50 Best Chinese Restaurants near South Pasadena

“The best Chinese food I had in a long long time. We have been with six, sharing different dishes - a blast. Share the soup! Highly recommended.Thanks for reading my comment. Now, if you are curious enough about my "rating scheme", here's "the moment of truth. I am a music photographer who has traveled the world with the world's greatest musical talents (Michael Jackson, AC/DC, Rolling Stones, and Rammstein, to name a few) for almost 40 years. When being asked "Where do you live" I tended to ask "in hotels". At my peak, I "shot" 250 shows a year. Will say: been there, saw and tasted it, and a lot, as I may say, and much to the dismay of my doctor who is in my back to lose a few pounds. Quite a few, as I may add, which is why my wife and I walk ten thousand steps per day, where- and whenever we can - and explore a lot of new exciting places - places you may oversee when just driving by. While I love to share my experience with others, I am sometimes shocked at how people use their "power of the word" to down-rate amazing places because of minor incidents (in my all-time favorite​ restaurant Le Petit Four on Sunset Plaza the owner was even called a racist as he refused to toast the (free) bread in his packed restaurant - they simply do not offer toasted bread, as no French​ place does, as I may add). Or I just read "Chicken piccata so over-salted I hope the dog enjoys the leftovers tomorrow, I brought home most of the dish." Did they speak to their service? How could the restaurant learn that something was wrong when patrons even have their leftovers​ boxed to take home? As a dog owner,​ I want to take the writer and shake him or her really bad and say "You give over-salted food to your dog? Anyone with a bit of brain understands this is a horrible idea...​ I hope you agree.So If I had a say on this portal, I would offer just to see the ratings of my friends. So I would see what the ratings were by like-minded people. Sadly, I have no say. I try not to compare apples with oranges. A place like this does not correspond to "The Ritz". At first,​ I assume that a restaurant is clean, they do not greet you with a gun - and they deliver whatever they promise. I do not give stars for things that are expected. In my rating scheme, three or more stars are awarded if they actually exceed my expectations. Four, if I am sure I will come back. To achieve five stars, I must be willing to take a detour of thirty minutes or more to go again. Thank you for reading this.“

“Delicious desserts, drinks, and food at this smaller yet mighty location of Phoenix! The mixed fruit drink is still amazing and the best thing ever. We got spicy salt chicken wings, chow fun, beef noodle soup, green beans, and a spicy szechuan dumpling dish. All were great, my favorites were the chow fun and chicken wings.

Parking: Same plaza as Ace, starbucks, and other shops“

“For the longest time, I had been passing this spot although never went inside. I told myself I would return when craving some Americanized Chinese food.

Well, today my chance arrived. I came in to get chow mein and orange chicken for lunch. I felt like I needed veggies, so I got those.

The veggies were just boiled vegetables in oil. Nothing special. In fact, they tasted kind of bland. But they did the trick anyway, and I got full when I ate them before everything else.

Prior to actually dining here, I'd heard that the orange chicken can be too sweet. It was, although when compared with others I'd had I didn't think so. Seemed on par.

Chow mein was really light... I don't know what they put in it. I am a noodle person. Therefore, I enjoyed this. I got the feeling that the Chinese food they serve is a lot healthier and lighter than other competitors.

I'd come back when craving Americanized Chinese in the area.“

“Love all the food and the drinks are great too. Just afraid it will get too busy at lunchtime and no seat for me! :)“

“The Quality of the food has Improved greatly, there just a small step below the oak tree inn in south Pasadena.Very much improved.I have had no complaints about the food and i've been a customer for over 10 years, there is a big difference from then until now. Somebody is purposely given lousy ratings when they're not close to being true. We always eat in“

“Stopped through this Panda on our way home and as I made my way in line I noticed that the string bean chicken I was hoping to get was running low. Instead of giving me a scoop of what was left in the bottom of the pan, they asked me if I wanted to wait for the new batch and offered me AND my husband a free drink while we waited. Top tier Panda!! And the food was fire 🔥🔥🔥🔥“

