50 Best Chinese Restaurants near San Carlos

“My wife and I stumbled into the restaurant when we were in the area for an appointment. Good prices, very good quality ingredients, and we were very pleasantly surprised with how much we enjoyed our lunch - hot and sour soup, pot stickers, dumplings, and beef soup noodle (which was brisket and excellent). Really nice server too. We will be back.“

“A lovely white tablecloth setting. Great service and delicious food. A lot like Wings in San Jose which is out of business now😭. So yes I love that we found King Chuan Restaurant 😍“

“IMO the best chinese food place in downtown San Carlos - their sizzling rice soup, and sizzling eggplant vegetables are 😋. You can also do a Bubble tea takeout - do try their Mango yakult (no caffeine) and Thai iced tea. Staff is friendly.“

“Smaller older restaurant food delicious

Lunch special GRAST DEAL

We love Mongolian beef 4.5/5
Mongolian lamb 4.5/5
Kung pao chicken 4.5/5
Fried rice 5/5
Chow mein 4/5
Chow fun 4.4/5

Walnut shrimp 3/5 ok not great“

“Been disappointed to many times trying American Chinese food in Bay area (some hyped up ones) - but have to say this place was so satisfying. Reasonable price (lunch special applies even during the weekends) great portion, full of flavor. We got beef with broccoli and Kung Pao Chicken and both dishes were amazing.“

“I love momos , fried corn , noodles & fried rice ...“

“Family friendly spot with delicious food that arrives fairly quickly. It's surprisingly affordable given how comfortable the restaurant seating is. I love getting the small side dish of jampong (red soup) since I can't finish the entree version myself. Also a great spot for groups since the dining area is really large. We always get the Jajangmyeung, Jamppong (spicy soup), and the fried pork or chicken.“

“Giving 5 stars for their free drink.

ordered the duck and mushroom soup, pan fried buns, and their combo D which included wonton soup and noodles with peanut sauce

duck and mushroom soup was the worst thing we ordered. $10 for a tiny pot the height of a toilet paper roll, but narrower and with thick walls. would recommend to those who like stringy and still half dried mushrooms.

the pan fried buns were good, though they were on the oilier side. very fragrant, and tasted delicious with their vinegar.

the wonton soup was the best out of everything ordered and tasted quite delicious, but the wontons themselves were low quality—they were small, which is fine, but the filling tasted like fish balls and not actual meat.

the noodles were a bit disappointing. they were soggy and the sauce was probably something you could make at home with peanut butter, soy sauce, and sesame oil. their menu says that the pictures are for reference only, and that's very true. the noodles looked completely different from the picture on their menu, whether it was portion size, color, or even noodle shape.

they had complimentary side dishes and the spicy tofu skin was great. nobody told us they were available, though, and we found out when we were going to use the restroom.

true rating is overall 3 stars, not great or incredibly authentic, but also not the worst“

“Omg this might be the best chinese skewer place in the Bay. The flavor is amazing and the decor is so on point too. I love the veggie skewer options they have (must get a-choy and chives) and the meat skewers are tender too. I really wished they had a fried rice addition since that would go so well with the skewers.

I would recommend you join the waitlist before coming in person since it’s usually really busy. I would come back here many times!!“

“Food is wounderful and not that expensive… worth it….😃“

“After my friend took me here, I came back the very next day and bring my other friends. It's a hidden authentic chinese restaurant. Food is very good. Price is very fair or even on the cheaper side. Dish portion is big.. The parking is a little bit not easy during busy hours. Only one lady serves the tables. She was quite busy.
Very happy knowing this place and will be back.“

“Mala Town was absolutely amazing. The selection felt incredibly authentic—just like the mala tang I’ve had in China—and it honestly brought me back home. The service was outstanding, and the staff created such a warm, friendly atmosphere. I ordered the signature bone broth, and it was savory, rich, and full of flavor. I would highly recommend this spot to anyone craving a true mala tang experience.“

“This place really hooks up Chinese food! I got a stacked plate of noodles and general tso’s chicken and house special. Definitely worth the price and easily could be a few meals in ones. I enjoyed the outside seating area for a few bites before I hit the road. This place is great for locals or for people driving and need something quick. I will be back again to try more dishes.“

“what an incredible combination / fusion of western and asian dishes. basically what I cook at home, except I don't have to cook anything, nor do the dishes. fantastic.

it's really fun how you can get chinese food plus a fantastic fried chicken sandwich in one sitting“

“Has been the dumpling spot for us going on two years now. We come here about one a month-ish but LOVE this place. One time my boyfriend and I ate 50 soup dumplings between the two of us. It was amazing.
Another time, we were coming back from half Moon Bay and decided to give the frozen dumplings a try. The guy who’s always there (don’t know his name sorry!) gave us directions on how to do it and even gave us some paper to line the pan with so they wouldn’t stick. We super enjoyed them at home! On our visit to go pick up the frozen dumplings, we met a man there who says that he’s from Napa and stops by whenever he’s in the area. (Wow!)

