Find My Perfect Chinese Restaurant Near Me

Best Chinese Restaurants in Downtown, Santa Monica, California | GochinaRose Restaurant Guide page9
  1. Chinese Food
  2. Chinese Restaurant
  3. California
  4. Los Angeles County
  5. Santa Monica
  6. Chinese Restaurant in Downtown

Fish With You 鱼你在一起下饭酸菜鱼 0

Fish With You 鱼你在一起下饭酸菜鱼

97reviews

Food here is absolutely delicious. Fresh fish flavor, good sour flavorful broths, they even offer some meat based dishes for people that aren't interested in having a fish only dinner. We came pretty hungry so 4 of us were able to tackle 2 large fish dishes and 1 beef tender spicy mix (small). Easy to order via QR code on the table, large easy to navigate menus. Tons of side dishes/mix-ins included for free and includes free rice bowls as well. Prices were extremely reasonable considering the amount of food. The interior is a bit cafeteria style like but I personally didn't have an issue with that. It is a little cramped and the restaurant fills up with a line during the peak periods. They did however have just enough seating from people coming and going and they let us stay for quite some time without rushing us to leave.

Not impressed. Food: 1. We ordered green pepper fish and tomato fish. Flavor is good. Green pepper is pleasantly mouth mumming. The tomato fish is a bit bland but I guess it is good for kids. But the portion size is underwhelming. Well you got a big bowl but it is shallow and not much fish inside. Even one fish dish comes with 4 “free” additional veggies/starch, each of them has petty amount. You just cannot justify that with a 30 dollar before tips and tax price tag. Unless you each a lot of rice (it is free), really really a lot. Maybe 10 bowls of rice each person. Environment: Not good at all. Shallow hallway, smells from the kitchen sink, slippery floor. Just like a “fly eatery” back in China. Service: It is ok. Nothing to complain about but nothing done for you. Never check on you. Go to the front desk and ask for things! Given the value of it, we have lots of alternatives and should not come back again.

MY Dumpling 0

MY Dumpling

106reviews

I recently tried a few dishes at this restaurant, and I was truly impressed! First, the **Beef with Broccoli**—the beef was tender and juicy, paired with fresh, crisp broccoli. The flavors were perfectly balanced, not too salty or bland, just right! Next, the **Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings)** were amazing—thin wrappers filled with flavorful meat and a burst of savory soup with every bite. Absolutely a must-try! Lastly, the **Scallion Oil Noodles** were simple yet delicious—the noodles had a great texture, and the fragrant scallion oil was so satisfying. Every dish felt carefully crafted, and I can’t wait to come back! Highly recommend this place!

Really enjoyed the wonton noodle soup here—the soup was tasty, lots of veggies, and the wontons were pretty good too. Also tried their green beans; they had a nice spicy kick. Prices were okay, definitely would come again when craving something comforting and a bit spicy.

Chopstix & Taiwanese Bentos 0

Chopstix & Taiwanese Bentos

159reviews

Good solid place when you’re in the mood for Taiwanese street food. Very fast turnaround time if you order ahead, but finding parking may be a challenge on the busy 3rd Avenue in downtown San Mateo. Used to be Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks, but now after new name it no longer has any of the oyster-based menu items.

Everything we got was pretty on point for Taiwanese comfort/night market food. Easy to order online and pick up in store. They had great ventilation inside with the back and front door open and several staff 😷 which is good for reducing spread of everything (yes, even in 2025, it’s not over y’all). One thing to note— “Taiwanese tempura” is nothing like Japanese tempura. It refers to a kind of fish cake. We got them with plum seasoning which was too sweet and not right for this snack— go for something savory.

Dough Zone Dumpling House San Mateo 0

Dough Zone Dumpling House San Mateo

517reviews

Came here to celebrate achieving a milestone. The food is amazing and did not disappoint. My husband and I are vegetarians and we loved that there is a wide range of vegetarian options. Being new to Chinese food there are some really good options. We got the vegetarian spicy ma la noodles and the signature numbing spiciness of the Sichuan peppers was a great experience. 10/10 will recommend.

