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.“

“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.“

“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“

“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“

“Came here with a group of five for an early dinner on a Saturday afternoon (4PM). There was plenty of space inside since it was a winky meal time, and there was no wait. It was quiet when we first arrived, but it gradually filled with more people and chatter. Parking was easy; I was lucky to find street parking right in front of the restaurant.

The interior is cute and themed like China in olden times. I liked how the food was served on long platters with little candles underneath to keep everything warm, which made sharing easy. Two of my friends were trying Chinese skewers for the first time.

We ordered everything through a QR code, and the system was straightforward. The menu being visual online helped made ordering easier. The food came out in good timing. The staff was helpful whenever we had questions about what certain items were. Water refills were easy to flag down.

The cucumber salad was a huge portion and so refreshing. We wish the cold potato salad was a bit softer (it was crunchy). We didn't find anything too spicy.

For the skewers, everything was juicy and well-seasoned. The flavoring was great. My personal favorites were the beef and lamb sticks which were tender. We also tried items like gristle, gizzard, and gluten (yum!)

We ended up spending a little over $30 per person after tax and tip.

Overall, this was a fun group meal and I'm glad it was a good introduction for my friends who hadn't tried this style of skewers before. I'd recommend it!“

“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.“

“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.“

“5🌟 restaurant!! We often do take-out from Yuanbao and have tried all of their noodle dishes. The noodles and dumplings are always made fresh and come out piping hot. Food taste great with good & consistent portion! It truly deserves the high ratings.🥳 I also love their open kitchen and the staff are friendly.“

“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“

“Great hole in the wall! Noodles, dumplings, cold apps. All hand made. Pix on wall to help order. They sell frozen dumplings too- great deal and cash only. Credit card ok for the meal. The gentleman there is kind and helpful. You can see them making it right there. Donut place right next to it! Easy parking- big lot.“

“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 💯“

“New Broadway Bistro never disappoints. The fried rice was packed with flavor—perfectly cooked, not greasy, and full of that classic wok aroma. You can tell they use quality ingredients and know exactly what they’re doing in the kitchen.

Service was fast, portions were generous, and the whole experience just felt easy and satisfying. Definitely one of those spots you can keep coming back to.

Highly recommend if you’re craving solid, no-fail comfort food. 🍽️🔥“

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

“An amazing mom n pop store. Staff is very courteous, polite and very friendly! Discovered this place by luck and have been a regular here since June 2022.. Food is decently priced, well cooked and good quantity..

Few of our recommendations:
Mongolian Chicken Spicy
Chicken Pot Stickers
Veg and Chicken Noodles
Mongolian Tofu (same sauce as chicken one)
Hour and Sour Soup etc..“

“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. 🥹👍💯“

“Went with a group of 10+ people for a weekday lunch in this restaurant. As a start, we ordered the popular Chinese tea smoked duck and the honey walnut shrimp among others (spicy dishes were mostly avoided as most of us are not comfortable with eating spicy stuff). Service provided was impeccable and the restaurant atmosphere was also nice and quiet. However, the quality of the dishes did not quite match the other two areas mentioned above. Besides the smoked duck dish that was great, the consensus among some of us at my table was that the dishes were a bit too salty and oily. Also, the portion sizes that came with the meat dishes being served were barely sufficient for our table of 8-9 people (did not get feedback from the other table occupants). Nevertheless, the manager prepared a special fish dish that was not found on the menu along with some cultural explanation associated with eating this fish dish which left a favorable impression among the group of us. Thus, this helped to bump up the rating for the standard of the food being served.“

“Had braised beef noodle soup with their homemade flat noodles. Exceptional texture on both the beef and the noodles. The complimentary chili sauce added a lot to it, it was very fragrant and not too spicy. I finished all of the broth, which is something that I rarely do. That was really damn good broth.“

“My favorite & go to hotpot!! The meat options are amazing, especially the recommended beef (三筋). They also offer different combos thats reasonably priced with variety of food. It’s perfect for dining by yourself or with a group! My favorite soup broth bases are the tomato one and the spicy one! The beef skewer is also amazing.“

“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!“

“味道好！價格合理！好吃！服務好！“

“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.“

“My single dish of gluten free beef and broccoli costs me $18. Plus fried rice and an appetizer I usually spend closer to $50. I don’t know why the average cost on here says 10-20 per person.

