24 Best Chinese Restaurants near New Kensington

“Been a go-to spot for me for about 10 years now. Started ordering more often over the past year and they 100% are the best in the area. Probably the best anywhere within an hour of it. General Tsos is always delicious and their rice never disappoints. Very cheap compared to some places too.“

“A Journey Back to Panda: The Hidden Gem (right before my eyes)

Our normal takeout spot was unexpectedly closed. We were hungry. We were spiraling.

There are moments in life when the universe conspires to remind you that greatness doesn’t announce itself with gilded menus or sommeliers in bow ties. Sometimes it whispers from a small takeout counter in New Kensington , where it has been whispering for thirty plus years.

I stood there, right before my very eyes, watching steam rise from those containers like incense from a temple. And in that moment, decades collapsed. I was transported back to the 90’s—a hazy, beautiful memory of my younger self clutching a paper bag from Panda, not yet knowing I was holding something extraordinary. But time has a way of validating what we once took for granted.

Fast forward to now. The order arrives. I open the General Tso’s chicken, and I am struck motionless. This isn’t just food—it’s an aria. Each piece: impossibly juicy, fork-tender, draped in a sauce that somehow manages to be both savory and subtle, bold yet restrained. It’s the kind of balance that five-starred kitchens chase and rarely capture. I’ve eaten at renowned Chinese restaurants where celebrity chefs command three-hour waits. I’ve tasted the handiwork of masters in San Francisco’s Chinatown, New York’s Flushing, even Vancouver’s Richmond. And right here, right before my eyes, in this unassuming New Ken takeout, I found something better. The portion? Gargantuan. The value? Almost embarrassing in its generosity.

Then came the chicken lo mein—a mountain of perfectly cooked noodles tangled with vegetables and tender chicken, each strand glistening with that ineffable wok breath that separates the pretenders from the masters. It was huge. The lo mein is the only item that I would offer a mild suggestion: it needed slightly more liquid smoke flavor and the addition of green onions. Portion size means nothing without soul. Add those two ingredients and you give it soul.

And the Hot & Spicy chicken—oh, the restraint! The sauce was light, almost humble, allowing the vegetables to maintain their integrity, letting the chicken speak for itself. No drowning in cornstarch slurry, no aggressive assault of heat masking mediocrity. Just perfect clarity of flavor, right there before my eyes.

For three (maybe four) decades, Panda has been doing this. Quietly. Humbly. While the food world chased trends and accolades, and buffets while “authentic” became a marketing buzzword, Panda simply kept being magnificent. It stood there, a landmark, waiting for those wise enough to notice. Now I notice.

I notice.

I have seen the light, and it glows from a takeout container in New Ken. This is not hyperbole. This is testimony. Panda doesn’t just serve Chinese food—it serves a masterclass in what happens when skill, consistency, and care simmer together for almost forty years.

Just wow. Simply, unforgettably, wow.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​“

“The Best around here! Great Taste, Preparation, Price and Time saving!“

“Best Chinese food in the area. I eat here often and the food is always fresh and delicious. The employees are super nice.“

“Awesome sushi!! Never disappoints!“

“This is my first time visiting a small town and I had the pleasure of dining at this local Chinese restaurant, and I must say it exceeded all my expectations.My friends and I ordered a wide selection of dishes and each and every one of the dishes were amazing. There was just the right amount of favors and they were all VERY delicious. The portion sizes were also very generous and the prices were reasonable for the quality and quantity of food provided.The service was outstanding. The staff was knowledgeable about the menu and made excellent recommendations.I speak for both me and my friends and we would 100% recommend this to anyone!“

“Went for the fright time tonight. Food was great, best deal was the spicy and sour soup my wife got. It was massive in size and she had some extra to bring home and it was only like 11 bucks. I got the general and delish and I liked the sauce being a bit thicker then I am used to. Kids got fried rice and bobas. Will stop in again.“

“Very delicious, not a lot of places like this in my area.“

“Jimmy Wan's Foxchapel is one of the standout restaurants in all of Pittsburgh. Amazing food, excellent drinks, great staff, and wonderful ambiance and lighting. I recommend to everyone.“

“The new owners have done a great job with the place! The appetizer of hot chili wontons was delicious, and the main courses of crispy walnut chicken and kung pao chicken was fantastic! Highly recommend this place, you won’t be disappointed!“

