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The Infatuation
The 15 Best Chinese Restaurants In Atlanta
By Candy Hom,
26 days ago
We hit every corner of the metro—from Gwinnett to Cobb—to find out where to get the best traditional Chinese dishes. So when you’re looking for a spot to celebrate an anniversary with Peking duck carved tableside, a spicy dry-fried eggplant speckled with enough sichuan peppercorns to build a sand castle, or a Cantonese kitchen that makes stir fried noodles with plenty of “wok hei," refer to this list of Metro Atlanta's best Chinese restaurants.
This Midtown restaurant has some of the best sichuan dishes you'll find in the city, and the packed tables inside this sleek and spacious venue hint that we're all in agreement. Any item from their big menu is a good choice, but if you easily get FOMO as soon as a steaming tray hits your neighbor's table, we have some recommendations. Get the chicken stew served in a big iron pot with gua baos or the Chinese sausage cauliflower casserole (dry-fried cauliflower served in a wok chafer). Another favorite is the Dragon Eggplant, roasted eggplant shaped like, yes, a dragon and dressed in a spicy garlic sauce. And always check the Chef’s Special menu, which usually has something exciting, like griddle-cooked bullfrog.
Cantonese or sichuan dishes may be more abundant in Atlanta, but the city isn’t limited to the two regional cuisines. Enter Xi’an Gourmet House in Midtown—a small but mighty venue with the same outstanding quality as their original (and very popular) Duluth location. Their biang biang hand-pulled noodle selection (specifically the dry spicy cumin lamb version) should get a golden noodle plaque or some kind of best-in-class designation. And if your eyes gravitate toward the “burger” part of their menu, don’t resist. They’re actually rou jia mo, and these meat-in-a-bun snacks make the perfect appetizer as you wait on your noodles to cool. Even though most people come here for takeout, Xi’an has free parking (with their menu code) and is a chill place to post up for lunch in the usually hectic Midtown.
Though hidden beneath a Buford Highway eyeglass store, Northern China Eatery doesn’t need much signage because a crowd waiting outside the door will point the way. This is the place to go for family-style Chinese. And that's why it has a special place in our hearts, as we've had many get-togethers here, sharing dumplings, noodles, and entrees. Order what they call the Mix Dumplings on the menu—any three varieties so you can try a little of each. For entrees, we love the Spicy Griddle Fish, which consists of large chunks of battered fish, sliced lotus root, and other starchy veggies piled on a large platter. And if you need more food to feed your crew, try the juicy Mandarin Lion’s Head meatballs braised in brown sauce, smoky cumin lamb skewers, and traditional pork buns.
We use any excuse we can to schedule a large group outing at Bobo Garden in Doraville. The restaurant has a private room with tables large enough to plate a 12-course banquet and an impressive dining room with a wall of fish, lobster, and crab tanks. Plus, service is prompt and food comes out fast. Fish dishes are offered with your choice of sauce, including black bean, scallion ginger, and salted egg, but we're partial to the Hong Kong-style preparation. Here, our fish filet is coated with an intensely flavorful combination of crispy breadcrumbs, fried garlic, fermented black beans, scallions, and sliced jalapeños. We're also fans of the tender black pepper steak, which is chunked and cooked with onions and peppers.
J-Bistro
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When you’re torn between Chinese and Korean, head to Doraville's J-Bistro, which has a wide variety of great Chinese, Korean, and fusion dishes. Despite its shopping center digs (it's in a H Mart plaza), the dining room is incredibly spacious. And be sure to grab a seat near the large kitchen viewing window where you can see the chefs in action. Stick to the OG Korean-Chinese dishes—jjajangmyeon, silky noodles in black bean sauce, and tangsuyuk, a tender sweet and sour pork.
If you’re looking for Yunnan cuisine, no one in the metro makes slippery-smooth Crossing Bridge rice noodles as well as Ten Second Yunnan Rice Noodle in Doraville. The menu can be overwhelming since there are dozens of noodle soup combinations to choose from, but order the original Crossing Bridge rice noodle with beef, which is served with all components separately on a tray. Add your noodles, vegetables, or meats to a bubbling broth that only takes (surprise) 10 seconds to cook. We also enjoy the Fish Maw Chicken Noodle Soup, which comes pre-assembled in a rich, creamy broth topped with sliced chicken and shiitake mushrooms.
We’re thankful for Best BBQ because it's an all-in-one setting to get dim sum, Cantonese-style BBQ, and nearly every Cantonese specialty you could want. This counter service restaurant inside the City Farmers Market on Buford Highway showcases an enticing display of siu laap. Ask for the three-meat combo with crispy pork belly, soy sauce chicken, and roast duck over rice. We'll often order a fourth meat, roast pork, because why not? And it’s hard to visit Best BBQ without getting their overstuffed siu mai, har gow, or potstickers, which could all qualify as entrees. If you have the table space (and stamina to keep going), also try the black bean spare ribs over chow fun. Order to go or come during weekdays when it’s easier to get a table.
