Chinese food in Minneapolis runs from strip-mall takeout counters to a dim sum room with tablecloths, and the twelve below cover the range. Some are drive-thru fast, some feed a table of ten, and a few are worth crossing town for on their own terms. No sports framing needed here, just the plates that keep people driving back.
№ 01
Sidewalk Kitchen
$$
817 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 · +16123799999
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The Golden Fried Garlic Sole Fillet is the reason regulars keep coming back to this Minneapolis counter, a portion big enough to split between two. The Beef Brisket Noodle Soup carries real weight in the bowl. Fried rice draws mixed reactions, so lead with the sole and the noodle soup and let those carry the visit.
What to orderGolden Fried Garlic Sole Fillet, Beef Brisket Noodle Soup, Fried Rice
№ 02
Xin Won
$
4749 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55419 · +16128224888
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This Minneapolis takeout spot runs on lunch specials priced for return visits. Chow Mei Fun comes out savory without tipping salty, and the Chicken Garlic arrives loaded with vegetables rather than padded with sauce. Shrimp egg foo young and hot and sour soup round out a takeout-only operation that keeps portions generous and prices low.
What to orderChow Mei Fun, Chicken Garlic, Shrimp Egg Foo Young
№ 03
Angkor Restaurant
$
506 Northdale Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55448 · +17637577777
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Pickup only, off Foley Boulevard and 109th in a Minneapolis strip mall, with four or five seats for the wait. Mapo tofu and chicken with black bean sauce get made to order, which means a short wait some nights, and the kitchen holds a firm closing time. Portions run big enough to share, from a small operation that clearly runs itself.
What to ordermapo tofu, chicken with black bean sauce, fried rice
№ 04
Saigon Uptown Restaurant
$
3035 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408 · +16128278918
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A longtime Uptown fixture in Minneapolis that built its name on takeout, though the dining room earns its own loyalty. Mapo tofu and kung pao chicken anchor the menu, and the chow mein holds up on repeat orders. Service runs warm enough that regulars treat it like a standing appointment rather than a one-off stop.
What to ordermapo tofu, kung pao chicken, chow mein
№ 05
Lucky Dragon Restaurant
$
1827 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55454 · +16123751690
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Set in Cedar-Riverside next to Hard Times Cafe, this Minneapolis room pairs Vietnamese staples like pho and banh mi with Chinese-menu standards, and its vegan cream cheese wontons have become the dish people specifically seek out. Longtime vegans have called the kitchen's plant-based execution rare for a menu this broad. The room stays quiet and unhurried.
What to ordervegan cream cheese wontons, pho, banh mi
№ 06
China Star
$
6276 Boone Ave N, Ste B, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 · +17635355447
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A neighborhood takeout counter in Minneapolis where staff have called customers directly to confirm online orders, a small touch that builds loyalty. Kung Pao chicken and curry beef are the standing order for regulars, though results vary visit to visit. Egg rolls can run greasy. Convenience and price keep it in steady weeknight rotation.
What to orderKung Pao chicken, curry beef, egg rolls
№ 07
Chinese Express
$
121 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408 · +16122538888
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A rare drive-thru option among Minneapolis Chinese kitchens, built for speed without sacrificing much. Fried rice surprises with real flavor, and wontons and egg rolls fry up crisp and clean. Sesame chicken and General Tso chicken are the safe order. Consistency has wavered on occasion, but the cheap, fast model still delivers most visits.
What to orderFried Rice, Sesame Chicken, General Tso Chicken
№ 08
Legendary Spice Hot Pot
2501 University Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 · +16128887088
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A hot pot hall in Minneapolis built for feeding a crowd, with a spread of proteins and vegetables wide enough to satisfy a large family table without ordering fatigue. Beef, seafood broth, and a deep vegetable selection make it a strong value for groups. Service gets consistent praise, though the room has drawn complaints about air conditioning and cleanliness.
What to orderbeef hot pot, vegetable selection, seafood broth
№ 09
Tea House Chinese Restaurant
$$
2425 University Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 · +16123318866
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A Szechuan room in Minneapolis that has held loyal regulars since their college years, still delivering the same beef noodle soup and eggplant in chili sauce a decade later. Veggie egg rolls travel well in insulated takeout boxes, and the lo mein stays light rather than greasy. Scallion-forward dishes get particular praise. Built for a table of friends, not a rushed solo lunch.
What to orderbeef noodle soup, eggplant in chili sauce, veggie egg rolls
№ 10
Shuang Cheng
$$
1320 4th St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 · +16123780208
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A seafood-forward Minneapolis room built for large tables, with lobster, crab, and clams ordered family style across groups of ten or more. Regulars who first found it as college graduates still return years later and report the kitchen holding steady. Stir-fried dishes and tofu soup round out the order sheet when the shellfish alone would not stretch far enough.
What to orderlobster, crab, clams
№ 11
Bill's Garden Chinese Gourmet
$$
4209 28th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406 · +16127214565
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House-made sauces set this Minneapolis kitchen apart, especially a chili oil strong enough to warrant a warning before ordering. Sesame chicken gets consistent praise, and pork fried rice serves as a reliable base plate. Parking runs tight given the crowd it draws, and diners from across the metro have called the drive worthwhile for what comes out of this kitchen.
What to ordersesame chicken, pork fried rice, chili oil
№ 12
Jade Dynasty Restaurant & Bar
600 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408 · +16125843360
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A Cantonese dim sum room in Minneapolis dressed a step above the neighborhood norm, with tablecloths and a bar setting it apart from takeout-driven competitors. Char siu bao, siu mai, and har gow anchor a cart-and-order dim sum service, and the roasted pork buns draw particular praise. Handicap-accessible parking is available, though the lot fills fast on weekend mornings.
What to orderchar siu bao, siu mai, har gow
Frequently asked
What is the best Chinese restaurant near me in Minneapolis?
It depends on the neighborhood and what a diner wants. This guide covers Minneapolis rooms from Cedar-Riverside to Uptown to strip-mall counters near 109th and Foley, each ranked by its Insider Score, which is built from the review record and never paid placement. No restaurant on this list paid to appear here.
Which of these restaurants is best for a large group?
Shuang Cheng and Legendary Spice Hot Pot are both built for tables of ten or more, one around shared seafood platters and the other around hot pot's build-your-own format. Bill's Garden and Tea House also handle groups comfortably on a smaller scale.
Is there real Cantonese dim sum in Minneapolis?
Jade Dynasty Restaurant & Bar is the dim sum room on this list, serving char siu bao, siu mai, and har gow in a sit-down setting rather than takeout containers. It is priced and styled a step above the rest of this guide.
Are any of these restaurants good for vegan or vegetarian diners?
Lucky Dragon in Cedar-Riverside has built a following around its vegan cream cheese wontons and broader plant-based menu. Tea House's veggie egg rolls and eggplant in chili sauce are also solid vegetarian options among the group.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Kou Thao
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis
Kou Thao is the St. Paul & Corridors Editor at Top of Minneapolis. Born in St. Paul and raised in Frogtown, he grew up working the family egg-roll stand at Hmongtown Marketplace. He covers the marketplaces, University Avenue, the East Side and West Side, and every corridor counter worth the trip across the river.