“So good!!! Amazing. Love the food. The bok choy pot stickers OOOF! The best. 💜💜💜👑👑👑🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🕺🏽🕺🏽🕺🏽🕺🏽💞💞💞💝💝👨‍❤️‍👨🧡“

“Delicious & authentic Cantonese and Vietnamese cuisine! Everything was so fresh and well prepared. Service was spectacular!“

“High rating both on yelps and Google Maps.. hip ambience .. lots of original arts displays in restaurants.. first time eating this kind of Chinese cuisines from China.. must eat is the sour soup with fish .& lemon grass is the bomb! Ditto with kung pao chicken. It is different than other Sichuan dishes.. it is juicy !“

“Every time I go to this restaurant, even when it's packed, the service is always excellent. Yangzhou Restaurant is almost always overflowing with diners, but honestly, the wait is worth it every single time. I also really enjoy looking at the celebrity photos hanging on the walls; they infuse the restaurant with the classic charm of an old-school Chinatown eatery“

“Ate dine in at this little hole-in-the-wall joint on a recent visit to LA. Close (street) parking was a miracle, but theres also parking (and bathrooms) across the street at the El Super. Portions for a Boil Bag were generous, one corn, potato, rice and a few broccoli were included. All amenities were provided: table paper, bibs, sanitizer, bucket, gloves, scissors for crab legs. Cajun garlic butter seasoning was delicious, not too spicy for the kids. Speaking of kids, seafood boil keep kids remarkably entertained! This place deserves all the good reviews. Our only (small) complaint is the distance to a bathroom, but it's a small price to pay for a delicious meal.“

“Been on my list for a while and finally came in on a Saturday for lunch. The noodles were to die for! I got the special with three toppings and it was so perfect and delicious. The meat sauce and tomato egg brought back my childhood memories the nostalgia! The beef cubes were so tender and flavorful. The noodles are perfectly al dente with a little bite. Not to mention the bowl is huge! This place is legit!

The dumplings were good as well but I prefer some of the other SGV greats.

Service is quick and friendly. No wait when I went around 1pm. This is now my go to when I get noodle cravings!“

“This place exceeded my expectations! The spicy boiled fish was flavorful and authentic, with just the right level of heat and tenderness. The fish was very fresh and paired perfectly with rice. The bok choy was cooked just right and balanced the meal nicely, and the fried chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy inside without being greasy.

Portions were generous, food came out quickly, and everything tasted freshly made. The restaurant was clean, and the service was friendly and attentive. Definitely a great spot for a casual meal with friends or family. I’ll be coming back!“

“My family and I stumbled in here looking for some authentic Chinese food, and we were pleasantly surprised. It was delicious! We will be returning. We got the beef chop suey, shrimp chop suey, orange chicken, shrimp fried rice and chicken fry noodle chow mein. Jasmine tea as well. Easily a 8.5/10“

“The best place in Dtla! Ask for Hiro, he was super amazing and kept our drinks full!“

“A WONDERFUL RESTAURANT - THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS , THE PORTION SIZE WAS LARGE AND THE WOMAN SERVER WAS VERY KIND AND PLEASANT - AN EXTRA PLUS INEXPENSIVE PARKING WAS ADJACENT TO THE GOLDEN TREE . LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING BACK AGAIN .“

“Great Dim Sum spot for classic dim sum food and not too long on wait for a table.“

“Need to make reservations, otherwise need to wait almost hour“

“There was such a long wait here on a Sunday night, but it was totally worth it. Little Skewer is my favorite place to get skewers. Once you step inside, you’ll understand why it takes forever to get a table - you won’t want to leave! The atmosphere of the restaurant seems specifically curated to create the perfect environment for eating and drinking. Beers were BOGO. Chinese wines were served in tea pots and dainty little saucers. Beneath the tavern lights, a lounge singer sweetly serenades the diners through the huge karaoke machine at the front of the store.

Service is mostly done yourself through an iPad. You place your own order through the system and workers bring the food out to you.

