St. Paul's Chinese American tier runs deep, from Rice Street steam-table institutions to skyway counters, and dumplings share the menu with the chow mein and fried rice that built these rooms' reputations. This list covers the kitchens across the city worth ordering from for a full plate, dumplings included, not just a curiosity counter.
№ 01
Peking Garden
St. Paul $$
394 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55103 · +16516440888
Photo via 
Sesame chicken and mapo tofu anchor a menu long enough to plan for in advance. Peking Garden has run as a family destination for decades, with a room built for group tables and celebrations. Service moves fast even on reservation nights, and the portions scale for a table split three or four ways without anyone leaving hungry.
What to ordersesame chicken, mapo tofu, kung pao chicken
№ 02
China Chef Restaurant
St. Paul $
2240 Highway 36 E, Saint Paul, MN 55109 · +16517779790
Photo via
Pho and hot and sour soup share the counter at this Chinese kitchen that quietly doubles as a Vietnamese spot. The hot and sour soup runs balanced rather than sharp, and regulars return specifically for the pho even though the sign does not advertise it. Small and owner-run, with a neighborhood following built one order at a time.
What to orderpho, hot and sour soup, chow mein
№ 03
Master Noodle (Saint Paul)
St. Paul $$
1337 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55104 · +16513696688
Photo via
Garlic chicken fried noodles with wide ribbon noodles draw families in for weeknight dinner, and the Sichuan wonton in chili oil is the dish worth ordering for anyone chasing dumplings specifically. Scallion pancakes hold their texture, though they run a touch greasy some nights. The room is clean, the lot parks easy, and portions run generous.
What to ordergarlic chicken fried noodles, Sichuan wonton in chili oil, scallion pancakes
№ 04
HoHo Gourmet
St. Paul $$
1985 Old Hudson Rd, Saint Paul, MN 55119 · +16517310316
Photo via
Chicken wings have kept regulars loyal for thirty years, and the beef lo mein with thin noodles matches that staying power. HoHo Gourmet runs a lunch buffet that draws a steady crowd, value priced and busy by midday. The wings come out crispy every time, and mei fun rounds out a menu built for repeat visits.
What to orderchicken wings, beef lo mein, mei fun
№ 05
Golden Chow Mein Restaurant
St. Paul $
1105 7th St W, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16512281276
Photo via
New ownership changed Golden Chow Mein's kitchen, and the egg fu young now reads thoughtful rather than tired, a dish some regulars say improved under the change. Chow mein and pork fried rice remain the anchors, portions run larger than before, and prices climbed to match. Takeout consistency varies by order, so dine in when possible.
What to orderegg fu young, chow mein, pork fried rice
№ 06
Tea House St. Paul
St. Paul $$
1676 Suburban Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55106 · +16517711790
Photo via
Garlic eggplant is the dish loyalists name first, paired with egg drop soup and vegetable egg fuyoung that have anchored this Szechuan kitchen for over a decade. Lamb dishes round out a menu built on established favorites rather than trends. The room has had uneven stretches recently, so timing a visit around off peak hours helps.
What to ordergarlic eggplant, lamb dishes, egg drop soup
№ 07
Little Chopstix
St. Paul $
580 Woodbury Dr, Ste 200, Woodbury, MN 55125 · +16517974133
Photo via
Beef chow fun holds up as the standout in a suburban strip setting built for weeknight speed. Little Chopstix runs lunch and dinner deals that keep portions generous without inflating the check, and sweet and sour chicken plus chicken lo mein round out the order. Fried items can run inconsistent, so stick to the noodle dishes.
What to orderbeef chow fun, sweet and sour chicken, chicken lo mein
№ 08
Fortune Kitchen 幸運小廚
St. Paul
277 McKnight Rd S, St Paul, MN 55119 · +16517710305
Photo via
Special chicken chow mein and pork egg foo young carry over from the kitchen's earlier run as Leo's Chow Mein under new ownership. The flavor profile shifted with the change, and longtime regulars notice the difference, though most dishes still land solidly. Sweet and sour chicken rounds out a menu built for familiar, no surprises Chinese takeout.
What to orderspecial chicken chow mein, sweet and sour chicken, pork egg foo young
№ 09
Wong's Kitchen
St. Paul $
1191 Earl St, Saint Paul, MN 55106 · +16517762522
Photo via
Beef lo mein comes out consistently strong at this East Side staple, paired with a housemade sweet and sour sauce that skips the neon red coloring most kitchens use. Fried rice holds its own, and the chow mein runs in the Midwest style regulars grew up on. Cream cheese puffs and egg drop soup round out a fast, dependable order.
What to orderBeef Lo Mein, Fried Rice, Chow Mein
№ 10
Kim's Chow Mein
St. Paul $$
2048 Marshall Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55104 · +16516464964
Photo via
Mushroom fried rice is the dish repeat customers name first, dense with flavor and worth seeking out on a corridor where good fried rice is harder to find than it should be. Crispy egg rolls and a well regarded fried chicken dinner round out the order. Kim's Chow Mein runs takeout only, so plan for pickup rather than a table.
What to orderfried rice, crispy egg rolls, chicken potato curry
№ 11
Ho Fan Restaurant
St. Paul $
444 Cedar St, Ste 225, Saint Paul, MN 55101 · +16512279677
Photo via
Mapo tofu and a rotating vegetable stir-fry give this skyway counter more range than the typical lunchtime rush spot. Ho Fan blends Chinese and Vietnamese menus, including a banh mi option alongside the stir-fries, with scratch cooking available for those who skip the pre-prepped combos. Lines run long at peak lunch, and takeout is the only option.
What to ordermapo tofu, vegetable stir-fry, banh mi
Frequently asked
What is the best Chinese restaurant near me in St. Paul for dumplings?
It depends on the neighborhood. Master Noodle in St. Paul stands out for its Sichuan wonton in chili oil, while East Side regulars lean on Wong's Kitchen for a fast, reliable order. Check each restaurant's Insider Score on this list, which reflects the review record rather than any paid placement, to compare options near a specific address.
Do any of these restaurants take reservations?
Some do. Peking Garden accommodates reservations for group celebrations and seats parties quickly. Most of the others on this list, including the skyway counters and takeout-only kitchens like Kim's Chow Mein and Ho Fan, run on a walk-in or order-ahead basis rather than formal reservations.
Which spots on this list are takeout only?
Kim's Chow Mein and Ho Fan Restaurant both run takeout only, with Ho Fan operating as a skyway lunch counter on weekdays. The rest offer dine-in seating, ranging from Peking Garden's larger group-friendly room to smaller neighborhood counters like China Chef.
How is the Insider Score calculated for these restaurants?
The Insider Score reflects the volume and consistency of the public review record for each restaurant, weighing recent feedback alongside long-term reputation. No restaurant pays to be listed or to improve its placement in this guide; the ranking is drawn entirely from the review record.
ƒ
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.