I used to love this place but not anymore. Somehow they change my fav dish “pan fried beef pie” 牛肉餡餅 into a weird shape and cut it like nobody know they want to save the money serve to customer cheat food. Taste not the same. And the whole pie is thiner than a paper. Feel like I’m eating a fried cardboard. I don’t understand why they change it like this. We pay what we get. But why you all of a sudden change it to a cheaper version of the food and that’s not what 牛肉餡餅looks like. I’m beyond disappointed at this moment and asking myself. Why? Why? why? Is it so hard to keep it like original? And I asked the waiter, this is not the pan fired beef pie. He’s super confidant and tell me yes! That’s the pan fried beef pie. We just change it to a different shape not round anymore. And look at me like I’m a stupid person who doesn’t know what’s pan fried beef pie. Ok, I know I’m not coming back. And That guy gave me attitude makes me feel I’m wrong. Of course we kinda argued about the “pie” and he did say that he can return that order. But hello???!!!! I don’t care bout money problem right now. I care bout the beef pan fired pie, the taste the shape the thick pie!!!! So sad why is a good restaurant has to change it and later on close the restaurant. I know I’m not coming back. All because of that. Oh, and we also have pan fried dumping 鍋貼. Guess what? They change it too!!! They don’t serve with soy sauce paste 醬油膏 anymore. They give you kimchi which I don’t understand. And the kimchi taste so bad. I ask them and they just denying “we never serve the soy sauce paste醬油膏 before. WOW Fool me once is ok. Fool me twice….. Sorry byeeeee~ Enough for arguing. I’m just paid and bounce not even finish the food.

MalaTown Express 自选麻辣烫 0

MalaTown Express 自选麻辣烫

406reviews

I had a great experience at this restaurant. The indoor environment was clean and well-maintained, creating a comfortable place to enjoy a meal. Service was impressively fast, and there was a decent variety of food options to choose from. What really stood out was the pricing—this spot offers the lowest price per pound I’ve seen in the San Mateo area, making it a great value for anyone looking for a budget-friendly meal without compromising on quality.

Great selection of ingredients. Best price for Mala tang in town. Tasty food! The sauce bar is very basic. They charge extra for green onions, cilantro, and garlic, but it only 50 cents each and me order of each can easily be shared with the table. Right now your order comes with a free malatown tote bag. Wasn't the biggest fan of everyone being served in to go containers, but I always have leftovers so it makes things easier. If you want Mala tang to go, this is the place for you.

Taste of Shaxian 0

Taste of Shaxian

278reviews

Came here with a group and we had no wait on Tuesday at 2 pm. Good: - This place has so much variety - I loved the pumpkin dessert, and the fried tomato and egg with rise, the duck soup was hearty too - Peanut noodles were a standout dish - Portion sizes were good and this place was great value for the price - Bright natural lighting and homey ambiance Bad: - Wish I could have tried more of the dishes before we got full! Overall this place was amazing! I'd come again

Love this place! I’ve been coming here regularly and it never disappoints. The flavors are spot on—just like what you’d get in a small shop in China. The pork dumplings and noodle soup are my go-to, and the chili oil is amazing. Super affordable, fast service, and always consistent. It’s one of those rare spots where you feel like you’re getting real homemade food. Highly recommend if you're in San Mateo and want something satisfying and authentic.

Bento Asian Bistro 0

Bento Asian Bistro

700reviews

This family run small business has a huge menu with lots of options. I ordered so much food! I tried their seafood udon soup (AMAZING!!), braised eggplant (surprisingly sweet), mapo tofu (SO SPICY GOOD!), dragon roll bento, and milk tea (WOW!). Everything was delicious! And they actually gave me enough white rice for the entrees. Dining area is cozy and simple.

They have a list of authentic Chinese dishes. You won’t go wrong with any dish on that list if you want authentic Chinese flavors. Also, it has great price. My favorite is Three Cup Chicken (三杯鸡)Sour Pickled Cabbage Fish, (酸菜鱼)Shredded Beef (农家小炒肉)

Blue Sky 0

Blue Sky

580reviews

This place has many good reviews compared to other nearby spots, so I tried it out and ordered chicken fried rice. I've been sampling fried rice at various Chinese restaurants around the Bay Area lately. While I wouldn’t say this is the best I’ve had, it’s not bad. It falls on the better side of the spectrum; the rice was not greasy, which reflects the oil quality they use. The chicken was tender and tasted good, and the portion size was great. I might have added salt to the chili oil to enhance the flavor. The staff was friendly as well. I should come back and try more dishes!