Meats such as beef and lamb skewers are ordered in batches of 10 and will most likely make up the bulk of your skewers, but there are many other types of additional skewers to choose from. An unexpected favorite for me was the king oyster mushroom skewers. I don’t even like mushrooms, but these king oyster mushrooms were irresistible. Biting into the springy flesh was so satisfying. The spicy, vibrant flavors and juiciness made my mouth water and crave more. The scallops, served in their shells with glass noodles, garlic, scallions, and chili paste, were addictive enough to pound back like shots. I also really liked the chicken skin skewers because the crispiness provided a nice contrast to the other dishes. And I liked the pineapple sausage so much that I ordered two.

I would totally recommend Little Skewer for dinner, catching up with friends, and a good time.“

“This place deserves every bit of five stars. No matter what you order, the food is absolutely delicious. Every dish is flavorful, fresh, and clearly made with care.
What impressed me even more than the food was the service. The staff are incredibly attentive, friendly, and well-coordinated. Their teamwork and efficiency make the entire dining experience smooth and enjoyable. Everything arrived quickly, the restaurant was very clean, and the atmosphere felt welcoming.
Finding a place like this on a Sunday afternoon truly felt like a little moment of happiness. Great food, great service, and a great experience overall. I will definitely be coming back! ★★★★★“

“came here for an amazing christmas lunch with my family during our vacation in california! the service was wonderful, and all of the dishes we ordered were super delicious. i especially loved the baby bok choy and the hong kong rice noodles! we ordered a mixed fruit sago drink at the end and i accidentally spilled it 😭 but they kindly gave us another one. i highly recommend this place for a nice lunch with family!“

“This is absolutely our favorite go to restaurant whenever we visit LA. A must stop for us. Living in CA and then moving to MN, we always crave for the noodles here. We visit every 2-4 years and the soups and noodles have always been consistent. The flavors are truly astonishing! We took my parents to visit last week again, and we stopped there 3X! A few days later back at home in MN and we are craving the soups already! Would definitely recommend this place.“

“Absolutely the best new restaurant inLos Angeles. Wonderful staff. Gorgeous facility indoors and patio. Exquisite and unique delicious food.“

“Ever since some of my favorite restaurants have closed down, I have been looking for my next regular place to get some lamb and pita soup. After a long shift at the hospital, I Decided to give this place a try and it did not disappoint
Their lamb and pita soup is really delicious as well as their crispy, spice intestine and their cumin lamb burger
Their staff is friendly and the food comes out in a timely manner“

“每道菜餚皆是無可挑剔的精緻和美味“

“everything is delicious and fresh 😋“

“Food is delicious! If you like spicy can try it. If not, you can order one for non-spicy. Many different choices!“

“Wow- pure fire here - best house hot sauce ever- mix between a Mexican salsa n Tabasco 🔥🔥 very tasty- well the other bestest item were the beef noodles!! Thick noodles!! 🫶🏻“

“Solid Chinese American food. We had the Mapo Tofu, Orange Chicken, Panda Beef, and Pork Chow Fun. Drinks (Yuzu Lemon Drop and Lychee Martini) good as well, strong and smooth. Would have enjoyed more options for traditional Chinese, but the limited menu was showcased well with everything we ate.

Service was amazing, wheelchair requirements were made known to the staff and they proved a great table with easy and clear access.“

“the restaurant is super clean. If you show up thinking you're going to order Orange chicken, Broccoli beef, kung pao chicken or any of that chinese fast food then this is not the place for you. BUT if you're looking for some delicious mouth watering dumplings cooked in various forms then you're at the CORRECT place. I brought my mom here and we tried the pork chive regular dumplings, the pan fried beef and cumin dumplings and the regular fried rice. All of it was delicious. Also they give you a complimentary bowl of egg drop corn soup. NOT a small bowl but a good size portion, it was GOOOOOD. I will definitely be back with the rest of the family and I want to try the beef noodle soup. DON'T fall asleep on the fried rice.“

“The best Vietnamese Style Lobster and seafood! Always a long queue to be seated. Get here early for best parking and best seating.“

“Hands down, one of the best Chinese restaurants in the SGV. My favorite dishes are the cat ear shaped noodle soup and pork meatballs, as well as the wife’s special noodles, but you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu! Highly recommend for anybody in the surrounding area to try“

“We ordered the sauerkraut fish and the portion size was huge. It was more than enough for two people, and we still had a lot of leftovers to take home. The flavor was really good--savory, tangy, and comforting without being overwhelming.

