20 Best Chinese Restaurants According To Experts
From hole-in-the-wall haunts to lavish feasts, local chefs and food tycoons share their tried-and-tested Chinese dining spots!
Chinese New Year is coming this weekend (January 22nd) and it’s one of the best times of the year to appreciate Chinese culture, especially the glorious food.
But as we all know, during celebrations, food isn’t just food to the Chinese people. Every dish, every treat, has a deeply ingrained meaning, usually for good fortune and good health for the coming year.
If you’re looking for the best places to welcome the Year of the Water Rabbit in the metro, check out these recommendations from some of the country’s best chefs and restaurateurs — all tried, tested, and beloved — just in time for Chinese New Year.
Best Chinese Restaurants 2023
Best Chinese Restaurants 2023
Mann Hann
“Simpol” chef, restaurateur, and award-winning author Myke “Chef Tatung” Sarthou’s go-to Chinese restaurant is Man Hann. He loves their Salted Fish Fried Rice, Mapo Tofu, and Sweet and Sour Pork. IG: @mannhann.mnl.
Photo Credit: Mann Hann
Summer Palace
Celebrity chef and restaurateur Sau Del Rosario of Sawsaw and Café Fleur, chef Portia Baluyut Magsino of Marikina’s famous brunch joint Rustic Mornings, and The Vikings Restaurant Group corporate executive chef Michael Santos all chose Summer Palace at EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. Chef Sau loves the restaurant’s consistent and excellent service, sharing that Nancy Farm (Summer Palace’s director of Chinese operations) is “the key to its warm and hospitable environment”. He loves the Prawn with Warm Fruit Salad. Chef Michael loves Summer Palace because of the “overall flavor profiles, balance and the consistency of the cook of the food especially the seafood dishes”. He and his family love the Steamed Grouper, Peking Duck Two-Ways (with the Minced Duck in Lettuce Cup as his favorite), Salted Egg Crabs, and the Efu Noodles. Meanwhile, Chef Portia cited the restaurant’s good service and excellent food quality as the main reasons for loving this place. She also loves the Peking Duck, as well as the Hot Prawn Salad and Crispy Beef. IG: @edsashangrila.
Photo Credit: Edsa Shangri-La
Ha Yuan
“KAYA Sa Kusina” host and Wadough’s owner Chef Wado Tan Siman loves Ha Yuan along Mother Ignacia in Quezon City. “Growing up, my Chinese mom would usually bring us here for fresh lumpia. It’s her only way to get us eat vegetables. Over the years, the quality remains the same, and still the best fresh lumpia for me,” Chef Wado shared. “Fresh Lumpia should be on top of your list. Eat and enjoy it like eating a shawarma since they wrap it firmly, mess-free, too.” Aside from the Fresh Lumpia, he loves the Maki Mi (“go crazy on spring onions and black vinegar on top”, he suggests) and Machang. FB: @hayuan.
Photo Credit: Ha Yuan
James and Daughters
Chef Jonas Ng chose his own restaurant, James & Daughters, as his favorite place to enjoy Chinese food — and honestly, no one’s going to blame him. His take on Chinese comfort food is always a good idea. He shared that his “no borders comfort food” as the restaurant has his mom’s favorite Chinese New Year specialties, so the choice was pretty easy. He highly recommends the crab offers at James and Daughters, especially the Sotanghon Crabs. IG: @jamesanddaughters.
Photo Credit: James and Daughters
East Ocean Palace
Three chefs chose East Ocean Palace as their favorite Chinese restaurant: Ikomai Tochi executive chef James Antolin, Manila Inasal co-founder and The Sunny Side Group executive chef Natalia Moran, and Metro Channel host and Sarsa restaurateur JP Anglo. Chef James shared that he loves the Suckling Pig and Roast Goose, the latter taking him back to Hong Kong, especially during the lockdown; Chef Natalia’s favorites are the Pork Ribs in Olive Sauce, Peking Duck, Abalone Rice, and Truffle Noodles; while Chef JP loves the feel of the place as much as the food. “It’s massive, you want to be with your family and it’s always in a round table. I love their function rooms with round tables. It feels more intimate yet festive. It has its own bathroom and waiter. It feels like you’re in a Chinese home with a big lazy susan,” Chef JP recalled. He loves East Ocean Palace’s Salted Fried Rice, Sweet & Sour Pork, Lobster Noodles, and Birthday Misua. IG: @eastocean_ph.
