Best Chinese Restaurants in Orlando – 2025 Local Guide

YH Seafood Clubhouse is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in Orlando, especially for dim sum. I grew up on Cantonese food, so I lean toward the delicate flavors here over the heavy spice of Sichuan. It is the most upscale dim sum spot in Orlando and also the priciest, and unlike traditional dim sum houses they do not use carts, which sadly feels like a dying breed.

I’ve eaten through much of the menu and recommend the chicken feet, pork and shrimp siu mai, and shrimp rice rolls with sweet soy. Their salted egg yolk buns make a great dessert, while my wife prefers the stuffed eggplant and fried shrimp balls. Dinner is strong too, especially the seafood and Peking duck, although market-price items like king crab can get very expensive.

Not every dish hits, and there are consistency issues. On my last weekday morning visit, the food tasted like leftovers, and their sweet and sour chicken was so tough and soggy it was worse than a random takeout joint next to Publix. Still, when YH is on its game, it delivers the best dim sum experience in Orlando.

Chuan Fu is a relatively new addition to the Chinese restaurant scene in Orlando, but it has already earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand and plenty of hype. Located in Winter Park, an area that long lacked authentic Chinese cuisine, Chuan Fu has quickly become a go-to spot for fans of bold flavors. The owner also ran the well-known Chuan Lu Garden, which is currently being renovated and rebranded.

The menu leans heavily into Sichuan cuisine, known for numbing spice and fiery heat. While you will find a few Americanized staples like General Tso’s chicken, the real highlights are the authentic dishes. I recommend the crispy pork knuckles, served with dry Chinese barbecue spices for dipping, and the dry-fried intestines, a crunchy and fatty dish best suited for adventurous eaters. The twice-cooked pork is another classic that pairs beautifully with rice, and the Chongqing la zi chicken is a mound of fried chili peppers with addictive bites of crispy chicken tucked inside.

Not everything shines. I found their duck dishes underwhelming and have skipped them since, but overall Chuan Fu is one of the most exciting Sichuan spots in Orlando and a strong addition to the city’s growing list of Michelin-recognized restaurants.

Chilispot sits near the Orlando International Outlet and is especially popular with the local Chinese community and Chinese tourists. As the name suggests, this is a Sichuan restaurant, and it’s one of my go-to spots when the craving for ultra-spicy, oily Chinese food hits.

The menu is filled with bold flavors, but my favorite dish here is the griddle pork intestines. I actually prefer it to Chuan Fu’s version, though it does not travel well. Order it for dine-in only or you’ll lose the crunchy, fatty goodness to steam in the takeout box. For a break from the heat, try the deep-fried egg tofu with special sauce. The tofu is soft with a delicate coating in a savory egg yolk sauce that pairs perfectly with rice.

Other highlights include saliva chicken (a poached chicken appetizer in spicy garlic chili sauce that’s much tastier than the name suggests) and the pan-fried rice cakes with brown sugar, which balance crisp and chewy textures with just the right sweetness. Be prepared for oil, spice, and maybe some heartburn later, but the payoff is a true taste of Sichuan in Orlando.

Ma Lu Bian Bian is one of the more unique Chinese restaurants in Orlando. Located in the Chinatown Plaza, it stands out because it is a skewer hotpot restaurant that operates a la carte. This makes it different from the usual Orlando hotpot and Korean barbecue spots, which are almost always all-you-can-eat and often blur together in quality.

Pricing is higher at around $40–$50 per person, but the quality is better. The meats here come in thicker chunks on skewers rather than the thin slices you usually find, and the selection is extensive. I believe they use velveting to tenderize the meat before it goes into the broth, which makes a noticeable difference. Their a la carte options like the house special beef and shrimp paste are also superior to the hotpot standards around town, and the broth tastes richer and more authentic rather than like instant packets from an Asian supermarket.

The only downside is that the business seems to struggle with foot traffic. It may be too pricey for Orlando’s hotpot market, where the all-you-can-eat model dominates. Still, for those who want a more refined hotpot experience, Ma Lu Bian Bian is worth seeking out.

Zen Dumpling in Waterford is one of the busiest Chinese restaurants in Orlando, thanks to its excellent soup dumplings (xiao long bao). These delicate buns are filled with a mix of meat and gelatinized broth that turns into rich, savory soup after steaming. It is one of my all-time favorite foods, and Zen Dumpling makes some of the best versions you will find locally.

This is the second location for Zen Dumpling, with the original in Jacksonville and another now in Tampa. The concept has been a huge success, and weekends often bring long waits during peak dinner hours. While the menu has other dishes like Dan Dan noodles, I recommend skipping them and going straight for the soup dumplings.

When eating xiao long bao, it’s best to nibble a small hole in the wrapper first to let the steam escape, otherwise you will burn your tongue. A splash of black vinegar also helps balance the richness. All of their dumpling varieties are solid, but my favorites are the classic pork and the pork with crabmeat, both of which deliver that signature burst of savory soup inside each bite.