Best Chinese Restaurants in Chinatown
4 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Tian’s Dim Sum & Fast Food
Fast, focused dim sum counter with a tight Chinatown neighborhood pull.
Notable Picks
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Comfort Food Classics
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Family Friendly Favorites
Compact counter-service dim sum shop that favors speed, comfort, and solid execution over flash. The lineup of steamed dumplings, buns, and pan-fried cakes is dependable, making it a repeat stop for locals running errands in Chinatown. Expect no-frills seating and a quick in-and-out rhythm.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pan-Fried Turnip Cake, Pork Shumai, BBQ Pork Bun
What Makes it Special: Fast, focused dim sum counter with a tight Chinatown neighborhood pull.
Worthy Picks
7.8
A Chinatown bakery counter operating since the 1980s, turning out fresh dim sum items alongside traditional Chinese pastries at cash-only prices that keep regulars coming back. The format is transactional—grab char siu bao and sesame balls, skip the ambiance—but 40 years of consistency speaks for itself.
Must-Try Dishes:
Dim Sum, Char Siu Bao, Siu Mai
What Makes it Special: Cash-only Chinatown bakery serving fresh dim sum and traditional Chinese pastries since the 1980s
7.7
A 60-year-old Chinatown dim sum hall running one of the last traditional cart services in Los Angeles, where plates roll past and you point to eat. The food is reliable Cantonese banquet fare at prices that keep regulars cycling through weekly, though the room shows its age and service runs on a flag-down-your-cart rhythm that rewards initiative over patience.
Must-Try Dishes:
Har Gow, Shumai, Chicken Feet
What Makes it Special: Old-school Chinatown dim sum hall with roaming cart service, a format increasingly rare in Los Angeles
7.7
Cash-only Chinatown counter service where dim sum items run under $1.50 each—har gow at $0.90, siu mai at $0.80, BBQ pork bun at $1.00. The separate takeout window moves faster than dine-in during busy stretches. Operating since 1976, the trade-off is sticky floors and lukewarm items when turnover slows; prime-time visits catch fresher product. Egg custard tart consistently outperforms other items.
Must-Try Dishes:
BBQ Pork Bun, Roast Duck Noodles, Siu Mai
What Makes it Special: Cash-only Chinatown dim sum counter with 50+ years of roast duck tradition