Photo Credit: East Ocean Palace
Peking Garden
Raintree Hospitality Group’s corporate executive chef Kalel Chan as well as celebrity chef, Fleur de Lys owner, and culinary instructor Jackie Ang Po both chose Peking Garden as their top Chinese restaurant. “The quality of the dishes are outstanding,” shares Chef Kalel and Chef Jackie says “it’s great for big families [because] they have a function room for privacy.” She also adds that as a chef, they like to eat food that they cannot make at home. As the name suggests, they both named the Peking Duck (three ways) as their favorite dish. FB: @pekinggarden.com.ph.
Photo Credit: Peking Garden
Eight Treasures
Chef Sonny Mariano of Don Adam Mudroom, Scout’s Honor, Workshop Bespoke Bakery, and Poison Doughnuts says Eight Treasures is his go-to for comfort food, especially when he’s at the Power Plant Mall in Rockwell or at Santolan Plaza in San Juan. “I usually order the Three Combination Plate with duck, roast pork, and char siu plus some dimsum on the side. Sulit and not too expensive,” he points out. Chef Jackie also mentioned 8 Treasures is one of her favorites for food delivery. FB: @EightTreasuresPh.
Photo Credit: Eight Treasures
Canton Road
Canton Road at Shangri-La at the Fort is the top choice for chef Nicco Santos of Cafe Aurora and soon-to-open Celera because of “excellent service and food”. He loves the Homemade Tofu, Taro Fried Rice, Sichuan Grouper, Cold Wasabi Chicken, and Iberico Char Siu. FB: @CantonRoadatShangriLaFort.
Photo Credit: Shangri-La at The Fort
Mandarin Sky Seafood Restaurant
Like many chefs, Gabriel Ong is everything everywhere all at once. He oversees The Matcha Tokyo at Mitsukoshi BGC, Champion Hotpot, Bad Bird at The Grid Food Market, and Samyan Thai Street Food, and Morse Coffee at the new Public Eatery at Robinsons Magnolia. His favorite Chinese restaurants include Mandarin Sky Seafood Restaurant for its Eel Rice. FB: @MandarinSky.
Photo Credit: Mandarin Sky Seafood Restaurant
Quik Snack
Serial restaurateur Charles Paw of Tasteless Food Group, despite having visited so many countries and having dined at some of the most coveted restaurants in the world, still loves Quik-Snack in Binondo for its Sate Chami and iconic Empanada. FB: @QuikSnackPH
Photo Credit: Quik Snack
Suzhou Dimsum
Chef Gabriel Ong also loves Lugang Café for their Roast Pork Belly and Salted Egg Bittermelon; and Suzhou Dimsum in the San Juan-Mandaluyong area for its Steamed Beef and Chicken Feet. FB: @suzhoudimsumph.
Photo Credit: Suzhou Dimsum
Choi Garden
When it comes to big celebrations, like CNY, Chef Gabriel loves Choi Garden for its Sticky Rice-Stuffed Suckling Pig and Lobster with Superior Sauce and Noodles. “I like Choi Garden for the consistency of the dishes they put out, and the character is clearly Cantonese; Lugang Café because of the clean flavors and execution of the dishes; and Suzhou and Mandarin Sky have a very local Chinese feel in food, service and atmosphere,” he explains. Host and author Chef Sharwin Tee as well as Bryan Tiu of Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory also named Choi Garden as a family favorite. “They make great traditional Chinese food, but they do make some modern non traditional fare really well too. Plus it’s close to where we live! We usually let our dad do the ordering since he knows the manager there, but one of our constants is the Braised Noodles with Slipper Lobster. So savory and rich! Another would be their Homemade Tofu with Sea Cucumber. Really great textures,” Chef Sharwin pointed out. For Bryan Tiu, he loves the Shark’s Fin with Crab Roe, Suahe, and the Wagyu Beef Peppercorn. FB: @choigardenmegamall.
