Top 10 Most Famous Chinese Restaurants In The US
The Most Famous Chinese Restaurants In The US
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Chinese food is timeless — and arguably one of the best takeout options. But, with so many restaurants across the country, how would you know where to start? From Americanized takeout to dumpling stands, dim sum parlors, bakeries, spicy Sichuan joints, high-end temples of Chinese gastronomy, and hole-in-the-wall noodle shops, we examined nearly every style under the sun.

What is most famous Chinese food?

Chinese cuisine is an important component of Chinese culture, with a long history, distinct features, numerous styles, and exquisite cooking. Traditional Chinese dishes are known for their color, aroma, taste, meanings, and appearance.

Because China is such a large country, there are many regional differences in cuisine due to climate, history, local ingredients, dining customs, and so on.

Chinese cuisines are classified into eight categories based on cooking styles and regional flavors: Sichuan Cuisine, Hunan Cuisine, Shandong Cuisine, Zhejiang Cuisine, Fujian Cuisine, Anhui Cuisine, Cantonese Cuisine, and Jiangsu Cuisine. Every cuisine has its signature dish.

Must-try Chinese food

Kung Pao Chicken

Sweet and Sour Pork

Peking Roast Duck

Mapo Tofu

Chow Mein

Chinese Hot Pot

Spring Rolls

Wonton Soup

Chicken Fried Rice

Char Siu

Top 10 Most Famous Chinese Restaurants In The US

1. Xi’an Famous Foods, New York City

When this Flushing chainlet began expanding into Manhattan, Chinese food fans rejoiced. The Manhattan shops, like their Queens counterparts, serve the cuisine of Xi'an, an ancient city in North Central China that was once an important part of the Silk Road trade routes. The cumin-spiked "lamb burgers," tangy liang pi cold noodles, and warm tofu in crimson chili oil are all must-order items.

2. HaiDiLao Hot Pot, Arcadia, California

Hot pot restaurants have recently grown in popularity. Although other types of Chinese food are still widely available – and for good reason: they're delicious – hot pot is growing in popularity among foodies across the country.

HaiDiLao Hot Pot is located in Arcadia, California and serves hot pot in a slightly different style than other similar restaurants. Individual bowls of broth are served instead of a large broth pot for the entire party to share. The broth is tasty, and the ingredients are delicious and of high quality.

READ MORE: Top 7 Insanely Delicious Hot Pot Styles Around the Globe

3. Din Tai Fung, Los Angeles, CA

Every type of Chinese dish has a go-to restaurant in Los Angeles—Beijing's xiangbing (meat pies), Peking duck, cold noodles—and Seattle is no exception, but for xiao long bao (soup dumplings) in both cities, we go to Din Tai Fung. The Taiwanese dumpling house, which now has three locations in Los Angeles, two in Seattle, and one in Orange County, is a favorite among both tourists and locals for slurping down pork dumplings (pork and shrimp is another popular option) for lunch or dinner. A slice of truffle can be added on top of your dumplings at the Glendale location in Los Angeles—not entirely traditional, but we're not complaining.

4. Yank Sing, San Francisco, CA

The aromas emanating from Yank Sing's steamed and fried dumplings are so enticing that you'll likely devour them before learning what's inside. The exceptional freshness and flavor of the dim sum is undoubtedly what keeps this long-running restaurant thriving in an unlikely corner of a massive office complex. At this trolly-service dim sum establishment, ordering is half the fun: just point to what looks good as the waiters roll their carts past your table. Shanghai dumplings with pork, scallion, ginger, and a shot of hot broth are favorites, as are stuffed crab claws and goldfish dumplings filled with crunchy shrimp and bamboo shoot tips.

READ MORE: 'Haggis' of Scotland - The Most Bizarre Food in the World

5. P.F. Chang's

P.F. Chang's has been the king of mid-tier Chinese food chains since 1993. Customers are impressed by the extensive menu, which includes everything from sushi to dim sum to wagyu steak and Mongolian beef.

You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, so come back as often as you can to try everything. That being said, you must order the Great Wall of Chocolate, an obscene dessert made up of six layers of chocolate cake.

6. Lao Sze Chuan, Chicago, Illinois

If you want a spicy take on Chinese food, you should go to a Sichuan restaurant. When visitors and locals get hungry in Chicago, there are a plethora of amazing, high-end restaurants to choose from. Lao Sze Chuan in Chinatown is the best place to go for spicy, delicious Chinese food.

The menu offers a wide variety of dishes, including a hot pot-style meal option. This allows guests to prepare their own tasty ingredients right at the table.

7. Nom Wah Tea Parlor, New York, New York

Nom Wah Tea Parlor began as a bakery and tea parlor at 13-15 Doyers Street in 1920. For the majority of the twentieth century, Nom Wah was a neighborhood institution, serving fresh Chinese pastries, steamed buns, dim sum, and tea.

After losing its lease at 15 Doyers in 1968, the restaurant relocated to a brand new kitchen next door, where it has remained ever since, at 11-13 Doyers Street. The restaurant eventually became known for its almond cookie, lotus paste, and red bean filling, which is used for moon cake during the Chinese autumn festival.

8. Panda Express

Panda Express isn't the most opulent Chinese-American restaurant chain, but it does something almost no fast-food restaurant does: it serves delicious food.

This is the original home of orange chicken, a dish that many other chains have tried to imitate but none can match. Without a doubt, this is what you should order the first time you visit (and, in our opinion, every time), but dishes like the honey walnut shrimp are also delicious. Get a plate to sample two entrees and one side dish.

9. Pei Wei Asian Kitchen

The fast casual Pei Wei Asian Kitchen comes from the same minds that brought us P.F. Chang's (which will undoubtedly make an appearance later on). Leeann Chin now owns the property.

This Chinese-American chain strikes a balance between affordability and high quality. Pei Wei, like Leeann Chin (the restaurant), serves pan-Asian fare such as curries, pad Thais, and poke bowls. Of course, you'll be able to order kung pao shrimp, beef, and broccoli rice. If we had to pick just one item, it would be the Pei Wei original shrimp.

10. Mr. Chow, New York, Beverly Hills, Miami, Malibu and Las Vegas

While many of the restaurants on this list are excellent for quick, casual meals (whether you order takeout or sit down for a quick meal), Mr. Chow is a little different. Mr. Chow, founded by Michael Chow, is a more upscale restaurant with locations in New York City, Beverly Hills, Miami, Malibu, and Las Vegas.

Mr. Chow's meals are typically served family-style, and many of the dishes, such as their Beijing duck, are inspired by Beijing. Some, however, are more unique to the restaurant, such as the chicken satay.

Conclusion

Chinese immigration to the United States has increased exponentially over the years, and, as with cultural exchange, this has resulted in the rise of Chinese cuisine in American society.

Chinese food is a hugely popular type of food that has gained popularity all over the world. Most cities have a number of Chinese restaurants, each serving their own version of tasty Chinese cuisine. You probably don't have to look far if you're craving dumplings and chow mein. Save the above list!

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