The people who work there are kind and helpful. The food is quick and scrumptious.“

“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.“

“Had lunch here with my picky teen. We ordered the pork pot stickers, tomato egg flower soup, and the sweet and sour chicken lunch special with half chow mein and half fried rice. This was more than enough food for us and in fact she liked it so much she agrees to eat the leftovers with me(this was enough food for 3-4 people).friendly staff and delicious food! Would recommend and will eat here again!“

“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!“

“Ping’s Bistro is probably the best authentic Yunnan restaurant in the Bay Area. The food is consistently fresh, flavorful, and high quality, with dishes that truly showcase authentic Yunnan cuisine. The service is always friendly and attentive, making every visit a great experience. Highly recommended!“

“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.“

“Charming Chinese restaurant in Millbrae that focuses on the Sichuan cuisine. The Mapo tofu was delicious, and the cold spicy noodles were superb. Beef noodle soup was surprisingly good as well. Fast and efficient service. Interior is small, so not ideal for large parties. Parking can be challenging, as the free parking lot fills up fast and is shared with several other local businesses.“

“Very very basic but hey they gave a huge Tv and they show the World Cup ! And the other best part is they have parking! I didn’t have much time so I came and just got a braised tofu with rice and it’s perfect for a quick lunch.“

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

“Ate some delicious vegetarian food here (though not an exclusively vegetarian restaurant fyi) - the vegan dumplings and the vegetarian sesame oil noodles were amazing and hit the spot!! Putting Zen Noodles on my “tried and true” list of local restaurants.“

“We’ve hosted two events at this P.F. Chang’s location, and it has become our go-to venue for large gatherings.

From the very beginning, Regional Manager Jay Jenkins was incredibly easy to work with. He was responsive, accommodating, and made the planning process seamless with his prompt communication.

We recently held a retirement party for 35+ guests, and the service was truly exceptional. Brenden and Anastasia were outstanding—they anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, kept drinks refilled, and made sure everyone was well taken care of throughout the event. Their attentiveness and professionalism made a lasting impression on all of our guests.

The large group menu offered plenty of delicious options, and we appreciated that non-alcoholic beverages were included, making it a great value. We’re also grateful to the manager for allowing us extra time beyond our reservation and for letting us come in early to decorate and set up.

This location is honestly a hidden gem for hosting events. Part of me wanted to keep it our little secret, but the team deserves the recognition. Thank you to Jay, Brenden, Anastasia, and the entire staff for making our celebration so memorable. We’ll definitely be back for future events!“

“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.“

“Imperial Treasures is our go-to for celebrations, tbh. Roast duck is a must-try, skin really crisp, meat still juicy, and the plating is very Instagram-worthy. Rest of the dishes I’ve tried were solid too, nothing odd, just reliable and tasty.“

“A very popular malatang restaurant in San Mateo. If I have to rate, this one is a solid 8/10, and probably the one with the spiciest broth among all the malatang spot in the Bay. I have tomyum soup and honestly, it's sooooo spicy. Like definitely a hard kick if you're not familiar with eating spicy. Meat options are limited, but they offers many type of meat ball/ fish ball (with filling), and it's very interesting to eat. The restaurant is always crowded, but I only waited around 10 minutes until my bowl get served. Overall, nice spot in San Mateo!“

“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!“

“We’ve been coming here for over a decade, and the quality has been consistently outstanding. Truly authentic Cantonese cuisine, with a warm vibe that works equally well for small dinners or large group gatherings. It’s easy to book, the staff are super accommodating, and they don’t just serve food, they tailor dishes exactly to your requests. Reliable, delicious, and welcoming every time. Highly recommended.“

“粥品美味道地。沙薑雞實在太好吃了。“

“Really good Chinese BBQ place. All of the bread items we tried were flaky and tasty, highly recommend the brown sugar one. The skewers were all solid, and I appreciated that the beef had a more teriyaki-style flavor, because too much cumin starts to get a bit sameish. In that regard, you should consider getting an order of the lettuce leaves to use as a wrap for the skewers, it's a great palette cleanser and adds some nice texture.

Would love to go again, but it's a bit far from my house and Chinese BBQ isn't something you can do too frequently.“