Forget everything you have ever seen on sitcoms about dine-and-dash noodles and lazy takeaways. The best Chinese restaurants in Dubai have been quietly giving the classic Oriental cuisine a fine-dining makeover befitting royalty. Lions, dragons, and time-honored motifs roar to life at these culinary havens, ready to transport you through time and space to China. And then there is the food itself: an immersive peek at the nuanced regional diversities that comprise the cuisine’s rich legacy. Word to the wise? Check your diet at the door.
What is the largest Chinese restaurant? Size is not just a number—not when West Lake Restaurant in Changsha, China spans the length of fourteen football pitches. Set within its cavernous confines is an imperial dining room, private lounges, performance hall, and a snack street. The space is said to cater to as many as five thousand diners at a time serviced by over three hundred chefs.
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What is the best Chinese dish to order? You might like your spring rolls and wonton soup, but if you are looking to taste the authentic flavors of Chinese cuisine, a roasted Peking duck is where you’ll want to put your money. Served within the finest 5-star Chinese restaurants in Dubai, this delicacy pays an homage to time-tested traditions of cooking, nuanced with contemporary influences. Hungry already? Here are the top spots to make your next reservation:
Best Chinese Restaurants in DIFC
Shanghai Me
The bustle of DIFC’s concrete oasis fades away as you follow the amber glow of lanterns and step inside the latticed doors of Shanghai Me. An atmosphere of vibrant intimacy holds court as you pause and peruse for the perfect spot. Perhaps you have al fresco dining in mind and you take a seat under the lush canopy of palms and verdant tropicals. Menus are soon furnished, and you soon find yourself spoilt for choice with the culinary jewels of Eastern Asia.
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Quick Faves:
If you only have time to cram in a quick business lunch, look to their set menu that features standouts like Angus short rib, spicy miso chicken, and the indulgent goodness of a steaming bowl of pho.Book here for reservations or visit:
Shanghai Me – DIFC, Gate Village Building 11 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates, +9714 564 0505 Instagram.comHutong Dubai
Streaks of scarlet strike across Hutong Dubai’s moody interiors—a prescient omen of the fiery flavors in the meal to come. It has been four years since the famous Hong Kong Chinese restaurants landed on Dubai shores, and it has since garnered a devoted following with its Silk Road-inspired delicacies. If you are looking to power through DIFC for a work lunch, your options range from an express set menu to an unlimited dim sum offering.
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Spice it up:
The pan-fried mala tofu bao that serves up the fire and heat of mala spice nestled on pillowy bao buns.Book here for reservations or visit:
Hutong Dubai – Ground Floor DIFC – Gate Building 6 – Al Sukook Street – Trade Centre – DIFC – Dubai – United Arab Emirates, +9714 220 0868 Instagram.comFine-Dining Chinese Restaurants in Dubai
Hakkasan Dubai
There isn’t much to say about the legend of Hakkasan that hasn’t been said before already. Since it first burst on the UK culinary scene in 2001, Hakkasan has expanded from San Francisco to Las Vegas—earning endless superlatives at each destination. Head to its signature latticed confines in Dubai and discover why its highly lauded take on contemporary Cantonese cuisine has earned a much-coveted Michelin star.
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Feast of Flavors:
As one of the best Chinese restaurants in Dubai, Hakkasan is known to invite local flavors into its menu. If you are looking for the OG experience, request the signature menu—featuring classics like jasmine tea-smoked Wagyu beef ribs, Shanghai pak choi, and a supreme dim sum platter.Book here for reservations or visit:
Hakkasan Dubai – Atlantis The Palm, Dubai – Crescent Rd – Dubai – United Arab Emirates, +9714 426 0752MOLÌ by SHI
Minimalists will want to proceed with caution beyond this point—MOLÌ by SHI is not known to do things by half measure. Named after the Chinese interpretation of the jasmine flower, the moli finds expression in the decor in the form of oversized floral chandeliers suspended from an engraved ceiling. The flourishes don’t end there: expect twin guardian lion statues flanking the entrance and metallic beaded curtains sweeping fluidly over an illuminated floor in the dining area.
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Savor Every Bite:
Of the cornfed chicken glazed with head chef Li’s vintage chicken sauce. The hunt for good Chinese food in Dubai ends here.Book here for reservations or visit:
MOLÌ by SHI – Dubai Hills Business Park, Building 4 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates, +9714 276 3338XU Dubai
Scarlet walls, mirrored ceilings, plush banquettes, the tidal wave of hushed conversations emerging from behind privacy screens: XU Dubai is brimming with stories to tell. Perhaps you’ll start a new one of your own as you work your way through a lip-smacking array of Cantonese food from your perch near the open kitchen. Craving some privacy for an amorous dinner with your special someone? Clink glasses as you watch the sun go down from the secluded terrace.
