Top Chinese Restaurant in Berkeley
Chengdu Style Restaurant
2600 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, United States
Wouldnt say this is the best Chinese restaurant near Berkeley but its the closest descent Chinese restaurant to the campus.
Da Lian Restaurant
1674 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709, United States
Our favorite Chinese restaurant in Berkeley. All the dishes we have had here are excellent, and weve probably tried many of them over the years. The specialty dishes are where the restaurant really shines, and the zha jiang noodles are a must. Sesame bread is treat, though eat it fresh. Great place to dine-in.
Great China
2190 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, United States
Being a Chinese immigrant who moved from Taiwan to Houston, Texas at the age of 9 and living with a Caucasian family, my expectations of Chinese food is atypical of most Chinese Americans. So the first time I went to Great China, I went by myself, and I ordered their Kung Pao Chicken lunch special served with a soup, spring roll and salad for $16. I soon realized that by opting for this comfort zone choice, I completely missed what makes Great China one of the best Chinese restaurants in the Bay Area.Motivated to amend my previous experience, I returned with a party of ten, and we were poised to immerse ourselves in a truly authentic Chinese culinary journey. Our order reflected this, as we curated a bonafide feast reminiscent of the vibrant foods found throughout China, from the street vendors of Xian to the upscale restaurants in Beijing.The meal kicked off with a serving of Spicy Cold Skin Noodles (Lian Pi), a popular Northwestern Chinese street food. These noodles, simultaneously springy and chewy, were quite a departure from traditional Italian pasta. Served cold atop an array of vibrant veggies, succulent shrimp, and perfectly cooked egg, it was a refreshing salad-like appetizer that set the tone for the meal.Their Hot and Sour Soup was next, a ubiquitous offering in most Chinese restaurants, but here, it felt like tasting the original blueprint. The balance of sour to savory was perfect, as was the ratio of vegetables and egg to broth, resulting in an ideal consistency. This was clearly hot and sour soup as it was intended to be.The Peking Duck, the house specialty and what a lot of people associate with Great China, did not fail to deliver.The oft underrated component of Peking Duck is the wraps. If its too doughy, it can ruin the dish. At Great China, the wraps are executed to perfection. They are so thin as to be almost translucent, yet they retained their firmness throughout the meal, allowing us to savor the dish at our leisure without worrying about the wraps hardening.The Honey Walnut Prawns were a revelation, crispy despite being drenched in a sticky honey sauce. This dish eclipsed any fast-food equivalent Ive ever had - Panda Express has got nothing on this :)Accompanying our main dishes was the Ong-Choy (Water Spinach) with Fermented Tofu Paste. The freshness of the water spinach was evident, offering a crisp contrast to the robust flavor of the fermented bean curd.Our seafood indulgence included two crab dishes. The Ginger Scallion Crab with Noodles, a Cantonese classic, was followed by the equally delicious Cantonese Pepper Salt Fried Crab. Comparing the two would be an exercise in futility - each had its unique appeal, and both were winners that complimented each other.Finally, we had the Steamed Surf Clams. The clams, paired with fluffy sticky rice soaking up all the flavorful juice, made for an exquisite finale. The delicate flavor of the clams was complemented by the crunchy scallions, adding a layer of unexpected texture.Even though I was raised on a diet of Americanized Chinese food (beef and broccoli still holds a special place in my heart), my palate, unsophisticated as it might be, was still able to appreciate and savor the authentic Chinese flavors that Great China brings. This establishment truly provides a culinary experience that bridges cultures, making the richness of traditional Chinese cuisine accessible and enjoyable to West and East alike. It has mastered the art of authentic Chinese cuisine. I now know where to take my Taiwanese mom for a feast when she visits, and its a place where both of us can honestly enjoy.
