve scoured the metroplex to find the real deal—from hidden gems in strip malls to elegant dining rooms where Peking duck is carved tableside.
Bushi Bushi
$$ | (972) 677-7653 | WEBSITE
Dallas has plenty of Chinese restaurants, but nowhere does modern dim sum quite like Bushi Bushi. The menu stays consistent, but expect traditional favorites like chili dumplings and Peking duck bao buns alongside unique twists like chocolate soup dumplings. For those as hungry as they are tech-curious, visit Bushi Bushi any day for their efficient ordering system, where the cell phone app and robot waiter delivery mean you can enjoy a seamless experience for about $25 per person.
Always kick a meal at Bushi Bushi off with their spectacular soup dumplings and an attentive, friendly staff that makes the whole thing enjoyable.
Sunny Wok
$ | (972) 780-1333 | WEBSITE
Not so long ago, a recommendation for “Chinese take-out” would have had Dallasites expecting the usual greasy fare. Sunny Wok, a hidden gem tucked away in an unassuming strip mall, is helping to change that perception. With fried rice that arrives steaming hot, egg foo young smothered in perfect gravy, and chicken wings battered to a golden crisp, you’re more likely to hear customers marveling at the huge portions than complaining about the basic atmosphere.
Sunny Wok’s general tso’s beef is a fantastic meal, and the accommodating vegetarian options mean no one leaves unsatisfied.
China Dragon
$$ | (214) 754-0707 | WEBSITE
There’s a Downtown Dallas legend that if you close your eyes and say lo mein three times while eating China Dragon’s beef lo mein with extra beef, you teleport to a bustling Hong Kong noodle shop. Well, not quite, but maybe if you squint hard and crank the spice level to a solid 8. This popular Plaza of the Americas spot is perfect for a quick lunch break or an overdue takeout feast with customizable, flavorful dishes.
China Dragon is best enjoyed diving into a curry chicken and white rice combo, clashing chopsticks with a coworker or a friend as you navigate the well-executed heat of their spicy offerings. The staff’s attentive service and willingness to tweak dishes to your preference is the real special here, so lean into that before continuing your day in the heart of downtown.
Wok Star Chinese
$ | (972) 961-1168 | WEBSITE
While Chinese restaurants with generous portions and quick service are fairly common in Dallas these days, Wok Star Chinese’s focus on consistently fresh ingredients and authentic flavors feels more genuine, with its unpretentious plating and support for traditional cooking methods.
If you’re dining with family or friends, they’ll suggest you try a bit of everything, so go ahead and do just that, and savor their amazing tofu dishes, perfectly steamed bao buns, and sesame chicken that tastes exactly like what you’d hope for from a top-notch spot (in the best possible way). Keep an eye out for their combo fried rice and chicken lettuce wraps for new favorites on their reliable menu.
Panda Chinese Food
$ | (214) 654-9808 | WEBSITE
This unassuming Dallas spot has been dishing out super fresh and tasty Chinese food with big portions since it first opened its doors. Reflecting the straightforward approach of its owner, Panda offers down-to-earth dishes that hit all the right notes: exceptionally tasty chicken and vegetable egg rolls, and fried rice that regulars swear is the best they’ve ever tasted. The food and simple interior are humble and welcoming, with the power to satisfy and impress in one generous mouthful.
We recommend trying as much of the menu as possible, but the egg rolls—both chicken and vegetable are equally excellent—paired with that legendary fried rice is a no-brainer. Any satisfying meal at Panda should always finish with another helping of that perfectly seasoned rice, all for about $12-15 per person.
Lai Lai China Restaurant
$ | (214) 398-4101 | WEBSITE
Chinese food might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Dallas. But it’s everywhere, and the perfect antidote to a heavy day out. Sit in the converted house and get your steaming plate of Mandarin Chicken delivered straight from the kitchen through a simple window. The crispy and flavorful Mandarin Chicken and the fresh egg rolls are our favorites.
But whichever option you go for (Mongolian Beef, Hot Sour Soup, egg rolls, and Mandarin Chicken are available), expect reasonable prices and surprising value for the quality. You can’t pay with card, so expect to bring cash.
Hello Dumpling
$ | (469) 779-1551 | WEBSITE
When Dallas locals and visitors crave authentic Chinese flavors with a touch of modern whimsy, they make their way to Hello Dumpling. The cozy, art-filled spot serves pan-seared dumplings and pork soup dumplings, which become even more delightful alongside a passion fruit infusion or jasmine raspberry tea.
