Carla Torres

Fact: L.A. County is home to the most diverse, high-quality array of Chinese cuisine in the country. While many of the area’s best Chinese restaurants are in the San Gabriel Valley—and technically outside city limits—you’ll still find plenty of excellent, more centrally located options in Chinatown, West L.A. and Silver Lake, among other neighborhoods. In recent years, a newer generation of chefs has also expanded the definition of Chinese food, blending old family recipes with seasonal, high-quality ingredients and uniquely L.A. flourishes.  L.A. has plenty of Cantonese, Taiwanese, Shanghainese and Sichuan heavyweights, plus dim sum options and cross-regional specialists that wear multiple hats. For the purposes of this guide, I looked for destination-worthy bangers, and I found them in spades, albeit only in certain styles and categories.  Whatever you’re in the mood for, you’ll probably find something to love in my carefully researched guide to the best Chinese restaurants in L.A.—from a farm-to-table Chinese eatery to the best no-frills, cash-only storefronts. For planning purposes, I’ve indicated with an asterisk (*) all places located within city limits—so you can find a great Chinese meal even when where you live, work and play isn’t all that close to the SGV. Updated February 2026: With Chinese New Year fast approaching, there's no better time to explore L.A.'s vast and unrivaled Chinese dining scene. This year, we've trimmed the fat off our guide, removing a few spot

Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, which means many of L.A.’s most desirable restaurants have been booked solid for weeks—spontaneity rarely pays off in this town. But before you resign yourself to a sad prix fixe of charcuterie, Caesar salad, and filet mignon, take heart: there are still great last-minute tables to be had. You’ll find panoramic city views, a candlelit canyon hideaway, and multi-course feasts that feel like a true special-occasion splurge. Because Valentine’s Day should be an excuse to shake things up, not settle for blasé—nor stay in and rewatch Heated Rivalry. You’ve got the rest of the year for that. RECOMMENDED: The best bars in L.A. to toast to your sweetheart