15 California Chinese restaurants among top 100 in 2024; Take a look

They say, happiness is only real when shared. US foodies, we believe – happiness is real when you share food with someone else. Or food tips, or recommendation – for that matter! Among all the popular cuisines that have the hearts of the foodies all over the world – Chinese undoubtedly takes a top spot in the priority list. Especially, now that we are in the holiday season, there is nothing better than sharing a hot and spicy box of Chinese delicacies with your near and dear ones!

But where do you want to get your takeaway from?

That’s where Yelp comes in!

Yelp searches for Chinese restaurants typically spike every December, as people look for cozy meals. In 2023, the highest number of searches were on Christmas Day. To help you foodies find your favourite new spots for juicy dumplings, deeply flavoured soups, and other delights, Yelp scoured the US for the best Chinese food available and 15 out of the top 100 Chinese restaurants are in the heart of California!

Take a look at the list:

Dumpling Yo!, Sacramento: With a 3rd spot on the list and more than 400 5-star reviews, Dumpling Yo! is celebrated for its selection of “very authentic Shanghai dumplings.” Foodies have their hearts on sleeves for for the Shanghainese-style soup dumplings—especially those filled with shrimp and pork, featuring “good-size, perfectly cooked” whole shrimp and “great ginger flavour.” Tucked in the leafy Pocket neighbourhood, the spot boasts a “homey and welcoming” ambiance and “kind and attentive” staff. You’ll probably want to linger, reviewers say, so go ahead and order the Portuguese Egg Tart for dessert, which is “creamy with a perfect, flaky outer shell.”

Wagyu House by The X Pot, Rowland Heights: This upscale hotpot spot earned the 7th spot on the list. Here at Wagyu House by The X Pot, the Golden Chicken Broth simmers for 18 hours before diners gather around to dip and cook a variety of raw meats, seafood, and vegetables in its “savoury and rich” liquid. The shared experience makes for a fun, “satisfying, customizable meal,” and the “perfectly marbled” namesake wagyu beef is sourced fresh from local ranchers and suppliers who raise their own Japanese cattle breeds to maintain high standards. The eatery is also known for the highly hospitable staff who are top-notch with their helpfulness.

Oyama BBQ, Newark: On the 10th spot, stands Oyama BBQ, that specialises in making the Original Spicy Broth, which takes more than 20 different spices to craft. At Oyama BBQ, “every single item is delicious and made with love,” that includes plentiful amounts of Sichuan peppercorns to deliver that unique, mouth-tingling sensation known as ma. Co-owners Jay Chen and his wife, Head Chef Jing Ivory Lin, are both from the province, which has become synonymous with spicy food. As per Jay, “We want our customers to enjoy the same homemade, authentic meals we eat ourselves every day. Family is at the heart of everything we do.”

With just six tables, there’s no room for a cook-your-own hotpot experience, so the couple introduced a popular Chinese alternative, sometimes called malatang. Guests are invited to choose their own broth (spicy or not) and a variety of fresh vegetables and meats, then let the kitchen cook up a custom meal that “hits all the marks.”

Meet Dumpling, San Diego, earned the 14th spot on the prestigious list, while Wok’s Deli, Norwalk took its place at the 20th.

The rest of the restaurants on the list are Xishang Roodle of Santa Ana, Tasty Gourmet of Davis, House of Fortune Vegan Cuisine of Chino, Phu Chen Kitchen of Fontana, Lao Ma Tou Hot Pot of Irvine, Chinatown Express of La Habra, 606 of San Francisco, Chef K of Temecula, China Palace of Walnut Creek and Dumpling Home of San Francisco.