The best Chinese restaurants in Austin

This Cantonese-heavy spot is tucked away in a strip center in north Austin. Reasonably priced and family-friendly, the eatery serves a wide variety of Chinese dishes (including Chinese BBQ). You’ll find fresh lobster on offer with a pick-your-own seasoning, soft shell crab, and a wide selection of seafood dishes. Traditionalists may enjoy the preserved egg porridge, egg white beef soup, hot pots, and sweet cream buns.

Old Thousand’s schtick is “dope Chinese,” a modern twist on American-Chinese that straddles both categories. Chongqing fried chicken, xiao mian wheat noodles, kung pao Brussels and brisket fried rice are some of the creative dishes that grace the menu. Unlike many Asian spots, this one boasts a thoughtful cocktail program. Dessert comes in the form of Chinese five-spice churros with pandan cream.

This South Austin eatery offers both traditional Szechuan dishes and a lunch menu of exclusively American Chinese. Dig into specialties like mapo tofu, shrimp and snowpeas, mala chicken, dan dan noodles, and crispy pig ears, while the restaurant also serves beer, wine, smoothies, yogurt drinks, and bubble tea in exotic flavors like Chrysanthemum and watermelon.

What started as a food truck near campus quickly expanded into a noodle shop in north Austin. Nailing the quintessential noodle dish—the beef-stewed noodle soup—the eatery also makes delectable lamb-stewed and pork-chopped noodles. Also, check out the wide array of dumplings available and a leveled-up version of wonton soup. Mushroom fans absolutely must order the black fungus. 

Originally located in an Asian market, this Szechuan spot became so popular that the owners decided to take over the restaurant next door too. Take notice of the stark interior, the “announcer” calling out order numbers, and the incredible food. Spicy fish, salt and pepper calamari, and eggplant with ground pork are solid staples, but the menu features over 100 items, so pay careful attention before putting in your order.

A fast-casual spot ideal for those on a budget, Chen Z offers some of the best fresh noodles in town, hand-cut on-site. Order them in a bunch of different varieties, from soup to stir fry, and revel in the taste of delicious ethnic cuisine. Our favorite is the spicy beef noodle soup with a side of spicy won ton, but if you can’t take the heat, go for the stewed beef noodle soup and a side of scallion pancakes.

Known for its excellent lunch special (under $10) and for its humanely sourced meats, this is a neighborhood gem and an office lunch spot. The staff is dedicated to making each dish fresh, fast, and (somewhat) healthy.

Fast cart service and a totally obscure location characterize this original dim sum spot. The cell service tends to be a little spotty, but it’s a small price to pay for the abundance of options. If you’re an adventurous eater, this is the place for you; try the chicken feet with black bean sauce, beef tripe with ginger and green onions, and curried squid. It’s all homemade and deliciously authentic.

With two locations around Austin (North and Westlake), Chinatown has rapidly become a go-to option in all three areas. With a menu that is basically a tour of China (Peking, Mandarin, Hunan, Szechuan, Cantonese, and Shanghai specialties are all represented), the restaurant is sure to satisfy all cravings. Looking for a “street food” option? Check out the Street by Chinatown outpost. The sit-down restaurants also have a hefty wine and liquor selection if you’re looking to make a big night of it.

Located in the Chinatown shopping center and surrounded by other Asian restaurants, First Chinese BBQ is one of the few Chinese BBQ hotspots around town. You’ll be immediately greeted by the sight of duck and pork hanging in a window. What it lacks in atmosphere, the space makes up for in flavor and portion sizes. Crowd pleasers include the seafood hot pot, crispy beef noodles, and specialty fried rice.

There’s a high chance you’ve seen a Tso car zipping about town because they’re everywhere. Hailed as Austin’s most popular Chinese delivery service, the specialty is all the Western classics you need for a night in; General Tso, lo mein, bang bang shrimp, kung pao…you get the picture. And because Tso pays their staff a real living wage, the business operates a strict no-tipping policy, meaning less time calculating roadside and more time noshing on saucy rice at home. Let’s hope more ATX businesses follow suit.

Don’t let the Japanese collab put you off; we all know a good Chinese restaurant dabbles a little bit outside their remit (sweet and sour fries, anyone?). Xian’s is so beloved for their hand-pulled noodles that they’re now in four locations. The dandan noodles with bok choy stands out, as is the won ton noodle soup or the stir fry noodles.

Sundays at Wu Chow’s dim sum brunch are fun and interactive; order small dishes from the menu of bite-size dumplings, shumai, and fritters and share them with your tablemates. Shrimp and cilantro dumplings, shrimp and leek cakes, pork potstickers, bean curd with oyster sauce, and the top-selling Shanghai pork soup dumplings are some of the most popular picks. Prices are on the steep side and portions on the small side, but this ain’t no hole-in-the-wall, and if you want to get dressed and grab Chinese food on date night, Wu Chow does the job.

Offering both an “Americanized” menu and a Chinese one upon request, Din Ho Chinese BBQ is lauded by Asian food aficionados all around town. Pro tip: The extremely lean and caramelized pork sells out fast, so give the restaurant a call before heading there. If you miss it, try the Beijing roast duck, though you really can’t go wrong with any of their marinated meats.