Newcomers to Atlanta often complain about the difficulty in locating quality Chinese food, be it take out or dine in. Seasoned eaters also tend to be secretive about their haunts, as most of the great places are usually nearing overcrowded. While there is no shortage of Chinese food in this city, there is a shortage of authentic restaurants. Here are a few that meet expectations of even those accustomed to the best.
CANTON COOKS 5984 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30328 Phone 404-252-0322 Mon-Tue, Thu-Fri 11am-2:30pm, 4pm-2am Sat-Sun 12pm-2am $12-20
If you have to wait for a table at Canton Cooks, be sure to shop the dishes of those already eating. Many of their best offerings aren’t actually on the menu, so if you spot something that interests you, ask your server. Favorites include the many pan-fried noodles, salt-and-pepper pork chops or squid, and the Chinese style wonton soup. Open all the time, Canton Cooks is perfect for lunch or eating off too much going out. Don’t be discouraged by their strip mall location; this is the city’s most authentic Chinese offering.
CHINA COOKS 215 Northwood Dr NE # 9 Atlanta, GA 30342 (404) 252-6611 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m.Mondays-Fridays; noon-2 a.m. Saturdays-Sundays $10-15
Across I-285 from Canton Cooks, China Cooks is the flip side of a longstanding contest for best Chinese food in Atlanta. With nebulous intertwining origins, both restaurants have terrific Cantonese specialties. China Cooks is tucked behind a gas station and can require the worst left turn across Roswell Road, but is worth the risk. It’s open late and caters to a variety of customers. China Cooks offers an especially delicate eggplant with garlic and minced pork and notable chow fun. Wait staff is friendly and helpful, but can be skeptical of new faces, so order with confidence or be armed with educated questions.
Anyone who lives with in delivery distance from Aloha should feel blessed. Not only is Aloha’s menu expansive, it is consistently quality food, for dine in, take out or delivery. The Singapore noodles are subtle but spicy and full of vegetables. Seafood dishes stay surprisingly hot, even when delivered. Aloha sneaks in a few Malaysian specialties, like their curry pancakes – an unusual alternative to egg rolls or wontons. If you want your food to come to you, be sure to allow for a potentially long delivery time, as they are quite busy at night.
Chin Chin is Atlanta’s only Chinese chain restaurant. It has made a reputation for quality food that is consistent across all locations. Lunch specials are a terrific deal, served with an egg roll, chicken wing, and soup. The pan fried noodles are crunchy and unique, with more personality than you’d expect. Chin Chin also offers more or less the “usual” menu of chef’s specialties, like Phoenix and Dragon, Happy Family, and General Tso’s chicken. This is a safe bet for people who are Chinese cuisine enthusiasts or novice eaters.
Estimated Cost Per Person $8-15
CHINA DELIGHT 2390 Chamblee Tucker Rd Chamblee, GA 30341 (770) 986-0898 Lunch and dinner daily
Located in a former Japanese grocery store, China Delight’s remodeling has definitely changed its appearance. There is a hilarious but workable mix of neoclassical and traditional Chinese adornments in the space that are oddly complemented by two large flat-screen TVs. China Delight’s specialty is their daily dim sum. Their shu mei are the best in town. On the weekend, the menu is greatly expanded to include silken tofu with ginger syrup, duck, mussels, noodles, and many vegetable dishes. However, you can find a satisfactory selection of dumplings, noodles, and other small plates any day of the week. China Delight also offers full lunch and dinner menus daily.
Estimated Cost Per Person $10-20
FORTUNE COOKIE 2480 Briarcliff Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30329 (404) 636-8899
Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat 4:30pm-11pm, Sun 12pm-10pm
In Loehman’s Plaza, in addition to the myriad surrounding chain restaurants, Fortune Cookie is a neighborhood favorite. They draw a crowd from Emory and Toco Hills to the Virginia Highlands. Their delivery is quite quick if you prefer that option. If you’d rather dine in, the restaurant is cozy and warm with very attentive service and beautiful aquariums. From their extensive menu, some of the best dishes at Fortune Cookie include: House Chicken or Beef, Chin Pe Chicken, and the Phoenix and Dragon. It’s a great place to refuel or to pick up dinner after spending some time shopping in the Plaza’s shops.
Estimated Cost Per Person $10-15
HONG KONG HARBOR 2184 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30324 (404) 325-7630
Hours: Mon-Thu 10:30am-1am, Fri 10:30am-3am, Sat 10:30am-3am, Sun 10:30am-1am
Hong Kong Harbor has a lot going for them. They are an “Intown” restaurant. They have terrific dim sum daily and a wide variety of authentic dishes. Their Singapore noodles are bar none the best in Atlanta and their spareribs are spicy, sweet, and salty. You’ll also catch an interesting crowd, as you will anywhere on Cheshire Bridge Road, so the people watching factor is limitless. Weekday dim sum can be tricky, with many dishes staying barely warmed on the carts. Save your dumpling experience for the weekend and order off the menu for a weekday lunch.
Estimated Cost Per Person $12-22
ORIENTAL PEARL 5399 New Peachtree Rd Chamblee, GA 30341 (770) 986-9866
Hours : Lunch: 11a-3p M-Su Dinner: 5p-10p M-Su
Oriental Pearl is fighting to regain their dim sum crown in Atlanta. After closing to remodel, the business dropped off considerably, so the chefs are working to regain the crowds. Their har gow are still the best around and their sticky rice (both bowl and banana leaf) has the best flavor. However, their expansion has also allowed them to ramp up their lunch and dinner menus and provides a much cleaner seeming and “fancier” dining experience. Convenient to intown and northside crowds, Oriental Pearl is a great bet for any of your Chinese cravings.
Estimated Cost Per Person $12-18
LITTLE SZECHUAN 5091-C Buford Highway, Doraville, GA 30340 Phone 770-451-0192
Pickled bean sprouts. Any restaurant that makes these seem like a treat has to be doing something very right. Little Szechuan does an amazing work with them. And anything else they attempt. As the name implies, their specialties are Szechuan and therefore spicy for the most part. Fast lunch service makes it a favorite for the Brookhaven and Chamblee crowds, so arrive early for seating. Everything on the menu is a hit, so don’t be afraid to experiment. As with most of Buford Highway’s best ethnic eateries, Little Szechuan is an inconspicuous store front in a strip mall, so don’t be fooled by its simple appearance.
Estimated Cost Per Person $10-15
HAPPY VALLEY 4166 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30345 Phone 404-633-9383
Lunch and dinner daily
Happy Valley is an expansive restaurant located in the very odd and diverse Plaza Fiesta. They specialize in seafood and dim sum, but offer typical fare and delivery. Happy Valley excels at the upscale, with terrific specialty dishes. The dim sum is hit or miss, so stick to the standard dumplings and noodle dishes. That said, Saturdays and Sundays are almost always packed with diners. Service is fast and friendly and parking is rarely a problem. You may, however, get lost wandering from your table back to the door through the multiple and labyrinth-like dining rooms.
The Top List of Best Chinese Restaurants - Atlanta, GA