Our faves are: Pork Soup dumplings, Pork chive, and Chicken Corn dumplings 🥟
Thank you for all the yummy dumplings!
-Nina & Camden“

“This is a classic Hong Kong style cafe or “tea restaurant” (茶餐廳), a relative unique style of Chinese cuisine invented in Hong Kong by fusing western cafe and Chinese style cooking. If you ever want to find such an eatery in the San Francisco Bay Area without flying 8000 miles to Hong Kong, this is your place. The food, and especially the service are absolutely top notch. Perhaps even more precious is the community vibe the restaurant staff manage to create. From the moment you step into the restaurant to the moment you leave you will meet authentically courteous, efficient and caring service from Selena, Sunny, and others. The combination of a family restaurant and high quality cooking plus pleasant ambience will likely make this restaurant a highly desirable gathering place going forward for local residents, as well as visitors from afar, for the unique east-meet-west Hong Kong tea restaurant experience. A remarkable place for lunch, afternoon tea or dinner.“

“The food is absolutely delicious! The staff is friendly and helpful. One of my favorite places to go when in town. Highly recommend.“

“Asked the server for recommendations, and he cordially recommended some dishes for us to try. Asked another server for an extra pair of chop sticks, and yet another one heard and brought the chopsticks over right away. The servers looked like they enjoyed working there, and the restaurant was spacious and comfortable.
The food was delicious! The recommended Napa cabbage pork dumplings were amazingly delicious, prompting us to buy some frozen dumplings home ($11.99/15pcs) at the end. The pickled cabbage beef noodle soup was delicious as well. The noodles were softer than al dented (as I like it), and the 2 types of beef were both tender. The soup was a little too salty to be drunk by itself though. Also got the mixed salad without spicy, which was very garlic forward. Unfortunately, the tofu sheets were a little harder than I would've liked, but the flavour was still good.
All in all, highly recommend this restaurant for their dumplings! I cooked the beef lamb fish frozen dumplings yesterday and as long as you're careful not to break the skin, it'll be moist and delicious. If you're close to the airport during meal time, definitely give this place a try!“

“They're serving up some extremely solid & completely delicious Lunch Specials at this homey Chinese Bistro in No. San Mateo. They kick things with a superb Hot & Sour Soup that's chock of mushrooms, tofu, bamboo shoots, etc. I had their Mongolian Beef w/ fried rice; a gigantic platter of extremely delicious and tender beef in a knock-out sauce with plenty of onions & scallions. Service is outstanding; welcoming, efficient and super friendly. This place is a keeper !! Bravo HWB !!“

“This is not my usual Chinese restaurant go to, but it was a pretty decent find. My mom orders from this restaurant every now and again. We ordered the Mapo tofu and cilantro beef. The tofu was served in a sweet chili, thin sauce, which packed plenty of flavor with with each bite. It was delicious. I had more mixed feelings about the cilantro beef. If you like a lot of flavor and moderate spice, then you will love this dish. I can handle mild to moderate spiciness, but I felt that this dish had way too much going on. It was just a lot of contradictory flavors, all saturated in spiciness, that was more painful than pleasant. However, my mom loved the cilantro beef, and I have to admit, it went really well with white rice.“

“I travelled from Riverside County to come eat at this restaurant and have heard such great reviews about it from my relatives and friends who live all the way in China! It was worth the drive and we will definitely be back again. Each dish is unique and they also have gluten free options as well as requested options. (My f5 year old is Gluten free).The bamboo and mushroom dish had a hint of sweetness with an undertone of spice, the Chong qing 🌶spicy chicken was mouth watering, along with the eggplant 🍆 dish, dry stir fried fish, and glass noodles with pork! I enjoyed every dish and my kids enjoyed their shrimp fried rice dish and greens as well. Our family is a foodie family and we love ❤️ traveling far and near to try dishes from around the world. The Chef came out and greeted us and was So kind. The staff was very attentive and friendly with our children. I would highly recommend this establishment. Thank you!! 🙏💕😁“