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Tell All Your Friends:
About the Karaoke Brunch that will sizzle up your Saturdays with foot-tapping beats and classic Cantonese appetizers, mains, and Western-influenced desserts. Chocolate and green tea fondant, anyone?Book here for reservations or visit:
XU Dubai – Kempinski Hotel – Sheikh Zayed Rd – Al Barsha – Al Barsha 1 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates, +9714 394 6252 Instagram.comBest Chinese Restaurants in Dubai Marina
Maiden Shanghai
You never quite know what you will find within the doors of Maiden Shanghai. If you were to wander in on a Saturday, you’d be bowled over by the Naughty Noodle brunch—known as much for its gourmet Chinese bites and artisanal cocktails as its revelry. The party continues in the private karaoke den, while the rooftop terrace offers sweeping views of the Dubai Marina skyline unlike any other. If you are looking to escape the crowds, the intimate lounge might just tempt you into nursing an aperitivo at leisure.
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Cuisine Chronicles:
What makes Maiden Shanghai one of the most famous Chinese restaurants in Dubai? Borrowing from Cantonese, Sichuan, and Shanghai cuisines, the menu offers a robust blend of culinary influences. You won’t want to sleep on their signature crab meat fashioned into a seafood cigar.Book here for reservations or visit:
Maiden Shanghai – No 1 Palm – Jumeirah Dubai – Dubai – United Arab Emirates, +9714 455 9989Mott 32 Dubai
Your quest for authentic Chinese restaurants in Dubai ends here: when Mott 32 promises traditional Chinese fare, they mean time-tested recipes passed down from one generation to another. With outposts across the globe from Las Vegas to Hong Kong, the Dubai dining experience stands out with its perch on the seventy-third floor of Address Beach Resort.
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You’ll Come Back for Seconds:
Of the applewood roasted Peking duck—one of the most celebrated hallmarks of Chinese cuisine, now elevated with caviar.Book here for reservations or visit:
Mott 32 Dubai – Al Mamsha St – Dubai Marina – Dubai – United Arab Emirates, +9714 278 4832 Instagram.comBest Chinese Restaurants in Dubai with a View
Demon Duck
After you have craned your neck to take in the awe-inspiring scale of Ain Dubai, you’ll want to find your way inside Banyan Tree to one of the top 10 Chinese restaurants in Dubai: Demon Duck, a haven of Chinese and pan-Asian flavors. When the scorching glare of the Dubai summer mellows, you will want to find your way to the nearest available spot in the cozy garden while the ocean waves lap lazily in the distance.
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Don’t Leave Without Trying:
The Wagyu tenderloin that is drizzled with Singaporean sauce, mushrooms, and garlic chips.Book here for reservations or visit:
Demon Duck – Banyan Tree Dubai – Bluewaters Island – Dubai – United Arab Emirates, +9714 556 6466 Instagram.comTàn Chá
In your quest for traditional Chinese restaurants, you won’t want to sleep on Tàn Chá where classic Chinese flavors come to life against the backdrop of the glittering Dubai Water Canal. Make the most of your meal with a special set menu on Saturdays and endless dim sums on Sundays.
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Ride the Flavor Wave:
With the chef’s signature Peking duck served in an illuminated platter with sweet bean and foie gras sauces.Book here for reservations or visit:
Tàn Chá – JW Marriott Marquis Hotel – Business Bay – Dubai – United Arab Emirates, +9715 668 18881 Instagram.comBest Chinese Restaurants in Dubai for Seafood Lovers
Long Teng Seafood
Your list of Chinese restaurants in Dubai can never be complete without a seafood haven. And Long Teng makes for a worthy contender with the freshest catches of the day straight out of the tank.
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Do it for the ‘Gram:
Choose from a live selection of lobsters, mammoth king crabs, and scallops served in inventive ways.Book here for reservations or visit:
Long Teng Seafood – Ground Floor, U-bora Towers, Building # 3, Al Abraj Street, Business Bay – Dubai – United Arab Emirates, +9714 241 1666 Instagram.comLong Yin
Pops of amethyst punctuate Long Yin’s moody wooden interiors, with terracotta warrior figurines and imperial art setting the stage for the Cantonese feast to follow. The breezy terrace makes a compelling cause for al fresco dining, but you will want to station yourself near the open kitchen for a peek at the signature Peking duck.
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Your Seafood Adventure Awaits:
With the bold flavors of the Szechuan-style sautéed lobster served with tantalizing sides.Book here for reservations or visit:
Long Yin – Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre Airport Road Garhoud Near International Airport – Dubai – United Arab Emirates, +9714 702 2455 Instagram.comYingsu
The incredible views of Ain Dubai and Bluewaters will get you inside the door guarded by twin Chinese dragons, but it is the inventive spin on traditional Chinese classics that will make you stay.
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