Best Date Night Chinese Restaurants in Los Angeles
11 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Din Tai Fung - Santa Monica
Ocean-view patio meets world-class soup dumpling precision
Notable Picks
8.8
This world-renowned Taiwanese dumpling empire delivers its signature 18-pleat soup dumplings with breathtaking ocean views from the third floor of Santa Monica Place. Every xiao long bao arrives expertly folded and piping hot, while the bamboo steamer-shaped booths and turf-lined patio create an unexpectedly playful atmosphere for such precise culinary craftsmanship.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pork Xiao Long Bao, Crab & Kurobuta Pork Soup Dumplings, Garlic String Beans
What Makes it Special: Ocean-view patio meets world-class soup dumpling precision
8.6
A long-running Beverly Grove favorite for Hong Kong-style dim sum, Bao Dim Sum House pairs baskets of handmade dumplings with a full bar and loungey dining room. With more than 15 years in the neighborhood and well over a thousand multi-platform reviews at around 4.3 stars, it’s a reliable choice for groups craving classic Cantonese small plates and cocktails.
Must-Try Dishes:
Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings), Crystal Shrimp Dumplings, Radish Cake with Diced Ham
What Makes it Special: Handcrafted Hong Kong-style dim sum in a buzzy, cocktail-friendly setting.
8.6
Hui Tou Xiang brings a San Gabriel–style dumpling and noodle house to the Cahuenga bar strip, with crisp rectangular hui tou potstickers and soup dumplings served in a moody, neon-lit room. It’s one of the rare places in central Hollywood where the cooking feels as dialed-in as the cocktails.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pork Hui Tou Dumplings, Pork Xiao Long Bao, Spicy Beef Noodle Soup
What Makes it Special: Handcrafted dumplings and noodles in a surprisingly polished Hollywood setting.
8.4
Upscale modern Chinese concept that elevates traditional dishes with contemporary techniques and stays open until 10 PM on weekends. The refined atmosphere and creative menu items like crispy eggplant with garlic sauce draw late-evening diners seeking sophisticated Chinese cuisine.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kung Pao Cauliflower, Szechuan Green Beans, Dan Dan Noodles
What Makes it Special: Modern interpretations of Chinese classics in a chic setting
#5
Formosa Cafe
8.4
Formosa Cafe is a historic West Hollywood lounge where classic dim sum-style bites share the table with cocktails and Cantonese-Taiwanese plates in a restored 1930s trolley car space. Locals lean on it for har gow, shumai, and soup dumplings before a night out along Santa Monica Boulevard.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp Har Gow, Pork Xiao Long Bao, Pan-Fried Pork Potstickers
What Makes it Special: Old Hollywood bar energy with a focused dim sum-style menu.
#6
Chi Dynasty
8.3
Family-owned since 1983, Chi Dynasty blends Szechuan, Mandarin, and Cantonese techniques in a vibrant dining room with red lacquered furniture. The Chinese chicken salad remains a Los Feliz institution, drawing both neighborhood regulars and newcomers for contemporary takes on classic preparations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chinese Chicken Salad, Walnut Shrimp, Kung Pao Chicken
What Makes it Special: Over 40 years as Los Feliz's go-to Chinese spot with legendary chicken salad
#7
MR CHOW
8.3
Wolfgang Puck protégé Michael Chow's legendary Beijing-style restaurant has been drawing Hollywood's elite since 1974. The hand-pulled noodles show and tableside Beijing duck carving provide theatrical dining alongside expertly crafted dumplings and authentic Northern Chinese specialties.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beijing Duck, MR CHOW Noodles, Chicken Satay Dumplings
What Makes it Special: Live hand-pulled noodle demonstrations nightly by master pasta chef
#8
The New Moon
8.3
New Moon’s downtown location brings a polished take on Chinese-American classics, anchored by the family’s much-praised Chinese chicken salad and crowd-pleasing wok dishes. A full bar and contemporary dining room make it a comfortable option for business lunches, pre-theater dinners, or casual date nights in the Fashion District.
Must-Try Dishes:
New Moon Chicken Salad, Shelby’s Sweet & Spicy Chicken, Crispy Orange Peel Beef
What Makes it Special: A contemporary Chinese-American menu from a family credited with popularizing Chinese chicken salad.
8.1
Interactive Chinese BBQ experience featuring lamb kebabs and northeastern Jilin Province specialties cooked on auto-rotating grills at your table. The cumin-rubbed skewers arrive raw for tableside grilling, with tender lamb and beef among the standouts alongside Sichuan-style hot pot and home-style dishes.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cumin Lamb Skewers, Beef Skewers, Spicy Hot Pot
What Makes it Special: Auto-rotating grills let you cook premium Chinese skewers tableside
#10
Little Fatty
8
Chef David Kuo's Taiwanese-American kitchen delivers crowd-pleasing riffs on comfort classics—the orange chicken runs crispy and light, and the scallion pancakes hit that chewy-crunchy balance. The eight-table dining room shares a wall (and cocktail menu) with Accomplice bar next door, which means the vibe stays lively and tables stay tight. Works well for groups ordering family-style or couples who want drinks with their 3-cup chicken.
Must-Try Dishes:
Orange Chicken, Scallion Pancakes, Walnut Shrimp
What Makes it Special: Taiwanese-American fusion where traditional recipes get playful LA twists, from vegan adaptations to creative cocktail pairings
Worthy Picks
#11
Firstborn
7.8
Chef Anthony Wang's French bistronomy lens on Chinese American cooking produces technically ambitious plates—chili-crisp fried chicken, mapo-inflected steak tartare—inside a green-tiled Chinatown dining room at Mandarin Plaza. The polarized review pattern suggests diners who connect with the boundary-crossing approach leave thrilled, while others find the fusion concept uneven. Best on a quieter midweek evening when the noise drops and you can focus on the food.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fried Chicken Legs with Morita Chili Crisp, Steak Tartare with Broad Bean Paste and Silken Tofu, BBQ Cabbage with Aged Pork and Leeks Vinaigrette
What Makes it Special: Chef Anthony Wang applies French bistronomy techniques to Chinese American cooking, finishing dishes like chili-crisp fried chicken and mapo-style steak tartare in a green-tiled Chinatown dining room.