“This was my first time being here at Hubei Restaurant. I was kind of struggling to find a Chinese Restaurant with great reviews and I stumbled upon this place with my parents that I persuaded them to try this place out. We've ordered a lot in this place to see if it was worth coming back, and to say the least it was worth it for my first time being here. It reminded me of a childhood memory I had in the Philippines and it was the closest thing I ever had that hits home-run for me. I guaranteed I will come back here if I ever feel like craving for Chinese cuisine that reminds me of the childhood days. The ambiance over there was very nice and their service is absolutely superb, worth it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

PS: I really got emotional being there. 🥹👍💯“

“The best Chinese food my daughter and I have had in a long time. She’s says it’s the best she’s EVER had, and she loves Chinese food. I recommend this place 💯“

“Absolutely loved this place! The food is outstanding — fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. The restaurant is spotless, and the ambiance is just perfect: calm, comfortable, and really inviting. It's the kind of spot where you can actually relax and enjoy a meal without the noise and chaos you find elsewhere.
What really sets it apart is the ordering experience — you order right from your phone, which is both seamless and genuinely fun. It feels modern without being gimmicky. Highly recommend to anyone looking for great food in a clean, peaceful setting. Will definitely be back!“

“I recently started coming back again as they started their wine bar program. Food is always authentic and amazing but happy that they started opening later offering great wines for their wine bar. The owner even came by to offer some amazing wines! One of the few places that is open late in Menlo to hang out in.“

“Got a skinny hand-pulled noodle, a wide hand-pulled noodle, and a beef roll. The noodles were well made with great texture, and the soup/sauce had good flavor. Even ordering the highest spice level wasn't overly hot.
​The beef roll was just okay. I'd come back!
A staff member was making hand-pulled noodles in the kitchen area so check it out.“

“Yan gon is a family own Burmese restaurant on broadway Burlingame. The owner and the entire staff were extremely friendly , attentive , courteous . helpful, and welcoming . Their dishes are delicious . I have tried their Burmese Style Curry Lamb , Singapore Street noodles, Deep fried Chicken Wings , and Wor Wonton Soup. All four dishes were delicious, but my favorite is the won ton soup . This soup is perfect , it's so healthy and brothy. The broth is so rich that left a long lasting mouthwatering and coating sensation lingering in my tongue. The wontons are so tasty , juicy , and flavorful with the right amount of , I believe was pork , ginger , garlic ,chopped onions , sugar, salt , pepper , and shrimps . . The shrimps were very tastey and fresh . It didn't have that strange scent of ammonia or fishy smell like spoiled shrimps . The restaurant is simple , bright , clean , casual ambience with ample seatings. I have been here many times and got seated right away. No wait . This restaurant is a must try if you have the craving for Burmese food or just want to try something new.“

“Some of the best hot pot I have had and the customer service was great“

“Peaceful oasis after a stressful day of meetings.

The chicken soup broth was healing. Lightly herbal, full of veggies. The owner is really sweet and I felt really taken cared of. There’s plenty of space - great for groups big and small.

There’s a great sauce bar and orange slices and other snacks.“

“One of my fave dumpling places—only place that I found that had lamb handmade dumplings. The handmade dumplings are always so juicy and flavorful. I also love the salt and pepper tofu and green onion pancakes—they’re always perfectly crispy. The frozen dumplings are also really easy to steam at home. 10/10“

“Vegetable fried dumplings, soy sauce noodles, and green onion pancakes were all incredibly good. Staff was supremely helpful, kind, and personable. Highly recommend!“

“look for the 3 item specials but also the cho chow mein, Mongolian beef and beef noodle soup are all really good. fast service and friendly.“

“味道好！價格合理！好吃！服務好！“

“I've come here many times now over the past year or so, and would highly recommend. The food is fresh and delicious, consistently high quality. Similar Chinese restaurants often make me feel a bit queasy after, I think because of the quality of the ingredients, but I've never had this issue here. Good price too.“

“This is a good old Cantonese place. It has been my family go to back in the days. Now a day, they don't have that much business. We do stop by ever so often to get our OG food fixes in. Some of their servers is a bit rude, but don't mind them. This is just how they work.“

“We did a walk in around 10:40 so there were plenty of tables and parking.

