New Orleans may be well-known the world over for Creole,
Cajun, and French dishes, but the locals love to indulge in Chinese food from
time to time. In fact, some of our Chinese restaurants have been in service for
decades, which speaks to how much our citizens like the spicy, savory flavors
that hail from China and surrounding areas. Eating at a Chinese restaurant on Christmas day is even a tradition for some people right here in New Orleans, and we have so many Asian markets to get imported ingredients at.
If you're in the mood for spicy Szechuan dishes or sizzling
hot pots, the following restaurants are perfect for you. From totally tradition
to modern takes, these Chinese restaurants are what you want for dinner
tonight.
10 Best Chinese Restaurants In New Orleans
1. Dian Xin
1218 Decatur St., (504) 266-2828
dianxinnola.com
Tucked away in the hustle-and-bustle of the French Quarter, Dian Xin offers a delicious selection of authentic Chinese food. Their lineup of bao buns—from their classic steamed pork buns to their Louisiana-inspired crabmeat and crawfish bao—are phenomenal and guaranteed to make your mouth water.
Their large and diverse menu offers a fantastic selection of dishes, including classic hot and sour soup and shrimp fried rice. With speciality options including Dian Xin Wings, Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings), and lineup of Jianbing, there are options for everyone. So if you're looking for a lunch spot whilst you're down in the Quarter, or simply need a new take-out sport, Dian Xin is the place for you!
2. Miss Shirley's
3009 Magazine St., (504) 354-2530
missshirleyschineserestaurant.com
Ranked by Southern Living as the 2024 Best Restaurant in Louisiana, Miss Shirley's is considered a neighborhood stop for Chinese-American staples and authentic Cantonese food. Located along Magazine street in the historic Irish Channel, their menu is tasty and worth a try!
A diverse selection of dim sum, noodles, and soups are great for if you need a quick bite to eat or a larger meal to share with family and friends. Their Beef Short Ribs and Egg Rolls are amongst the most popular dishes to order. Whether you're a tourist taking a stroll down Magazine or a New Orleans local, Miss Shirley's is a fantastic stop for order-in or take-out.
3. Five Happiness
3605 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 608-6888
fivehappinessnola.com
With their affordable prices, fantastic lunch specials, and delicious food, it's no wonder why Five Happiness is locally considered one of NOLA's most popular Chinese take-out spots. With lunch specials all below $13, this restaurant is a great place to stop for a quick lunch or a nice family dinner spot.
The menu is sure to satisfy any customer with its plentiful options, with popular options including the Combination Fried Rice, Combination Chow Mein, and General's Chicken keep people returning back for more. Five Happiness also offers catering and private events for those who want it.
4. August Moon
Multiple Locations
augustmoonharvey.com & augustmoonuptown.com
August Moon has two restaurants in order to serve hungry citizens on both sides of the Mississippi River. August Moon Harvey is located at 875 Manhattan Blvd. and August Moon Uptown is located at 3635 Prytania St. While the menus at each may vary, they both include excellent Chinese and Vietnamese fare that is steeped in tradition.
The Hot Pots are popular with the regular clientele. You can select between Catfish, Seafood, and Ox-tail Hot Pots that are meant to serve more than one person. You may want to peruse the Family Specials if you're feeding four or more people, and each selection comes with a fried banana dessert.
5. China Orchid Restaurant
704 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 865-1428
chinaorchidneworleans.com
China Orchid serves Chinese and American fare in a sophisticated, romantic setting. This would make a great restaurant for date night, especially if you want a wide variety of food to choose from. You can even start off with the Appetizer Tray For 2, which includes egg rolls, crab Rangoon, barbecue ribs, shrimp toast, fried wontons, and chicken wings.
The House Specialties range from tropical
plates to steaming hot pots. The Sizzling Wo Ba is a mixture of marinated
shrimp, roast pork, chicken, and beef sautéed in Chinese vegetables. The
Seafood Festival is scallops, shrimp, and crawfish sautéed in vegetables and
served in white sauce.
6. Wishing Town Bakery and Café
Multiple Locations
wishingtown.com
Wishing Town started off in Metairie (3327 Severn Ave.), but they had to expand to a second location (802 Nashville Ave.) just to accommodate the mass amount of people who go there for lunch specials and to pick up pastries for parties and events. In fact, they will also be moving into a much bigger location in Metairie. The Char Siu King Cake is a brioche dough cake with teriyaki chicken filling and barbecue pork glaze.
For lunch, you'll want to whet your appetite
with fried dumplings, which can be stuffed with chicken, pork, or beef. Then try
a traditional Chinese entrée like the Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf: sticky rice,
Chinese barbecue pork, Chinese sausage, black mushrooms, and chicken thigh meat
wrapped in lotus leaves.
7. Green Tea
3001 Napoleon Ave., (504) 899-8005
greenteanola.com
Green Tea is the place to be if you prefer noodles and rice over large portions of meat. Green Tea boasts a large selection of soups, egg rolls, fried rice, and lo mein as their main dishes. Vegetarians will also love the emphasis on plant-forward dishes like the General Tso's Tofu, Vegetable Moo Shu, Bean Curd Szechuan Style, and Tofu With Vegetables Soup.
That's not to say that meat-eaters will
find nothing for them here. The Pu Pu Platter For 2 has two spare ribs, two egg
rolls, two chicken wings, two fried dumplings, two teriyaki chicken servings,
two fried shrimp servings, and two crab rangoon.
8. China Kitchen
3327 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 482-1122
Chinese Kitchen focuses on quick, friendly service and great food. The daily lunch specials are so popular with the regular diners that the hours start at lunch time and go until 5 p.m. every day of the week. Just one example of a lunch special is Kung Bo Chicken or Beef Ding or Shrimp Ding with a fried wonton and shrimp fried rice.
If you're not in a rush, try a Chef's
Suggestion menu item. The Subgum Wonton is shrimp, chicken, and roast pork with
vegetables and imported mushrooms bedded in crisp fried wontons with crushed
cashew nuts.
9. Zhang Bistro
1141 Decatur St., (504) 826-8888
zhangbistronola.com
Zhang Bistro is a young restaurant that opened in 2021. The Asian fusion restaurant has already garnered a reputation for excellent dishes that combine traditional and contemporary elements to create something unique. There are even fully gluten-free meals and vegan meals. Happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m. on the weekdays if you want a great discount.
If you can take the heat, the spicy dishes
are a go-to for unforgettable flavor. The Spicy Szechuan Hot Wok combines
onion, bell pepper, cauliflower, jalapeno, and garlic in a spicy Szechuan
sauce. You are asked to pick your protein: veggies, tofu, chicken, beef, shrimp,
or a combo of them.
10. Dragon King
6221 S. Claiborne Ave., (504) 865-0222
ladragonking.com
Located in the University Village Shopping Center, Dragon King is the college-kid's Chinese takeout place. With their selection of warm and delicious mouth-watering food, there is no better place for a late-night study than Dragon King.
The menu boasts classics like wonton soup and pork egg rolls, starting at only $2, as well as plenty of affordable meal deals like $25 dinner for two or $78 dinner for eight. The food options are great and it's a perfect spot for busy college students!
The Best Chinese Food In New Orleans
From impossibly hot peppery dishes to savory soups, these
Chinese restaurants are fantastic to visit when you want to have a taste of
tradition that comes from the other side of the world. It's a bonus if the
restaurant has beer imported from China; you may need it to wash down all that
fiery flavor from the Szechuan dishes. Though New Orleans does not have the large Chinatown district that it once had, these restaurants carry on its tradition.
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