Long Life Vegi House
1725 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94703, United States
What a great restaurant. The employees are so.nice and always remember the customers. The veggie meat dishes are fabulous. I t hard to tell this is not real meat. So many options. The lunch specials are so reasonable, the soup is great and the lunch specials are available seven days a week. Dinner is also reasonable with a side of soup and rice added for a dollar each. What a great place to take your vegetarian or vegan friends. Because the fare is either veggie or seafood it is a good place for guests the have a kosher or halal diet. I love the clay pot nappa cabbage and the veggie Mongolian beef. The restaurant recently relocated to a sharp new location a block and a half below Martin Luther King. This is a fun place to eat. Some of the best vegetarian food around.
King Dong Restaurant
2429 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704, United States
This is my go-to place for Chinese food in Berkeley. Its relatively inexpensive, and the people who work there are always very pleasant to me, which you wont always find in every Chinese restaurant. Im not saying that they are mean at other restaurants, just that they dont have the greatest social skills. The food here is passable, not great. I feel it could use a little more seasoning, but you can always add more condiments to suit your palate. Overall, I always enjoy coming here.
Noodles Fresh Berkeley CA Chinese Cuisine
2430 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704, United States
My girlfriend and I came at around 4pm, and were greeted by a very calming atmosphere inside. The ceiling is high, the piano jazz is not too loud, and the open kitchen format makes the whole place feel a little more lively. It was a cool experience to watch our food being made from the other side of the restaurant. Made the whole place feel pretty classy, but not inaccessible.We ordered the Hainan Chicken and Jiang-de noodles, and they arrived within 8 minutes of ordering. Both were quite tasty without being too salty (salty is a common criticism I have for Chinese restaurants around Berkeley, but not this one).In the Jiang-de noodles, the bitterness of the cabbage cuts through the sweetness the bell peppers and sauce contain, and the chicken is not dry at all, while the whole dish strikes a good balance with its spiciness.I'd highly recommend the Hainan chicken. I've been craving a place around Berkeley that can make it well, and I noticed that this place has an $8.95 lunch special for the hainan as well (M-F 11:00-2:30ish), which is a great deal for Downtown Berkeley.If you're a student and looking for a good date spot without breaking your wallet, I'd also say this is a good bet (:
Kirin Chinese Restaurant And Cocktail Bar
1767 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707, United States
A favorite Chinese restaurant in Albany, California.
Easterly Berkeley
2142 Center St, Berkeley, CA 94704, United States
Really tasty food that came out super fast. Service was also helpful with changing our order when we accidentally ordered the wrong thing. Also, the potluck style is a breath of fresh air in Berkeley. Finally, the portions were large and we didnt feel like we were missing out on food. Would definitely recommend if youre looking for a Chinese restaurant in the area!
Chens Garden
1818 Alcatraz Ave, Berkeley, CA 94703, United States
It appears to be one of those Chinese restaurants that have been around for a long while, and it has. I ate here previously a few years ago, and it was because of that experience that I decided to have another go. This experience turned out differently because I ordered something other than what I had intended. Because they had Sambal Oelek and soy sauce as condiments, I noticed they had an old favorite on the menu - BBQ Pork with egg over rice. Lets just say that for me, this is a winning combination, and it worked well in this case. Although this dish is common, many places usually dont have sambal oelek, or chili oil, which can liven up any plain dish. Otherwise, this place is a nice, small Chinese restaurant that serves good food.
Chinese Express
2488 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, United States
Was craving simple Chinese food so decided to check this place out. Order a simple 2 item plate for around $9-10 (after tax). Got 1/2 fried rice and 1/2 chow mien, both were pretty good, no complaints. I got honey sesame chicken, which was nice because no it all Chinese food places have sesame chicken some just have lemon or orange chicken. My other item was the spicy basil eggplant and tofu, but unfortunately I was very disappointed with this item, I got none of the tofu and the taste was very bland. The amount of food they give you is also about average, they dont packet the container to burst, but they dont skimp either. Overall a decent place for simple Chinese food, just be cautious of what you pick for your items.Currently (09/2021) Chefs steam plates are still open, but still no sit down for the restaurant food, so the reviews just for the fast service heated Chinese food (Panda Express style).