Every region, province, and ethnic group that makes up the 1.4 billion people in China is so varied and distinct—so you can be sure the cuisine is too. When it comes to eating Chinese food in Sydney, we're covered for all things Sichuan-spiced, sizzling Mongolian, unique Uyghur, crispy Cantonese, and everything in between.
These are the best Chinese restaurants in Sydney right now.
Now Open: Pearl
CBD
An elevated take on a Chinese restaurant by the beloved Lotus Dining Group, Pearl takes inspiration from Hong Kong with a menu spanning the three main elements of dim sum, barbeque and seafood.
Expect textbook Peking duck (which takes three days to prepare), char siu pork and live seafood alongside dim sum, soups, rice and noodles integrating plenty of premium ingredients, plus a 200-strong wine list and signature cocktails. Book a private dining room with primo Sydney Harbour Bridge views for the top-tier experience.
Spicy Joint
Haymarket, Burwood, Chatswood and Rhodes
Spicy Joint does exactly what it says on the tin: a tin that should come slapped with a heavy warning label. It’s a Chinese restaurant chain restaurant hailing from Szechuan Province, and the Haymarket venue is a luxurious setting to feast on fiery fish dishes like chilli chicken, brisket hotpot, and handmade dumplings.
Portions at these Sydney Chinese restaurants are huge, so bring some backup.
Chinese Noodle House
Haymarket
One word: institution. Chinese Noodle House does all your classics (top picks from those in the know are the braised eggplant, beef in Sichuan sauce, and steamed pork and cabbage dumplings) as well as a selection of northern Chinese food like Xinjiang fried noodles and barbecued lamb.
The majority of the seating is outside, and you can BYO for $2 corkage.
Mr Wong
CBD
Make a booking at Mr Wong for Cantonese classics in an intimate atmospheric setting that's a level up from your neighbourhood Chinese restaurant.
With a whole room dedicated to producing incredibly crisp-skinned roasted ducks, they better be on your order, plus a few serves of dumplings, king crab fried rice, and crispy fried Balmain bugs.
Steam King
Haymarket
Hearty, wholesome and home-style, Steam King is hands-down one of the best Chinese restaurants in Sydney for its welcoming feel alone. Order up traditional Cantonese soups, steamed Chinese delicacies and wok-fried dishes served generously.
Zilver Restaurant
Bondi Junction
The original location has shut up shop, but you can still check out Zilver if you’re hungering for great Chinese classics and top-notch yum cha.
The typically Cantonese offering of dim sum is delivered with an eye for authenticity and flair alongside a live seafood spread including lobster, mud crab, abalone, pipis and fish, and an old-school Peking duck service. If in doubt, go for a banquet—there are three, starting at $63pp.
Lotus
Double Bay, Darling Harbour, Barangaroo and CBD
With a few locations, the refined Chinese cuisine at Lotus is absolutely some of the best in Sydney. Our pick is The Gardens by Lotus, set in the Chinese Gardens of Friendship and overlooking red-tiled pagodas and trickling ponds.
The hand-pleated dumplings like scallop siu mai and crystal prawn dumplings are a must-order, as are the Balmain bugs with soy bean, chilli and lemon. To avoid the pain of decision-making, there are banquets at $88 and $99pp, and a couple of weekend grazing menus too.
Northern Chinese Noodle Restaurant
Pyrmont
There’s a reason Northern Chinese Noodle Restaurant has a queue out the door every single lunchtime. The no-frills northern Chinese cuisine like peanut chicken and chilli eggplant is addictive while their dumplings, hand-pulled noodles and plates of crispy fried veg are worth making saving room for too.
Taste Of Shunde
Kogarah and Eastwood
Proudly repping the hometown of Bruce Lee, Taste of Shunde is a Chinese restaurant focused on Shunde cuisine (from the Shunde district of Foshan, in China’s south-east).
You can try a textbook example of crispy skinned roast goose—the signature dish of the region—as well as massive steamed seafood platters, and a solid selection of Chinese desserts like double-skinned milk and walnut buns.
Kowloon Cafe
Haymarket and Burwood
A Hong Kong-style cafe serving a menu divided between quick bites and larger meals, Kowloon Cafe serves authentic street food like pineapple buns with thick slabs of butter and fried rice with prawn covered in soft scrambled eggs in a mock market setting. The Hong Kong-style French toast is a must-try, as is the fish ball noodle soup.
Fortune Village
CBD
Fortune Village is a family-run establishment that's been serving up modern and classic Chinese food since 1981. Expect a range of all of your favourite Chinese dishes like beef and black beans, Szechuan chilli fish, and salt and pepper prawns, and definitely try their signature tamarind chicken.
XOPP
Haymarket
If you consider yourself a veteran of Sydney’s food scene, you’ll no doubt be acquainted with Golden Century’s pipis with XO sauce.
While the original venue is no longer, the dish remains at XOPP, as well as stunners like kingfish with doubanjiang and finger lime, scallop and edamame san choy bao, and chicken liver parfait with Shaoxing wine on Chinese doughnuts.
Chiu Chou Garden Chinese Seafood Restaurant
Thornleigh
This Chaozhou-style restaurant serves authentic eastern-Chinese cuisine in an unassuming setting. It’s a local hot spot for families and those looking for a big feed with friendly service and a strong reputation, so make sure to try the congee and the fried flat noodles to see what all the fuss is about.
China Doll
Woolloomooloo
Perched waterside on the historic finger wharves, China Doll has been one of Sydney's favourite Chinese restaurants since 2004. Described as modern Asian, you'll catch influences here from Korea, Indonesia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Macau, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam, and all regions of China.
Start your visit with crispy chicken and shiitake dumplings or five spice-fried tofu with ginger and soy before mains like salt and pepper king prawns with wok-toasted chilli and garlic, and masterstock-braised pork belly with chilli caramel and nam pla phrik.
Haidilao
Chatswood and Haymarket
For a fiery hotpot experience, Haidilao is a true standout. They’ll load you up with a selection of raw ingredients from their menu including glossy marbled beef and fresh Chinese mushrooms which you cook yourself in a range of delicious soups and dip in a DIY sauce.
For some theatrics, order the Haidilao-styled noodle, pulled at your table in a flurry of dance moves and action, and if you have to wait for your table, you might even be able to grab a seat at the free manicure station.
Yummy Chinese Barbeque
CBD, Ashfield and Chatswood
You can’t cover the range of Chinese food without mentioning Chinese BBQ and Yummy Chinese Barbecue is one of the best in Sydney.
They offer all-you-can-eat skewers that rotate freely over hot coals right in front of you and their lamb is perfectly juice. It’s worth branching out beyond the BBQ too as their spicy beef soup and red bean dessert buns are awesome.
Also check out our guides to the best dumplings in Sydney and the best yum cha in Sydney.
Image credit: Mr Wong, Mr Wong, Lotus, Kowloon Cafe, XOPP, China Doll