9 Best Chinese Restaurants in San Antonio

One of the best things about America is the abundance of food from all over the world. While San Antonio isn’t known for its Chinese food, this guide will satisfy any foodie’s craving for amazing Chinese cuisine. From authentic dim sum and noodles to comforting, high-quality American-Chinese and Asian Fusion, we left no stone unturned to give you a guide you can trust for your late midweek dinner or special weekend celebration at the best Chinese restaurants in San Antonio.

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9. Golden Wok

Golden Wok is probably the most well-known spot on this guide to the best Chinese food in San Antonio. They excel in fresh Chinese and American Chinese staples and, most importantly, dim sum. Their menu of small, bite-sized snacks is unparalleled in the city and covers everything from well-known sui mai to the more adventurous beef tripe. A pared-down dim sum menu of around 20 options is available during regular hours, with twice the options and a cart service on weekends. Whether you’re new to dim sum or are a seasoned veteran, go for the char siu bau, shrimp sui mai, or fun kwok dumplings. The lai wong bau is the perfect sweet finish.

8. Ming’s

Next on our guide to the best Chinese restaurant in San Antonio is a small place outside the Pearl that you might miss if you’re driving too fast down Elmira Street. Mings is an Asian Fusion restaurant and, to be perfectly clear, you are here for the steam buns. Some are traditional in flavor, some pull from other cultures, but all are delicious. One bun is a snack, two buns + a Century Egg is a meal, and three buns are perfect if you skipped breakfast. Impeccably cured pork belly, topped with a cucumber carrot slaw and scallions, nestled in a soft fresh steam bun is the best cure for all your woes. The Sloopy Bun, BBQBB Bun, and Bulgogi Bun are notably delicious but any are definitely worth a try.

7. Sichuan Garden

In the northern part of San Antonio sits the unassuming local staple Sichuan Garden.  This small restaurant has a knack for Sichuan-style food and high-quality Chinese-American staples we have come to crave on weeknight evenings. The twice-cooked pork belly, full of leeks, numbing peppercorns, and fresh peppers, is a welcome palate shock wave and pairs perfectly with simple rice and something sweet for dessert. The crispy spicy chicken is all things savory, salty, fried chicken should be with a bonus spicy pepper aroma. If you aren’t up for trying something new and are craving American Chinese dishes, you can’t go wrong with the sesame chicken—plump pieces of flavorful chicken in the classic sesame-flavored sauce. You will, however, be rewarded for trusting their expertise and trying any of their many Sichuan dishes.

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6. Wei Chow

New in town is Wei Chow, where you can find a modern nod to the fun and vibrant food of Taiwan. Chinese history is vast and complicated and the island of Taiwan has a special place in that history, as does its food. This small shop is a great place to try out the multifaceted and traditional food offered on the island. 

Taiwanese fried chicken, bao buns, and beef noodle soup are all classics you’ll find anywhere in Taiwan and at Wei Chow. Crispy, perfectly seasoned chicken dipped in sweet, sticky sauce is everything you love about American fried chicken with the addition of that distinct Chinese umami flavor and mouthfeel. The pork belly is also very well done: rich fatty pork belly, stout and sticky rice, and sweet and sour pickles all combine for a comforting, flavorful, and simple meal. The menu at Wei Chow is made even better by their fun drink options. Taiwan is known for its eclectic street drinks, so getting one here completes the experience. The Hokkaido milk tea or the taro crème brulee are both delightful.

5. Kung Fu Noodle

If noodles are your go-to comfort food, then Kung Fu Noodle is your next bestie. Recently moved to Huebner Road, Kung Fu Noodle has been a staple in San Antonio for many years. Their hand-pulled thick noodles are perfect for slurping, and the thin noodles have the best chew. Start with the lamb noodle soup and a side of their hand-made pork and chive dumplings. Their pork belly is also a favorite, along with the braised eggplant noodles with ground pork and the five spiced egg. The menu is simple and you just can’t go wrong. We’d eat here on a hot summer day without question, and that’s saying a lot in South Texas.

4. Best Quality Daughter

One of the newer restaurants found at the Pearl in San Antonio, Best Quality Daughter highlights traditional Chinese flavors and dishes with modern fusions. This cute house-turned-restaurant is situated on the southeast side of Avenue A and has the ambiance to make anyone feel at home. Take advantage of the traditional family style of eating and order a variety of items to try. The smashed cucumbers, super garlicky noodles, and cashew chicken are a great combination. Not-to-be-missed items include wok charred green beans, salt-n-pepper shrimp, and pork belly ssam. This is definitely a place you want to take friends who aren’t shy about sharing their food and love bold flavors.

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3. Dashi

Dashi is an upscale establishment whose ambiance matches its food. If you’re looking for a delicious experience with the environment for a special occasion, this is the place. Their menu leans into the flavors of Sichuan and South China, with noticeable Asian fusion elements.

Start with the jumbo Dashi wings, peanuts & pickles, and smashed cucumbers. Classics for everyone include the famous green beans, garlicky eggplant, mix-mix noodles, and sesame pork ribs. If it’s not your first experience with this cuisine, bring friends and branch out with the cumin lollipops, signature crispy fish, smoky cauliflower, or Mama Chen’s tofu. If you’ve never had Chinese hot pot, the little Mala fire pot is the perfect way to experience the joy and symbolism of this traditional way of eating.

2. Lucky Noodle

Because you can never have too many noodle shops, no guide to the best Chinese restaurant in San Antonio would be complete without mentioning Lucky Noodle. A staple for north central San Antonio, Lucky Noodle is a small, quaint shop serving up all the noodle combinations you could ever want. Wide flat noodles offer great mouth feel and bite, while the thinner pulled noodles deliver perfect chew and ultimate slurp-ability. Choose your base, noodle size, and spice level to ensure you get the perfect bowl. We recommend starting with the traditional thin noodles with beef stock as the wide noodles take a bit of chopstick proficiency but are worth it. Their handmade dumplings are also very traditional in flavor and composition and their cold, sweet and sour pickles are a perfect compliment to the hot savory soup. Lucky Noodle is definitely one of the best Chinese restaurants in San Antonio and one of the only places you can sit and watch the mesmerizing process of noodles being pulled by hand.

1. Sichuan House

Sichuan House is unassumingly tucked into a strip mall in a not-so-notable part of town but delivers a meal befitting the bold flavors of the central Sichuan region of China. While they have a few Chinese American staples on the menu for the pickiest members of your group, the rest of the menu at Sichuan House is the best mashup of Sichuan favorites that are the closest flavors to China we have found in San An. Smashed cucumbers and cold garlic noodles are the best way to start off this flavor adventure. Add on Sichuan green beans and crispy spicy savory tofu (or other protein) to create a great meal for two. Do everything you can to bring more friends because you’ll want to add the Dong Po Underbelly Pork and the not-so-spicy garlic eggplant. Even if you don’t like eggplant, this dish will change your mind. If you want to know what it tastes like to have a meal in central China, this is hands down the best Chinese restaurant in San Antonio to get pretty close to it.