We had dimsum brunch here and ordered the standard: siumai and hargow which had slightly different names on the menu but did have pictures. Overall it was delicious and the pieces are large.

Pro tip: if you want to order from their main menu, you’ll have to come after 11 especially for their specialties like the duck.“

“A family run Hunan spot tucked by the Crystal Springs center, cooking the regional menu rather than the Americanized one. The Mongolian chicken and the curry beef are the orders, both under fifteen dollars. Note the hours, closed Saturdays and Sunday evenings only. Thank you for keeping the home style going. Five stars.“

“Great food, can be busy during dinner time. So show up early.“

“Came here for dinner and ordered the special for two. We were seated right away, which is always a great start. The service stood out—our hostess was incredibly friendly and attentive, checking in on us throughout the meal.

Food came out quickly. The soup wasn’t quite my personal style, but the entrees more than made up for it—everything tasted fresh, well-cooked, and flavorful, and the meat was especially tender.

Overall, a really pleasant experience with warm service and solid dishes. Would definitely come back!“

“Having enjoyed their dishes many times for months, It’s beyond “Very Satisfying”! Excellent, delicious food! Quality well maintained although it is a hard time under C-19. Hygiene suggestions n requests well followed! Thanks 🙏 Customer Service outstanding! Highly recommended 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍“

“It’a a Chinese restaurant with open kitchen that is pretty neat - by itself the place deserves a five star!
The dish is tasty and my favorite is the sauteed noodles or Chao Mian which has a great sensation coming from the wok’s high temperature induced Maillard reaction - it’s called Guo Qi 锅气.
Service is pretty good here - owner and staff are friendly and helpful.“

“I absolutely love Ping’s Bistro! I’ve been to a lot of Chinese restaurants, and this place has some of the best dishes I’ve ever had. The cauliflower is incredibly flavorful and perfectly cooked—it has the perfect balance of crispiness and seasoning. My favorite dish, though, is the mushroom and ham. It is honestly the best I’ve ever had in my life. The flavors are rich, comforting, and cooked to perfection.

The food tastes fresh, the portions are generous, and every dish we’ve tried has been consistently delicious. The staff is also friendly and welcoming, making the whole dining experience even better. If you’re looking for authentic, high-quality Chinese food, I highly recommend giving Ping’s Bistro a try. I’ll definitely be coming back again and again!“

“great food. good service“

“とても美味しくて，良かったです“

“Love this place. I have been coming here for over 20 years. the salt and pepper chicken wings/pork chops are awesome. the spicy seafood with fresh hand pull noodles are the best. The family also love the scrambled eggs and shrimp. Everything is really good, the only thing I don't like from them is the fried salt and pepper fish. That could use some work, but I would recommend everything else. The service can be a little slower when they are busy with take out orders. It's kinda of typical hole in the wall chinese restaurant. Its is dated, so don't expect anything fancy. The other thing that always keeps me coming back is the kimchi!! It's fresh made in house. It's not sour or to vinegary. They don't sell it though, it's just a free appetizer. Oh which reminds me, the kimchi fried rice is excellent as well.“

“quite good and competitive price. Missing Taiwan a lot!!“

“The food was Delicious 😋 My Son & his girlfriend took me out to lunch. We ordered Pork Egg Rolls, Calamari, Crab Rangoon Appetizers. Entree salad,NY steak,Whiskey Sour(from the special menu). Beef & Broccoli and fried rice, Veggie egg roll and Garlic Noodles(they lacked garlic flavor). Desserts Red Velvet cake, Key lime pie(Not Like what you're used to seeing) but very good.“

“太棒了，肉品沒吃多少，倒是吃了好幾磅的櫻桃🍒“

“Shanghainese cooking on East 3rd in San Mateo, small and family run. The pan fried pork buns are the order, and the spicy wontons and the dan dan noodles back them up. The chilled cucumber with chili oil is a good starter while you wait. Split hours, lunch until three then dinner from five, and closed Tuesdays. No alcohol. Thank you for the cooking. Five stars.“

“The roast duck was absolutely delicious; the chef carved it to order, and the complimentary duck soup was absolutely lovely. The bullfrog was both fresh and spicy – it tasted absolutely brilliant – and the service was super, super, super friendly and very thoughtful.“