We also tried the quail eggs, which were battered and fried. They were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and honestly super tasty. Perfect little bite-sized snacks.

Overall, great portions, solid flavors, and definitely worth it if you're hungry or want leftovers for later. Would come back again!“

“Family lunch here with the $98 Peking duck special. Great portion, high quality ingredients and the reasonable price! The Peking duck is the best I have ever had in SGV area. The other dishes in the special are super delicious too. The traditional Chinese decor in the restaurant is beautiful and cozy. All staff is friendly and attentive. My family and I had a wonderful dinning experience and will be back to this place for sure! 👍💯❤️“

“One of the BEST eating experiences I've ever had.
Not only had I never been here before,
But I had never tried Szechuan food.

I'm not local to this area, but my friends one day were raving about this place. We drove over 40 minutes to go here,
And honestly I didn't expect too much,
Just wanted to hang with the boys,
But once I took my first bite-
Wwwaaaaoooooowww. I was SO surprised at how unique and delicious this flavor was.

We ordered a lamb plate, where they served it with toothpicks, I'm uncertain of the name of the dish,
But my goodness. It was one of the best things I've eaten. I love spice, and this was spice in such a unique way that I had never had before. My lips were numb, not in an uncomfortable way, but in a truly exciting way as far as a food experience is.

We also got other plates,
But to me the clear stand out was the lamb dish with the toothpicks.

If this place was any closer,
I'd be paying rent there, eating there like 3 times a week 😂

The staff is friendly and extremely accommodating, attentive, and helpful.

Our dishes came with this lovely tea, and perfectly steamed rice.

It was such a satisfying experience all around that I had to write this review to support their business.

Now, I don't think I'll be able to eat Szechuan food anywhere else and honestly- I am not upset about that.

If you haven't tried this hidden gem,
It's with the trip out to experience it.

Parking is... Horrible honestly, the restaurant faces a busy street,
But even still,
It's absolutely worth going here.

Bring anyone who's like me and hasn't tried Szechuan before,
And they'll be just as happy with their experience as I was.

Look forward to coming back here in the future.“

“It's still the best restaurant for me and my family. Can't believe every time I eat their food, feel the same as the first time, when your first and last bite are equal of tasteful, you know you're hitting the right spot.

Thanks to this family for giving me the pleasure of being a diner at this place.“

“Very good food. Clean and fast service.“

“I like this place. $13.99 per pound of food. You get to choose all your toppings. I recommend going heavy on the meats and light on the carbohydrates. That’ll be the best bang for the buck. They also have frog meat if that’s your lingo. I tried their beef bone broth and I like it a lot. I’d come back again.

**UPDATE**
Just a heads up. If you can’t eat mild this place won’t be for you. They can’t alter the broth. The only option is the tomato broth which is no spicy.“

“Omg!!!! This has got to be the best Chinese food in China Town. I love Chinese food. I have tried many Chinese restaurants. But the food here is is fresh and so tastee delicious. Everything cooked to perfection and well seasoned.
It looks empty. But don't let it scare you. Come on in and savor the best food in LA.“

“This is the place to go if you love hot pot. Good quality food, tasty, and flavorful broth. Good service and friendly staff.“