The charm of the intimate space—bright with plants, clean lines, and welcoming energy, and filled with people sharing plates of uniquely delicious food—makes the Hello Dumpling experience hard to resist. Order both the Peking Noodle with Pork and the shrimp with zucchini dumplings, and arrange them on the simple wooden table alongside your humble bowl of sticky rice dumplings to complete the unequivocally satisfying meal.
Royal China Restaurant
$$ | (214) 361-1771 | WEBSITE
Hand-pulled noodles and lotus blossom tea probably weren’t high on the list of things you thought you’d be sampling in Dallas. But traditional Chinese techniques you never knew existed are on full display at Royal China. In addition to showcasing classic dishes perfected over decades, there’s also a focus on handmade preparation, with soup dumplings and spicy wontons showing up on the menu, and cooks hand-pulling noodles in the open kitchen area.
The menu offers about fifty different items, and whatever’s been simmering or stir-frying over the past few hours will be on it. Depending on your preference, you’ll either be seated inside the comfortable dining room or watching the cooks work their magic, with servers keeping water glasses full throughout your meal.
China King Super Buffet II
$ | (972) 572-6188 | WEBSITE
Typically, when someone suggests a Chinese buffet, we immediately start imagining fluorescent lighting and questionable sweet-and-sour chicken. But the experience at China King Super Buffet II—like being welcomed into a bustling Chinese family gathering—delivers nostalgic flavors without any of the pretentiousness of fancier spots.
The $15 lunch buffet, with unlimited trips to the steam tables, is the clear move and a simple way to sample as much as possible—from the quality stir-fry dishes and well-stocked bar offerings, to the various mislabeled but still tasty buffet items. Sharing tables is common, so bring the kids, grab a plate, and dive into a feast that has more in common with a comforting home-cooked meal than with your typical upscale Chinese restaurant.
Peking Kitchen
$ | (214) 331-8555 | WEBSITE
Although Dallas’s best and most beloved Chinese food can undeniably be found at the upscale spots in Plano—recently expanding their menus with modern fusion twists—Peking Kitchen is a close runner-up, battling it out against the downtown buffets for the affordable authenticity spot. If you search for where to find budget-friendly Chinese food in Dallas, Peking Kitchen will feature heavily in the results.
This is one of the only places in the Oak Cliff area where you can eat satisfyingly fresh dishes—the lo mein and signature buffet items will both leave you pleasantly full without hurting your pockets. The value (resist the skeptical urge to expect anything above simple family-style cooking) is our favourite way to enjoy a quick meal in this sprawling city, and that’s saying something.
Moon Wok
$ | (682) 688-3699 | WEBSITE
Moon Wok is the neighborhood Chinese spot that’ll make you say “Howisthispossible?” over and over until the delivery driver thinks you’ve lost your mind. To save you the confusion, that addictive crunch in the appetizer is crab rangoon, that tangy sweet glaze is orange chicken, those perfectly tender strips are pepper steak, and yes, we fully endorse licking every last grain of fried rice from the container.
Grab a table by the window to observe the steady rhythm of the kitchen in action and watch as they assemble sesame chicken combos with the efficiency of a well-oiled machine. Digging into a heaping plate of General Tso’s chicken while you leisurely work your way through the generous portions is as close to contentment as you can get this close to Dallas.
Rice Bowl Express
$ | (214) 242-8921 | WEBSITE
The dread of picking the wrong dish and watching others enjoy something better means we usually stick to places where everyone can try a bit of everything. At Rice Bowl Express, it’s not just possible—it’s practically the point. Filled with regulars digging into heaping plates of crispy orange chicken and steaming lo mein, this unassuming spot shines when you sample a spoonful of each dish. So gather some friends and order a spread of affordable Chinese classics.
Then, maybe swing by one of the nearby shops off Inwood, where that buddy who prefers eating alone can meet up after their solitary chicken bowl.
Pei Wei Asian Kitchen
$ | (214) 965-0007 | WEBSITE
Pei Wei Asian Kitchen is a Dallas staple synonymous with reliable Asian-American comfort food. It draws a steady stream of regulars now, as it did when it first opened, with families and office workers filling the booths. You’ll have to navigate the parking lot, wait for a table during peak hours, and might even find the dining room uncomfortably warm on a Texas afternoon, but this is Dallas—were you even dining out if you weren’t sweating a little?
Once you’re through the glass doors, head past the counter and grab a booth in the main area with its bright lighting, simple décor, and open kitchen where you can watch the cooks work. After years of being a go-to for both lunch and dinner, the kitchen remains consistent day after day, making the place feel like a familiar anchor where you can order the Thai Coconut Curry Chicken at noon and still crave it again by evening.