Photo Credit: Choi Garden
Luk Foo Cantonese Kitchen
White Flower Tea House and Ok Bob chef Decker Gokioco also chose Mandarin Sky as his go-to restaurant. He loves their Salt and Pepper Suahe, XO Oysters, Beef with Ampalaya, Fried Intestines, Yangchow Fried Rice, and of course their Mango Sago. He also shared that he has fond memories of another restaurant, Luk Foo Cantonese Kitchen. “I have a lot of memories eating here with my father, especially in Luk Foo, but both serve top quality dishes and a bonus both are near our home. Comfort in every bite!” At Luk Foo, Chef Decker recommends the Cold Cuts Combination Platters, Salt and Pepper Squid, Taro Puff, Birthday Noodles, and yes, Mango Sago. FB: @LukFooCantoneseKitchen.
Photo Credit: Luk Foo Cantonese Kitchen
Chuan Kee
Masa Madre Bakehouse co-founder and award-winning pastry chef Kris Tan only orders one thing from his favorite Binondo spot: Beef Tendon Mami at Chuan Kee. He shared that he loves “the richness and bold flavor of the soup” and always adds chili to it for an added kick. FB: @chuankeefastfood.
Photo Credit: Chuan Kee
Emerald Garden
Chef Patrick Go of Your Local and GochuGang has always loved Emerald Garden. He shares, “I’ve been going there since I was a kid. I can still remember how good their food was until now. We always go there for our birthdays, Chinese New Year, Sunday family dinners, and other family celebrations.” He loves the Steamed Crab, Fried Pigeon, and Taro Cake. IG: @emeraldgardenofficial.
Photo Credit: Emerald Garden
XIU Fine Cantonese Dining
Noel Mauricio, who's now in charge of overseeing the pop-up of Bored & Hungry at The Grid Food Market (extended until January 26th!), as well as award-winning food writer and Metro host Angelo Comsti chose XIU Fine Cantonese Dining as their favorite. Chef Noel says, “My favorite would be their Honey-glazed Prime Cut Char Siu! The char siu is roasted really well. The whole thing melts in your mouth. You get the satisfying rich and sticky feel of the collagen. The glaze is nice and tacky too while being balanced in sweetness adding to the richness.” He also recommended the Steamed Crab and Glutinous Rice and Mixed Mushroom Truffle. Aside from great food, Chef Angelo raised practical reasons to love Xiu. “It has ample parking space, spacious, and doesn’t get loud even when full of people, and the food. You can count me to be there whenever they have dimsum all-you-can.” “The Crawl” co-host shared that he also loves the Char Siu, Efu Noodles, Sweet and Sour Pork, Xiu’s dimsum selections, and the “assortment of live seafood including the elephant clams and steamed crab with lots of garlic”. FB: @xiuph.
Photo Credit: XIU Fine Cantonese Dining
China Blue by Jeremy Leung
Foodee Global Concepts COO Eric Dee says he’s a fan of China Blue by Jereme Leung at Conrad Manila because of “the way they elevate Chinese cuisine [while] maintaining authenticity”. He loves their assortment of premium dimsum and their Laksa (almost like a secret menu special). IG: @conradmanila.
Photo Credit: China Blue
Chinese Beef Noodle House
Chef Kriza Palmero of Pilya’s Kitchen says she doesn’t celebrate Chinese New Year but she does have a go-to Chinese restaurant: Chinese Beef Noodle House. “It’s funny how I make noodles for a living yet I still go out and eat noodles whenever I can,” she said. “Beef noodle house is open ’til 4am, I usually take the whole team there after a long shift at Pilya’s Kitchen. Drink a couple of beers, eat, and then go home.” Her favorites are the Cumin Beef Skewers (“perfect with a cold cold beer!”), Chongqing Chicken, and of course the Braised Beef Noodle Soup. FB: @xibeiramen.
Photo Credit: Chinese Beef Noodle House
Causeway
Celebrity chef consultant and Food Hero Asia 2016 grand winner Anton Amoncio says this was a tough choice (“we have so many favorites!”) but it’s Causeway Seafood Restaurant in Banawe for him and his family. “It's my Angkong's go-to restaurant and I grew up eating and loving their dimsum,” he recalled. He loves the Bean Curd Roll and Beef Tenderloin in Black Pepper Sauce. FB: @causewayresto.
Photo Credit: Causeway
Sze-chuan House
Tipple and Slaw chef Francis Lim’s favorite is Sze-chuan House because it was one of the first Chinese restaurants he ate at as a kid. He loves their soups as well as the Szechuan Fried Chicken and Patatim with Sea Cucumber. IG: @szechuanhouse1977.
Photo Credit: Sze-chuan House
Lead photos: East Ocean Palace, Eight Treasures
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