“I ordered takeout- i got the Dan Mein Short Rib with the Baby Bok Choy in extra garlic. As usual it was delicious and fresh- but they are using an app now to order and they really thought about the customer when they made it because you can add or remove any ingredient on every dish and if it's not listed -there is an option to write a note with your request. I know this seems basic- but I have encountered alot of apps that wont let me add or specify how I want it - like if I want it cooked well done or extra toasted.
I liked the option to choose what side or sauce (like their fresh cut ginger or chili oil) and how many I wanted and if I needed plates or utensils.
Overall I had a great experience with the app and they also gave me $6 off my order and $2.50 in dan cash for a $30 order. 20-25% off for first time ordering with app using code WELCOME
Their food speaks for itself, but perks help it taste a little better!!“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We had a really great experience at MeBo Jiao Club. From the moment we walked in, the staff was friendly, welcoming, and attentive, which immediately set a good tone for the meal. Everyone was helpful and made sure we were taken care of without ever feeling rushed.

The food was excellent overall. Everything tasted fresh and well prepared, and you can tell a lot of care goes into the ingredients. The hot pot selection was a highlight for us. There was a great variety to choose from, and all the meats, vegetables, and add-ins were fresh and flavorful. It was very satisfying and perfect for sharing.

The atmosphere was comfortable and enjoyable, making it a great place to sit down and enjoy a meal. Between the quality of the food, the freshness of the hot pot options, and the genuinely nice people working there, this place definitely deserves five stars. We would absolutely come back again and recommend it to anyone looking for good Chinese food and a solid hot pot experience.“

“Absolutely the most beautiful fine dining Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles! It is very modern in design.. the ambience is very elegant..which is so different from the outside.. located in a mediocre location in a boring small shopping mall. It was a turn off for me and that was why it took me so long to go there. Food was also delicious.. it is more expensive and perhaps that is why is fine dining.. perfect for a special date!“

“Great food, location and service“

“The atmosphere of the restaurant is relatively simple but comfortable. The waiters are friendly and provide fast service.“

“Revisited this place after a few years and was happy to see they’ve reopened in Baldwin Park.

The highlight was definitely the handmade soup dumplings. The crab roe xiao long bao was juicy with plenty of soup, and I liked that they offer a non-sweet option. The larger crab roe soup dumpling was especially memorable—rich, savory, and very nostalgic, reminded me of ones I had growing up in Jiangsu.

We also tried the Wuxi-style pork ribs and crispy eel, both well done with classic flavors. Other dishes like the rice cakes and stir-fried greens were simple but satisfying.

Overall, it’s a solid spot for Jiangzhe-style comfort food. Prices are reasonable and quality feels consistent—worth a visit if you’re craving authentic flavors.“

“I googled "best Chinese in LA" and then this popped up as the #1 place. So we drove - and had a very good meal. However, if you expect the classic Chinese dishes, you will be disappointed. This is Shezuan, "a different animal". So no rice, no sweet-and-sour-this-and-that. So be prepared for very spicy Szechuan food. Noodles. No rice. Try the dumplings, they were delicious. We ordered mild (1 out of 5 spice degrees) and we were burning inside (we had two separate orders of dumplings - but spice grade 1. There is no consistency, so be careful). So if spicy is what you are "in" for, you'll love it. The ambiance is sort of authentic ;-) - the sign on how to use the toilet (outside the restaurant in the alley) says more than words. But then, it was $100 all-in for the four of us only. My advice: I could barely understand the service language. Better check the menu before you go. As we were first-timers, I wanted to share three starters and three mains among the four of us and leave it up to the waitress to make us explore - she did not understand. I asked if they served beer. The answer was "noodles or dumplings". :-)“

“Try The Indo Fried Rice… You will love it😀“

“The food was delicious, the service excellent, the establishment was clean, portions generous, and cost affordable. We ordered chow mein, fish with black bean sauce, and Mongolian beef. It's not Chinese fast food, it's a sit down restaurant. Surprised it wasn't crowded as the food is delicious. The location is a little non-descript but street parking was easy. I live in Gardena and although there are several Chinese restaurants, none are good. This was a lucky find as restaurant reviews in general tend to result in a bad choice.“

“Despite the very long wait, me and my family thought the food was very good and I loved how some meals came with sets and desserts. The atmosphere looked fairly new and nice and despite the lack of service, I thought the workers were pretty nice. We should come back one day.“