Good Chinese food is hard to come by in Baltimore. In a city most notable for its diverse selections of Middle Eastern, Italian, and even Polish cuisines, good Chinese food is surprisingly scarce in the downtown area. Apart from a few standouts (and an incredible takeout-only joint in the north part of the city) you’ll have to venture slightly outside the city for a satisfying meal.
THE ORIENT 319 York Road, Towson, MD Hours: (Mon-Thu and Sun) 11:00am-10:30pm, (Fri-Sat) 11:00am-11:30pm A hotspot among the lunch crowd in Towson, The Orient pulls a decent dinner crowd in as well, with its creative cuisine pairings. Lamb stir fry, sautéed baby shrimp and walnuts, and spicy squid rolls with peanuts are just several delicious creations. A large variety of tempura and sushi offerings warrants an additional menu. Vegetarians are well-catered to here as well, with selections like rich Kung Pao Tofu and Chinese eggplant in garlic sauce. Don’t come here for a quiet, romantic evening—it’s popular with students from nearby colleges so the atmosphere is fun and lively. Parking can be a bit of a bear as it’s located on a busy road—try the garage located one block north by the movie theater.
Estimate cost per person = $6 - $17
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open; Valentine's Day-Open; Easter-Open; Thanksgiving Day-Closed; Christmas Eve-Open; Christmas Day-Open; New Year's Eve-Open
CAFÉ ZEN 438 E. Belvedere Avenue, Baltimore, MD 410-532-0022 Hours: (Mon and Sun) 11:30am-9:30pm, (Tue-Thu) 11:30am-10:30pm, (Fri-Sat) 11:30am-11:00pm Many people hit Café Zen before a flick at the historic Senator Theatre or a shopping excursion in Belvedere Square across the street. Either way, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more delicate spring roll than here. Café Zen offers the lighter side of Chinese food with a healthy assortment of vegetable-rich dishes. Try the popular Fan & Tsai—a balanced mix of traditional meats and vegetables which are hand-selected for every meal. Or go for the Gow Bah Sizzling Platter—a slightly sweet puffed rice cake packed with meat, seafood or tofu. Warm lighting and a soothing color palate complete the relaxed and inviting dining experience
Estimate cost per person = $7 - $18 (Peking Duck $25)
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open; Valentine's Day-Open; Easter-Open; Thanksgiving Day-Closed; Christmas Eve-Open; Christmas Day-Open; New Year's Eve-Open
PAUL CHEN HONG KONG RESTAURANT 2426 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 410-235-8744 Hours: (Mon-Fri) 11am-11pm, (Sat-Sun) Noon-11pm It may not be the prettiest venue, but with food this good, you’re not worrying about the surroundings. Paul Chen’s is a small, dive-ish joint very popular with the local college crowd for its quick and satisfying meals. All the standards are there like Kung Pao Chicken and low mein combos, but you’ll find a couple of lively named entrees like Seafood in Bird’s Nest (a selection of seafood and vegetables served in a crunchy shell), and Singapore Chow Mein Fun (shrimp, beef, chicken and stir fry veggies on a bed of thin rice noodles). Lunch box specials are a steal starting at $4.75. Consider stopping here for a quick bite after visiting the Baltimore Museum of Art nearby.
Estimate cost per person = $5 - $13
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open; Valentine's Day-Open; Easter-Open; Thanksgiving Day-Closed; Christmas Eve-Open; Christmas Day-Open; New Year's Eve-Open
CHINATOWN CAFÉ 323 Park Avenue, Baltimore, MD 410-727-5599 Hours: Wed (Closed); (Mon-Tue and Thu) 11am-1am, (Fri-Sun) 11am-2am In a city slim on Chinese venues, Chinatown Café is the real deal, consistently ranked the best in the city by the local City Paper. But there are many delights in store for true Chinese food lovers here. On arrival, enormous entryway fish tanks packed with fat Dungeness crab, lobster, and shrimp greet guests, and serve as a preview of the evening’s menu. The seafood dishes like seafood in a bird’s nest are obviously fresh, but the savory dim sum is what brings people in from around the state. Something you won’t see on many Chinese menus is their tasty beef satay hot pot brimming with thick noodles, chunky vegetables and a hint of spice.
Estimate cost per person = $5 - $13
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open; Valentine's Day-Open; Easter-Open; Thanksgiving Day-Closed; Christmas Eve-Open; Christmas Day-Closed; New Year's Eve-Open
DING HOW 631 S. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 410-327-8888 Hours: (Sun-Thu) 11am-10:30pm, (Fri) 11am-11pm, (Sat) 11:30am-11pm Ding How is perfectly situated in the heart of Baltimore’s Fells Point waterfront neighborhood and is worth a try for its creative cuisine. Dishes like Szechuan fish, New Zealand Squid and Pork Shanghai Style, and spicy Chinese eggplant taste as exotic as they sound. The décor is slightly upscale, with recessed lighting, cloth tablecloths, and dark wood furniture that creates a warm atmosphere. There’s even a sleek bar stocked with traditional beverages if you just wanted to stop in for a quick drink. Weekday lunch specials start under $5, come with an egg roll and rice, and are big enough for two.