I have had the pleasure of dining at Blue Sky Chinese restaurant over 35 years. In that time, it has hands down always been my favorite place to introduce my friends and family and visiting business associates to in the South Bay and we always gladly return for more delicious food. The service is top notch with a genuine smile and a caring way. Food is hot with healthy portions. Terri remembers my family and what we usually order even after my not going in for years at a stretch. I understand why this little gem is always busy from the moment it opens until closing. Do yourself a favor and check them out. You won't be disappointed. Thanks Blue Sky for many years of wonderful meals.

Grand Palace Seafood Restaurant 富源酒家 0

Grand Palace Seafood Restaurant 富源酒家

1112reviews

Came hungry, left full. Large portions, excellent flavor. Will return.

We went there around 20:45. The restaurant closes at 21:00. They still welcome us for having dinner. So we had quick orders stir-fry Chinese broccoli (kailan) with garlic, Yangzhou fried rice, dim sum and bbq pork buns. For 2 people I think it’s too much but yes I knew we ordered when we were very hungry. For me I like Kailan with garlic and fried rice. The texture of vegetable is still crispy outside but inside it is soft. It didn’t hard to chew it and it didn’t smell green as I am not a big fan of vegetables. Fried rice is good. It’s not oily and there was a strong flavor of wok. Dim sum and buns for me were ok but not the best one I have ever eaten. There is parking in front of the restaurant but it’s limited (around 3 cars can park) as it’s public parking along side of road. You can find some but maybe with a bit of walking then. Inside the restaurant was clean and have enough space. You can feel comfortable during enjoy your meal.

Hing Lung Cafe 0

Hing Lung Cafe

178reviews

I was traveling and was looking for a Chinese late night snack. That congee was mighty but a bit on the sweet side. The noodle dish is average or above average. That big fried dough not fresh so it’s all crunchy and hard. I’m sure this place can cook up some nice dishes since I was traveling and won’t be back until my next trip to South San Francisco.

Generous portion, tasty bbq pork and i like it that they are lean meat. The vegetable went well with the meat and rice. The dessert red bean soup is surprisingly good and not too sweet.

Dumpling and Cajun Seafood 0

Dumpling and Cajun Seafood

94reviews

Service was excellent. But I got Cajun seafood combo (C2 on menu), but the crab was no clean, and even has some kind of parasites. The food is totally deep in the sauce, everything should be clean. I also got Cajun fries, and we just had a little bit of ketchup. Why they don’t let the ketchup on the table? We didn't even have enough for half the potatoes.

This Cajun and Chinese food mixed is unique and special. The food is excellent and well prepared. The dumplings are the best and very well prepared, better than other places and you have the soup inside each dumpling, which is well done. And the green string Beans was at the right tenderness. The problem is the parking… and the location is not the best

Peace China 0

Peace China

391reviews

Wow! Peace China is a true hidden gem! The portions here are absolutely incredible - when they say generous servings, they mean it. My sweet and sour chicken could have easily fed two people, and I paid less than I would at other Chinese restaurants in the area. The value for money is outstanding. Not only do you get these massive portions at reasonable prices, but the food quality doesn't suffer at all. Everything was fresh, piping hot, and bursting with flavor. The fried rice alone could be a meal itself! I especially loved how they didn't skimp on the meat in the dishes - you get plenty of protein, not just filler. The leftovers made for an amazing lunch the next day. If you're looking for delicious Chinese food that won't break the bank and will keep you fed for days, Peace China is the place to go. A real bargain that doesn't compromise on taste or quality!

It was good, but I probably wouldn't go back. The general tso wasn't crunchy and kinda tough. The fried rice has good flavor but was pretty greasy. It was also a touch expensive for the price. The egg rolls were very good and crispy.