Best Chinese Restaurants in Sawtelle Japantown (90025)
5 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: April 2026
Our Top Pick
dan modern chinese (Sawtelle)
High-volume favorite for consistently strong handmade dumplings and noodles.
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A fast-casual chain that built its reputation on handmade xiao long bao and wok-fried noodles with quality a notch above typical counter-service Chinese. The short rib dan mein and crab mapo tofu draw repeat visits from Sawtelle regulars who want something more refined than takeout but faster than a sit-down dinner. Expect competent execution across the menu with occasional wrapper inconsistency on the soup dumplings.
Must-Try Dishes:
Xiao Long Bao (pork soup dumplings), Short Rib Dan Mein, Dungeness Crab Fried Rice
What Makes it Special: High-volume favorite for consistently strong handmade dumplings and noodles.
7.8
A made-to-order Cantonese dim sum operation in a Westwood strip mall that draws Westside regulars with its shumai, har gow, and BBQ pork buns at prices well below what you'd pay in the SGV. The format is no-frills counter ordering with quick turnaround—come for the dumplings and the check total, not the ambiance.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pork and Shrimp Shumai, Shrimp Dumplings, BBQ Pork Buns
What Makes it Special: Affordable, made-to-order Cantonese dim sum in a Westwood strip mall, widely considered the best dim sum on the Westside.
7.7
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A late-night Westside workhorse turning out generous Cantonese and Mandarin plates—Peking duck, walnut shrimp, the full Americanized-Chinese lineup—well past midnight when most kitchens on Santa Monica Blvd have gone dark. The draw is volume and value: big shared platters at prices that make splitting a table with six people painless. Strip-mall atmosphere and parking logistics come with the territory, but the kitchen's late hours fill a real gap on the Westside.
Must-Try Dishes:
Peking Duck, Orange Chicken, Hot and Sour Soup
What Makes it Special: Late-night Westside staple serving generous Cantonese and Mandarin plates well past midnight when most kitchens have closed.
7.7
A straightforward Sawtelle Thai counter that delivers generous portions of well-executed staples at prices that make it an easy default for West LA regulars. The menu leans into crowd-pleasing standards rather than regional deep cuts, and the low price point relative to portion size is the main draw. Works best as a reliable weeknight takeout rotation spot where you already know your order.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, Red Curry
What Makes it Special: Consistently low prices with generous portions that keep West LA regulars coming back for dependable Thai staples
A reliable Shanghai-style noodle and dumpling stop where speed and comfort come first. Soup dumplings and pan-fried buns are the move, backed by hearty noodle bowls that hit the spot on cooler nights. The room is simple and busy, leaning more utilitarian than atmospheric.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shanghai Xiao Long Bao, House Sauce Noodles (zha jiang mian), Pan-Fried Pork Buns
What Makes it Special: Shanghai comfort staples delivered without a wait.