The Chinese restaurants locals love most in 5 major US cities

Food writers in Seattle, Charleston, Chicago, and more share their top picks.

Ever wish you could call up a local food writer in an unfamiliar city and get them to spill on their favorite dining spots? Consider this a cheat sheet. Food & Wine polled trusted food writers for recommendations in cities across the country, from Charleston to Seattle. Collectively, these journalists have reported on their local restaurant scenes for decades, and they’ve got the insider recommendations to prove it. 

Below, find five excellent Chinese restaurants that local experts stand behind, including a father-and-son tasting menu in San Francisco, and a D.C. favorite where the cocktails rival the food. The next time you’re in town, add these shops to your itinerary.

Fù Huì Huá (San Francisco)

Chinese restaurants are to San Francisco what pizza parlors are to New York City. The “Paris of the West” is home to the country’s first Chinatown, after all. Fù Huì Huá is just the most recent jewel in SF’s Chinese restaurant game. It’s an itty-bitty, father-and-son tasting menu that highlights Huaiyang cooking, considered one of the four great Chinese cuisines. Be prepared, as the line to eat here is formidable. But where else do Chinese expats present crab in 10 different ways? — Paolo Bicchieri

Jackrabbit Filly (Charleston)

Jackrabbit Filly is an updated take on the Chinese American restaurant. Located in the Park Circle neighborhood of North Charleston, the dining room stays packed with patrons who enjoy how chef Shuai Wang reimagines the flavors of his childhood in Beijing. You’ll find classics like chicken shumai and scallion pancakes next to a crab rangoon cheese ball and mapo noodles with whipped tofu. If you’re looking for even more of Wang’s cooking, head down the street to his Chinese barbecue joint, King BBQ, for crispy smoked duck and moo shu pork. — Erin Perkins  

Tai Tung (Seattle)

Seattle’s oldest Chinese restaurant, Tai Tung, opened in 1935. It’s still the place to go for Chinese American classics like egg foo young, chop suey, and chow mein. The massive menu is familiar, but what sets Tai Tung apart is its commitment to fresh vegetables and not overcooking the meat. The beef in oyster sauce, an old favorite of Bruce Lee’s, is tender and soaked in umami. Just bring a group. The family-style portions are on the hefty side, and you’ll want to try a few dishes.  — Harry Cheadle

Astoria (Washington, D.C.)

It can be tough to score a seat at Astoria. The Dupont Circle go-to draws a following for both its food and its cocktails. For $18, Devin Gong’s staff will serve you any drink you can think of, whether it’s on the globetrotting board of classics, tiki deep cuts and seasonal stuff, or if you just want to tell the bartenders your vibe. The menu leans Sichuan. Go with water-boiled beef, chile oil chimichurri, dan dan noodles and basil eggplant. The dark, shotgun space with plush blue seats and a prime patio usually has a line. Reservations recommended. — Gabe Hiatt

Shanghai Terrace (Chicago)

I’m tempted to recognize one of Chicago’s many Korean Chinese restaurants on the city’s North Side, or one of the establishments in Chicago’s ever-expanding Chinatown on the South Side. But my true answer resides in plain sight inside the Peninsula Hotel, near downtown Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. Shanghai Terrace’s jaw-dropping Cantonese offerings include dumplings stuffed with morsels of lobster, black truffle, and chicken. Australian red abalone soars, thanks to a funky aged oyster sauce. The duck service is pristine, and the hospitality deliberate. Younger diners can feast upon adorable dumplings decorated as pandas and other cute critters. Even the outdoor seating is worthy of a special trip during warmer months. — Ashok Selvam