It’s not always easy to choose the best Chinese restaurant in a state. It might be your hometown standby, or it could be the hidden gem next door. Either way, it might be worth a Sunday drive. Although you may think that authentic Chinese food is only available in coastal cities, this isn’t always the case. Even in a major coastal city, you can find great Chinese food in the suburbs and nearby towns.
Pagoda
If you’re looking for an authentic Chinese meal, a few states have the best options. For example, Alaska has the Pagoda Restaurant, rated one of the best Chinese restaurants by “Diner, Drive-Ins, and Dives.” Fans have raved about the Alaskan king crab legs with ginger, walnut shrimp, and black peppery Pagoda steak, but the list doesn’t stop there. You can also enjoy sesame chicken, beef and broccoli, crab Rangoon and shrimp Peking style. The restaurant is known for its unique menu and use of fresh ingredients.
Another place to find authentic Chinese food is in the state of Montana. The Pekin Noodle Parlor in Butte is the oldest continuously operating Chinese restaurant in the U.S. It was founded over a century ago. It has more than one location in the state, including Montana, Minnesota, and Connecticut.
Chinese food is abundant in the United States, which is good news for people with diverse tastes. But with so many options, it can be challenging to find the best Chinese restaurant. Fortunately, some tips will help you choose the best restaurant in your state.
Ma’s House
If you’re looking for a halal Chinese restaurant in Washington state, you’ll be pleased to find Ma’s House. This restaurant specializes in Northern Chinese cuisine and serves many dishes. The menu includes lamb, beef, chicken soup, stir-fries, and braises. The restaurant is also known for its stuffed sesame bread. It also serves a beautiful lamb dish with a creamy sauce and chewy knife-cut noodles.
Whether you’re looking for a traditional Shanghai restaurant or something more exotic, you’ll find it at Ma’s House. This Seattle restaurant features Sichuan cuisine, famous for its peppery spices. Sichuan dishes can be pretty spicy, and the words at this restaurant are bursting with chiles. While Westerners may find the chiles a bit on the spicier side, Sichuan food lovers will find that the dishes at Ma’s House don’t have the same funk they see in some Sichuan restaurants.
This Seattle Chinese restaurant is one of the best places to eat Sichuan food. Although this restaurant focuses on Northeastern Chinese dishes, it also serves dishes from other parts of China. You’ll be surprised at how satisfying these dishes are. The menu also includes many different cold appetizers and spicy and sour dumplings.
Lao Sze Chuan
Lao Sze Chuan is one of Chicago’s most well-known and beloved Chinese restaurants. Founded by chef Tony Hu in 1998, it has been listed on multiple best-of lists and has received a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation. However, its reputation has taken a big hit following Hu’s indictment on money laundering and wire fraud charges. If you’re looking for authentic Chinese food, try this restaurant in the South Loop.
It is open seven days a week, serving authentic Chinese fare from the ‘native’ cuisine. Hu opened multiple locations across the country and even began specializing in other types of Chinese food. Hu became so popular in the community that he was nicknamed the “Mayor of Chinatown” and became involved in local politics.
The menu at Lao Sze Chuan features authentic Sichuan fare made from fresh, high-quality ingredients. The restaurant was recognized as one of Chicago’s “Best Chinese Restaurants” by the Chicago Tribune in 1999 and has won numerous awards. It is open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday from 5 pm to 10 pm.
Great Wall
To experience authentic Chinese food without the crowd, you should visit one of Florida’s best Chinese restaurants. The food here is prepared perfectly, and the service is first-class. You can also order a vegetarian meal if you prefer. Almost all Chinese restaurants have a vegetarian menu.
The food at Great Wall is authentic and tasty. Their shrimp egg rolls are extra crispy and made with high-quality ingredients. They also serve great spring rolls, which are lighter and more flavorful than other spring rolls. You can also try General Tso’s chicken, or ‘tsao’ in Chinese, an American invention named after the Chinese General Tsungtang. Fried chicken with garlic-ginger sauce is a favorite of many.
Alternatively, you can head to the Badaling section of the Great Wall to try authentic Chinese dishes. Nearby, the Xiaolongpu Resort is a boutique hotel revitalized from a former factory. This charming hotel offers authentic Chinese dishes, a swimming pool, and tennis courts.
Great Taste Chinse
The Great Taste is a Chinese restaurant in Seattle that serves hearty portions of traditional Chinese fare. It has a large room that’s great for families. The service is friendly, and the prices are affordable. The menu is comprised mainly of family favorites, but there are plenty of non-Chinese dishes to choose from.
This restaurant is one of the best places in Seattle to find authentic Sichuan cuisine. The restaurant focuses primarily on Northeastern Chinese food but also serves food from other parts of China. The fried rice dishes here are consistently satisfying. The restaurant also serves a wide selection of cold appetizers and spicy and sour dumplings.
The Chengdu Taste restaurant opened its first location in Seattle in 2020. Popular Sichuan dishes like mung bean jelly noodles and cold spring onion chicken with pepper sauce are available at this location. Be warned: these peppercorn and chili-laden dishes are scorching and can leave you numb with an unpleasant aftertaste. Depending on your tolerance level, you can even try the boiled beef in a spicy sauce that includes chili paste.
Great Wall in Fargo
A Chinese restaurant specializing in Asian, Seafood, and Chinese cuisine can be found in Fargo, North Dakota. It offers a wide variety of dishes at a reasonable price. In addition to being a fantastic choice for locals, the restaurant also serves residents from nearby communities like Stone Bridge, Bluemont Lakes, and Woodhaven.
Lam’s Kitchen
While you may expect the best Chinese restaurants to be located in coastal areas, they can be found in any state. The best Chinese restaurant in a state may be a local standby or hidden gem next door. There are also Chinese restaurants in small towns in the countryside that are worth a trip.
A quaint restaurant called Best China might be your best bet in Massachusetts. This small restaurant is the closest thing to Taiwan in the state. The menu is in English and Chinese, so you can order just what you’re craving. The restaurant also serves Shanghai-style rice cakes, which are chewy and delicious. You can also rate the Chinese menu and have a traditional meal if you are adventurous. In New York City, you can check out Little Szechuan, where you can enjoy spicy Sichuan food or milder dishes.
Montana has the oldest Chinese restaurant in the U.S. The Pekin Noodle Parlor in Butte, Montana, opened in 1911. It is the oldest continuously operating Chinese restaurant in the U.S., but it is far from the first. The restaurant serves Chinese food seven days a week.
R&G Lounge
The R&G Lounge is a relatively new Chinese restaurant located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. The restaurant serves Cantonese cuisine in a casual downstairs room and more traditional Cantonese fare in the upstairs room. The food at R&G Lounge is well-prepared and well-priced.
The modern decor of the R&G Lounge is a big draw for many, including families, tourists, and locals. The menu at R&G focuses on Cantonese cuisine and features several specialty items. A popular dish is the Sea Coconut and Abalone soup. This soup has a strong flavor and isn’t on the regular menu. It is available for takeout, and the price is reasonable.
You can order a full dinner at R&G or just one item from the menu. The servers are friendly and don’t seem rushed. They know that the restaurant is packed, but they aren’t frantic. They’re focused on serving great food and know that once you’ve had a great meal, you’ll be back again.