“Taipei is by far the best sushi and Chinese restaurant in the Fox Chapel area. The servers are courteous and the specialty sushi rolls are noticeabley larger and tastier than Jimmy Wan's. In my opinion, Taipei also offers a better selection than Jimmy Wan's. We also appreciate Taipei's complimentary fried wontons served before each meal and orange slices provided at the end of service. This family-friendly restaurant always make us feel at home.“

“This was my first time ever stopping into the restaurant. I am very picky about my Chinese food. The establishment cleanest and surrounding is important to me. If I see any signs of uncleaniness I am out the door. So I am impressed so I ordered. Watched how they prepared my food and others impressed. So took my food which was done at the time they told me. I got home and the food was great and delicious. So they will see me again since it alot closest to my home.“

“been getting take-out here for 10+ years, one of the most consistent, tasty, & affordable places in the local area. loooove the egg rolls, my 2yo son loves the rangoons & you get a bunch of rangoons with the order more than I see at any other place“

“Tried the General tsos chicken, and pork fried rice. The tsos was pretty good in terms of flavor and spice, but the chicken pieces felt a touch lacking. The pork fried rice was one of the better fried rice dishes I have had in the area but certainly not the best. Overall would certainly recommend.“

“We stopped here later in the evening after going to Kennywood park. The food very good and affordable. The staff were very nice and polite. We always try several different things when we go to a new place and everything was worth it. Stop here if you are in the area.“

“Best Chinese food around! They hit a home run with every order! From the crab ragoons to the General Tso's Shrimp & Shrimp Pad Thai... everything was served hot & delicious. Will definitely be back again!! Really friendly service and reasonably priced, too!!“

“We order out regularly here bc they are consistent! Food is always fresh and good (shrimp and peppers delicious and crab Rangoon the best around town). Once I couldn’t get out of car and owner brought order out to me. Prices very reasonable too“

“I definitely recommend Taipei Tokyo ! Sushi is excellent as well as most of the other options. Friendly staff .“

“Best in da Burgh! Been going here since I was a kid and it never disappoint. The people making the food are the best! They are really friendly, hard working, and produce a quality meal every time! God bless America, God bless Verona, and GOD BLESS DRAGON CHINESE!!!!!“

“Today was very crowded, as expected, since it was Mother's Day. There was a "special" menu today for a slightly higher fee ($22), but it was to include Crab Legs that they rarely have. I go there 1-2 times/month. I was a bit skeptical about the quality and replenishment of the Crab Legs. Oh, my!!! They were fantastic and constantly replenished. This was fantastic! Thank You.. was much appreciated!“

“I forgot what I ordered but the shrimp was covered in a big batter that was super crunchy. The sauce came with it also tasted good with rice. While the other chicken dish I ordered wasn't as amazing. It felt like it missing some sweet balance. Both of them were supposed to be spicy as indicated on the menu, but they were not spicy at the slightest.
The wonton soup I ordered came with 2 big wonton. It's tasted alright. The broth was feel like it was just chicken stock. It's a bit bland eating after other dishes, so it's best to eat it as an appetizer.
I like the cook lady though, she brought the dish out with a big smile, it was pleasant.“

“I don’t understand the low rating for this restaurant. I live in the area and this is my go to for takeout Chinese food. I usually get the chicken and garlic sauce, steamed dumplings, or beef lo mein. I’ve never ordered something I didn’t like. The portions are very generous and their prices are very reasonable.“

“I have been coming to TJ Buffet for a LONG time, and I’m just now finally sitting down to write the review they have deserved every single time I’ve been here. If Google allowed 10 stars, that’s what they would get from me.

First of all, the service is ALWAYS amazing. Everyone is genuinely friendly, welcoming and attentive. I can be a little complicated with my order 😂, and they have literally remembered exactly what I like. At this point, when I walk in and they see me, they already know what I’m getting. That kind of service is rare and absolutely deserves to be acknowledged.

And the FOOD!!! My order is the Seafood Delight with curry and shrimp fried rice, and it is 10 out of 5 every single time. Consistent, flavorful, fresh and absolutely delicious. Somehow the leftovers might even be BETTER the next day, which I don’t understand, but I’m certainly not complaining. 😂

I have been here many times and have never had anything less than a five star experience. Amazing food, amazing people and amazing service. TJ Buffet has absolutely earned a loyal customer in me.“

“The food was good and so was the service. One of the line workers took the time to ask how my day was going while he prepared my lunch. He seemed to actually care how I was doing. During the meal a.manager stopped by to see if we needed anything else. The restaurant was clean and quite even though it was busy.“