If you’re in Cobb County and craving traditional and spicy sichuan, hit Fire Stone Chinese. We’ve been coming here ever since they opened back in 2018 and have yet to be disappointed. Start with an order of their famous dry-fried eggplant, which looks like it's peppered enough to make our noses run but walks on the milder side. Our other favorites include the filling Hot & Numbing Beef Rolls, the delicious braised fish in chili oil, and crispy popcorn chicken with edible dried peppers. Every dish is always beautifully presented, too. Located on Kennesaw’s main shopping strip, this place can get packed for lunch and dinner, but we’ve never had to wait long for a table.
The city has suddenly become an epicenter for all-you-can-eat hot pot experiences. And China Hot Pot in Doraville is one of our favorite places to warm our soup-loving souls thanks to their combination of quality, quantity, and affordability (most items are $10 and AYCE $30). After grabbing a seat in the spacious venue, you’ll be asked for your broth preference. Order the combination of Nutrition and Spicy, which gives you the comfort of a bone broth with a little punch of heat. Then fill out your checklist, choosing from a huge selection of meats and vegetables. We enjoy the sliced lamb, lamb meatballs, and fish tofu, along with every Asian vegetable imaginable. While that’s being prepared, concoct your own dipping sauce at their sauce bar. If you leave this place hungry, you’re not doing it right.
Our favorite dish at Canton Cooks is the spicy salt and pepper pork chops. Crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and topped with the perfect ratio of salt, spice, and sweet seasonings, these chops are why we keep this Sandy Springs Chinese restaurant on our weekday dinner rotation. Plus, there’s a big selection of traditional Cantonese dishes to accompany the pork chops. Our recommendation is the pan-fried sea bass with ginger and scallion, beef chow fun with gravy, and shrimp with scrambled egg. Ask for the eggs “wet” if you want them soft scrambled. Family-style is the way to go here, and everything comes with white rice to soak up the delicious sauces.
Atlanta doesn’t have an actual Chinatown, but there is the iconic plaza in Chamblee aptly named Atlanta Chinatown. Centered in the strip mall is the food court, which houses half a dozen food stalls. But this isn’t any regular food court—they have a diverse range, offering hot pot, dumplings, Cantonese roast meats, and more. And it’s also one of the few places in the metro where you can get an amazing family dinner for under $25. Get the delicious Master Dumplings and spicy chicken from China Kitchen or hot pot with fried pork from Chong Qing Hot Pot. Although there is ample seating indoors, take your food to the courtyard that overlooks the picturesque Chinese garden and koi pond.
The mention of Gu’s Kitchen brings back memories that trigger our salivary glands. If you've not yet had the pleasure, then give them a visit, especially this Buford Highway location, which has the full Sichuan street food menu (unlike their stall in Krog Street Market). While some sichuan dishes are known for their overpowering heat, Gu’s dishes are all well balanced. Try the saucy mapo tofu, zhong-style dumplings, and Chengdu cold noodles, which come on a dish with what looks like levitating chopsticks. And the sichuan french fries—topped with minced garlic, dried red chili peppers, and other spices—are a nice switch-up to the many dry-fried eggplant dishes around the area. Come on a Sunday when the casual, mid-sized venue isn’t crowded and you can hog their friendly service to yourself.
Friends don’t let friends grocery shop while hungry, so we appreciate Red Lantern Chinese Cuisine. Located inside the City Farmers Market in Duluth, the stall has saved us more times than we can count. We gladly abandon our shopping list and allow our eyes to guide us toward the illuminated wall photos that display their Cantonese menu. Our preferred order is the beef brisket and tendon with bean curd, which comes braised in a rich flavorful sauce. The crispy salt and pepper squid is our next favorite thing here. And for a fee, they will cook up the fresh lobster you purchase from City Farmers Market.
If you’re deciding on a place by its name, then Chef’s House Peking Duck in Duluth absolutely lives up to expectations. Their fantastic Peking duck is carved tableside and includes steamed baos or pancakes, as well as a second dish option, like stir fry or soup, which you’ll want to pair with your sliced duck. Our usual pick is the duck soup—a rich but clean-tasting broth with greens and tofu that strikes the perfect balance with the crispy skin of our carved duck breast. At $48.95, the entree could feed a family of four. And be sure to add a side of the amazing stir fried okra with pickled garlic since it's a dish you don’t see often in Atlanta. Go here anytime you’re craving great duck, but this beautiful restaurant is also ideal for special occasions and impressing out-of-town guests.
Royal China is a Chinese restaurant in Duluth with elaborate decor, chandeliers, and enough space to host a wedding with 500 of your closest friends. Whether you stroll in hungover in sweats or come dressed to the nines to enjoy a 12-course banquet in one of the private rooms, Royal China can do chi-chi and non-pretentious, simultaneously. Come here before noon for dim sum, as they get packed quickly despite the abundant seating. Their excellent Peking duck is on par with Chef’s House, too. Or come for dinner, when we love perusing their photo-centric magazine-style menu, looking for different dishes to try since we’ve yet to be disappointed with anything we’ve had here.
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