Chinese Restaurant Awards: US Top 20 Honorees 2026

Against Kendall Square's more familiar dinner options, Sumiao Hunan Kitchen is the pick when the meal should be flavorful, easy to arrange, less formal. The 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand is the key trust signal, pointing to a value-led Cambridge choice for Hunan cooking rather than a special-occasion splurge.

Lei is a wine bar on Doyers Street in New York City.

Dian Xin is worth booking for a relaxed French Quarter dim sum meal at a $$ price point, especially if the table wants handmade dumplings, bao, wings, shareable Chinese dishes without a formal tasting-menu commitment. It works better for groups and casual celebrations than for a quiet, wine-led dinner.

The first US outpost of Hong Kong's Maximal Concepts, Mott 32 at The Venetian is the most seriously sourced Chinese restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip; Kobe beef, Australian wagyu, Iberico pork, a 48-hour apple-roasted duck that must be pre-ordered. Ranked #346 in OAD's North America list for 2025, it's a strong special-occasion booking with five private dining rooms and easy availability.

Bistro Na's in Temple City holds a Michelin star and back-to-back top-ten OAD Casual North America rankings at a $$ price point; making it one of the most credentialed-per-dollar Chinese dining experiences in the Los Angeles area. The kitchen specializes in royal Manchu cuisine, with Peking duck as the anchor. Reservations are accessible, groups of four or more get the most out of the menu's range.

A Michelin Plate-recognised Taiwanese restaurant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Wenwen delivers technically serious cooking; whole striped bass with black sugar-yuzu vinaigrette, 16-hour oxtail broth beef noodle soup; at a $$$ price point that undercuts Manhattan's tasting-menu tier. It is a strong choice for a special-occasion dinner without the $200+ per head ceiling.

Esquire's number-one new restaurant in the US for 2024, Four Kings delivers seriously credentialed Chinese cooking at a $$ price point that makes it the strongest value proposition in San Francisco's Chinese dining scene. Back-to-back Michelin Plates and an Opinionated About Dining Casual nod confirm this is not an accident. Book a week or two out; it's easy to get a table, the cooking earns every award it has collected.

Kato is a restaurant in Los Angeles' Arts District.

Book Birds of a Feather for modern Sichuan cooking in Williamsburg that feels polished without turning formal. At about $40 per person, it is strongest as a shared à la carte meal built around chili oil, peppercorn heat, cold noodles, whole fish, smoked duck, wontons. It is better for spice-friendly dates and small groups than for quiet business dinners or tasting-menu seekers.

Fù Huì Huá is an eight-seat Mission District counter serving a seasonal Chinese tasting menu from chef Yuezhong Ge and his son, Tao William Ge. The prepaid total is $331.85 before beverages, dinner lasts about three hours.

A Michelin-starred (2024) contemporary Chinese restaurant in Hell's Kitchen where Chef Jakub Baster applies French fine-dining technique to Chinese ingredients. Dishes like soy milk custard with doubanjiang and reimagined nian gao reward attention rather than appetite. At $$$$, it earns its price; book 4 to 6 weeks out and request counter seating.

Dumpling Home has earned back-to-back Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition in 2024 and 2025, which is a concrete signal of consistent quality at a single-dollar-sign price point. Booking is easy relative to its reputation, making this one of the most accessible serious Chinese dining options in San Francisco. If you are in Hayes Valley, there is no strong case for skipping it.

Named one of the San Francisco Chronicle's Best New Bay Area Restaurants for 2025, The Happy Crane brings serious technique to modern Chinese cooking in Hayes Valley. Chef James Yeun Leong Parry's background at Michelin-starred restaurants across four cities gives the dim sum-focused menu real credibility. Booking is currently easy; that may not last.

Mister Jiu's is a modern Chinese restaurant on Waverly Place in San Francisco.

Z & Y Peking Duck works for a shared Chinatown meal when the group wants a duck-centered dinner without a high-friction booking process. It is less convincing for solo dining or occasions that need polished, quiet service. Best fit: four or more diners who care more about the centerpiece order than a dressed-up room.

A practical Chinatown pick for an efficient Chinese meal before 8 PM, Shu Jiao Fu Zhou makes sense for solo diners, pairs, small groups who care more about value and specificity than ambience. The 2025 Opinionated About Dining Casual recognition adds credibility, but this is not the right choice for a long special-occasion dinner.

HK Lounge Bistro holds back-to-back Michelin Plates (2024–2025) at a $$ price point on Folsom Street in SoMa, making it one of San Francisco's better-value cases for Michelin-recognised Chinese cooking. With easy booking, it's a practical pick for a late dinner in the neighbourhood without the commitment of a $$$$ tasting menu.