Estimate cost per person = $5 - $13
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open; Valentine's Day-Open; Easter-Open; Thanksgiving Day-Closed; Christmas Eve-Open; Christmas Day-Closed; New Year's Eve-Open
UNCLE LEE’S SZECHUAN RESTAURANT 44 South Street, Baltimore, MD 410-727-6666 Hours: (Mon-Fri) 11am-11pm, (Sat-Sun) Noon-11pm Want spicy? Uncle Lee’s turns on the hot stuff in most of the traditional Chinese dishes here. Within walking distance to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, it’s located in a former bank and serves up big portions – the lunch box at just under $7 is a great deal. The hot and sour soup is one of the best around, and the sweet orange chicken is pleasantly light. A few vegetarian entrees will surprise your tastebuds. And there’s no need to order the Peking Duck in advance—it’s always available here. Beware of the extremely narrow steps down to the restrooms.
Estimate cost per person = $5 - $12
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open; Valentine's Day-Open; Easter-Open; Thanksgiving Day-Closed; Christmas Eve-Open; Christmas Day-Closed; New Year's Eve-Open
BAMBOO HOUSE 26 Yorktowne Plaza Shopping Center, York and Cranbrook roads, Cockeysville, MD 410-666-9550 Hours: Daily 11:30am-11pm Worth the drive just outside the city, Bamboo House has a cult-like following and proves it with packed tables by 8pm every night. Everything about this place is fantastic – the friendly waitstaff, the quick service (even with the crowds), and the impeccably fresh entrees. Try the Beef Tenderloin with Spring Onions, Broiled Salmon with Black Bean Sauce or the rich Sirloin Steak Kew. A long sushi bar with entertaining sushi chefs, and live music on Friday and Saturday nights make it feel more like a neighborhood bar with a terrific menu.
Estimate cost per person = $9 - $16
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open; Valentine's Day-Open; Easter-Open; Thanksgiving Day-Closed; Christmas Eve-Open; Christmas Day-Closed; New Year's Eve-Open
SZECHUAN HOUSE 1427 York Road, Lutherville, MD 410-825-8181 Hours: (Sun-Thu) 11am-10:30pm, (Fri & Sat) 11am-11pm Don’t judge this restaurant by its rather drab exterior. The Szechuan House is a true gem for quality Chinese food in a rather boring strip-mall area. You’ll find interesting pairings like pu pu platters and homemade rice noodles, and a nice treat is the rainbow sherbet that follows your meal. It also has a good selection of vegetarian options like bean curd and moo shu vegetables. A little out of the way, but definitely worth the drive.
Estimate cost per person = $8 - $16
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open; Valentine's Day-Open; Easter-Open; Thanksgiving Day-Closed; Christmas Eve-Open; Christmas Day-Closed; New Year's Eve-Open
PEI WEI 6302 York Road, Baltimore, MD 410-435-3290 Hours: (Sun-Thu) 11am-9pm, (Fri-Sat) 11am-11pm Asian restaurant chain P.F. Chang’s little brother, Pei Wei (pronounced “pay way”), holds its own when it comes to quality Chinese food. An upscale slice in yet another bland strip mall, it feels more like a Carrabas than fast food. Slick reds and blacks complement the warm, bamboo décor. Go for the enormous noodle bowls like Soba-Miso (chicken or beef with spinach, shiitake mushroom, cabbage, ginger, garlic, scallion, buckwheat noodles), or the delicate Vietnamese Chicken Salad Rolls (shredded chicken, lettuce, mint, carrot, peanuts, lime vinaigrette, rice noodles) that you wrap in rice paper yourself. There’s even a “Kids Wei” with nary a French fry in sight. Come early or you’ll face a standing-only crowd.
Estimate cost per person = $7 - $18
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open; Valentine's Day-Open; Easter-Open; Thanksgiving Day-Closed; Christmas Eve-Open; Christmas Day-Closed; New Year's Eve-Open
CHOW MEIN CHARLIE’S 508 W. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 410-889-8886 Hours: (Mon-Thu) 11am-9:30pm, (Fri) 11am-10:30pm, (Sat) 2pm-10:30pm, (Sun) 3pm-9pm What Chow Mein Charlie’s lacks in atmosphere, it makes up for with a surprisingly great selection of Chinese food—food that won’t follow you into a Chinese New Year. You won’t find limp veggies drowning in a mystery sauce here. Traditional dishes are transformed into savory selections—small portions are big enough for two! Fat spring rolls, tender steamed dumplings, tangy cold sesame noodles, and crab Rangoon bites thick as a baked potato are mere highlights to the super-sized entrees. The spicy Kung Pao Chicken and shrimp are particular favorites among the local neighborhood and college crowd. Charlie’s is takeout only, but forgive the rather dingy storefront and hit-or-miss parking, and you’ll be well rewarded.
Estimate cost per person = $4 - $14
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open; Valentine's Day-Open; Easter-Open; Thanksgiving Day-Closed; Christmas Eve-Open; Christmas Day-Closed; New Year's Eve-Open
The Top List of Best Chinese Restaurants - Baltimore, MD