The best Chinese restaurants in the world: Where to find the best Chinese food outside China

Chinese cuisine is one of the most varied and influential in the world, consisting of the many regional cuisines within the world’s most populous country. What most westerners associate with Chinese food often differs greatly from what is found in China. Rice, wheat products, and noodles are popular staples often paired with meat, vegetables, and tofu, but depending on the region, there can be ingredients that are as foreign to the rest of the world as the Chinese culture itself – shark fins, snake meat, and other animal parts to name a few. And while dairy products may be popular across the globe, historically they were rarely found in Chinese cooking. The main thing to know about food in China is that most things are regional and can be influenced by religious and ethnic aspects. Nowadays, there are eight cuisines of China recognized worldwide – Anhui, Guangdong, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Sichuan, and Zhejiang.

Throughout history, there have been waves of emigration from China, bringing centuries-long cooking traditions to new places. Cities like Vancouver in Canada, New York City in the USA, and Melbourne in Australia are boasting some of the largest Chinese communities outside China, and this, of course, means that some of the best Chinese restaurants are also located there, gaining recognition from locals and foreigners alike. Europe is no exception, and if you know where to look, you’ll find remarkable fine dining and street food-style Chinese restaurants across the continent – even in places you wouldn’t normally expect, like Milan and Prague. It’s worth noting that wherever you go, Chinese food outside Chine will almost always be “inspired by…” and “influenced by…” meaning that even the most authentic dishes will often be tailored to fit their new home country and the respective audience. In most cases, traditional flavours and ingredients are paired with more modern cooking techniques resulting in innovative combinations that end up winning the appreciation of the renowned Michelin guide.

Michael Wan’s Mandarin name echoes worldwide, and diners arrive here from far and wide to feast on Cantonese dishes often called “the best in Europe”. For over six decades, this authentic Cantonese restaurant has pleased guests in its Blackpool location with delicately crafted dishes that are consistently excellent. Serving traditional dishes, you’ll find everything from potstickers and barbecued spare ribs to Szechuan chilli beef and Nasi Goreng on the menu. Pick your favourites, let the staff recommend the best options, or go with one of the banquet options with pre-set starters and the main course. What keeps diners coming back is the care and attention put into every aspect. The sustainably rope-grown scallops are sourced locally from the waters near the Isle of Man, the spare ribs are marinated overnight to achieve the best flavour and texture, and the famous aromatic crispy duck is prepared using locally-grown Lincolnshire high-welfare ducks. In fact, this restaurant remains one of the very few places in the UK that still prepares this dish in-house using the traditional 3-day method consisting of marination, roasting, and leaving to rest and air dry.

Located in the luxurious 5-star Shangri-La Paris hotel, Shang Palace restaurant originated this internationally-renowned chain in 2011. Just a year later the restaurant became the first Chinese restaurant in France to receive the prestigious Michelin recognition and was awarded one Michelin star – understandably so because chef Samuel Lee has gathered a skilful team from Hong Kong to guarantee the best execution of dishes where traditional flavours merge with local influences thus creating a one-of-a-kind experience in this celebrated restaurant with an interior that fully mirrors the restaurant’s palatial name. The way each dish is presented, you can truly appreciate the delicate and masterful cooking techniques resulting in an exquisite culinary journey. The à la carte menu is jam-packed with options, each as alluring as the next, but you can also opt for a set Emerald dinner menu or the Discover menu. A must-try here is the famous dim sum, as well as the Peking duck, served in three styles.

New York City has always been a melting pot of cultures, and the city’s abundant restaurant scene is a brilliant display of that. In fact, New York boasts the largest Chinese population outside of Asia, meaning you don’t have to go far to find fantastic Chinese restaurants offering authentic flavours and traditional dishes. Nom Wah Tea Parlor is one that’s particularly worth noting. This famous dim sum parlour dates back to the 1920s, making it the oldest dim sum restaurant in the city. For decades it has been a neighbourhood staple known for its dim sum and steamed buns, and the name of the restaurant echoes beyond the city’s borders, attracting eager diners from all over the world. The menu is as generous as the portions, and you may have to come back more than once to try everything that catches your eye.

One of the best places to satisfy meat cravings in Vancouver is the Chinatown BBQ serving fantastic barbecued meat dishes and other Chinese cuisine specialities. Each meat dish arrives perfectly tender, succulent, and bursting with flavour – unpretentious food showcasing the best of Cantonese dining. The restaurant resembles a classic diner with its checked floors and red chairs, perfectly fitting the always buzzing atmosphere in the restaurant. While spacious, you may sometimes need to wait for a table as this restaurant is highly in-demand. A must-try dish is their award-winning beef brisket curry.

Michelin star-awarded Chinese fine dining in the heart of London belongs to Hakkasan Mayfair. This highly seductive restaurant will quickly impress you not only with the beguiling interiors, but also with the elevated menu marrying Cantonese flavours, textures, and cooking methods to create impressive dishes with a delicate taste. The restaurant’s approach is to blend original Cantonese recipes with modern influences. As expected, the food is exquisite, with the perfect condiments to suit. Highlights include the silver cod with champagne and honey and black truffle-roasted duck.

El Buda Feliz 1974 is a trendy Chinese street food restaurant in the Malasaña neighbourhood in Madrid. While it first opened its doors nearly 50 years ago, the restaurant underwent a full refurbishment five years ago. Now it’s a highly stylish place still serving authentic Chinese street food that offers a new taste experience to European diners. With two floors to welcome guests, the restaurant is known for its relaxed and warm atmosphere. If by the time you arrive, all the tables are already gone, you’ll be able to enjoy a lovely drink at the funky lower-floor bar while you wait for a table.

FuLu Mandarijn in the heart of Amsterdam dates back over forty years serving authentic Sichuan cuisine to European diners in a beautifully designed space. A famous lunch spot that’s also buzzing during the dinner service, the restaurant is known for combining a variety of flavours to create the most exquisite result. From delicate to spicy, the range of dishes will suit anyone’s taste. Try the famous Sichuan hot and sour soup with chicken, egg, and Shiitake mushrooms, the boiled pork belly slices with garlic sauce, and the signature stewed trotters with spicy sauce.

Xi’an Famous Foods in New York easily lives up to the name – saying that this chain of casual Chinese restaurants is famous would be an understatement. This mega-successful family-run business was established in 2005 and since then has expanded to have several locations across the city. On top of that, it has been prominently featured in various media outlets. This fame and glory wouldn’t come easy in the Big Apple unless the food truly lived up to expectations – New Yorkers are famously picky about food (and who can blame them in a city with so many excellent options around every corner). All this fame results in long wait times but if any place is worth the wait, it’s this one – make sure to try the lamb burgers and hand-pulled noodles!