Best Instagram Worthy Chinese Restaurants in Los Angeles
13 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
#2
Liu's Cafe
8.7
Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient serving Taiwanese comfort classics and Hong Kong-style pastries from a pastry chef who trained at Maude in Beverly Hills. The compact cafe draws long lines for braised pork belly rice, house-made pork wontons in chili oil, and distinctive pineapple buns with concha-like streusel crust.
Must-Try Dishes:
Braised Pork Belly Rice, Pork Wontons in Chili Oil, Pineapple Buns
What Makes it Special: Michelin-recognized Taiwanese cafe with pastries from Beverly Hills-trained chef
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
Vibes:
Trendy Table Hotspots
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Girls Night Out Approved
Group Dining Gatherings
Pine & Crane’s South Park outpost updates Taiwanese home cooking with bright flavors, natural wines, and a sleek indoor–outdoor space that feels built for downtown’s creative crowd. With hundreds of strong reviews since opening in 2022, it’s become a go-to for shareable small plates, noodles, and cocktails before or after a game or show.
Must-Try Dishes:
Dan Dan Noodles, Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken, Minced Pork on Rice (lu rou fan)
What Makes it Special: Modern Taiwanese flavors, all-day hours, and a design-forward indoor–outdoor 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
#6
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.
8.4
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Family Friendly Favorites
Trendy Table Hotspots
Instagram Worthy Wonders
The Torrance outpost of Lunasia is a bustling Cantonese dim sum hall where carts and order sheets bring out polished versions of har gow, siu mai, and baked buns all day. Locals use it for weekend family lunches and small celebrations when they want a more polished experience than the average strip-mall spot.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp har gow, Pork siu mai, Pan-fried turnip cake
What Makes it Special: Polished, high-volume dim sum with broader variety than neighborhood competitors.
#8
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
8.1
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
8.1
Chef Sara Thongchoet's whimsical Asian fusion spot combines traditional Thai with Chinese influences in a stunning floral courtyard setting. Since 2021, this LGBTQ-supportive establishment has drawn crowds for its Instagram-worthy purple dishes and creative brunch offerings alongside authentic curries.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crab Fried Rice, Five Spice Chicken Wings, Tom Yum Lobster Pasta
What Makes it Special: Magical purple noodles that change color tableside
Worthy Picks
7.9
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
Instagram Worthy Wonders
ixlb DimSum Eats is a quick-service dim sum shop just off Westwood’s main drag turning out baskets of dumplings, buns, and small plates all day. The counter-format setup makes it easy to build a spread of classics like xiao long bao, siu mai, and baked cha siu bao without committing to a full dim sum hall experience.
Must-Try Dishes:
Xiao Long Bao, Baked Cha Siu Bao, Shrimp Wonton with Chili Oil
What Makes it Special: Counter-service dim sum with an extensive menu of dumplings, buns, and snacks.
7.8
Vibes:
Trendy Table Hotspots
Group Dining Gatherings
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Business Lunch Power Players
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.
#13
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.