The best Chinese restaurants in Adelaide

For more than 30 years, Ming’s Palace has been a beloved family favourite and a cornerstone of Adelaide’s Chinese dining scene. Famous for its Peking duck carved tableside (seriously, it’s the best in town), this celebrated spot feels like stepping into a welcoming home filled with history, with walls showcasing old newspaper clippings and well-earned awards. Aside from the legendary duck, this family-owned restaurant serves up classics like fortune chicken, sizzling beef, Cantonese-style spare ribs and live seafood straight from the tanks. All you’ll have to worry about is saving room for dessert. Fried ice cream, anyone? 

Address: 157-159 Gouger St, Adelaide

Price: Mid-range 

Nan Yuan is a gem in Adelaide’s Chinese dining scene, especially known for its exceptional duck dishes. It's one of the few places that serves Peking duck two ways: in pancakes and in fried rice/noodles. It also has fragrant duck bone soup, deboned roast duck and crispy plum duck. The menu offers authentic Cantonese and Taiwanese favourites like braised pork belly, chicken claypot and crispy salted egg yolk pumpkin, all prepared with fresh ingredients. Beyond the food, guests love the warm hospitality and welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re after a casual meal or a special feast, Nan Yuan delivers top-notch Chinese cuisine with heart.

Address: 524 Goodwood Rd, Daw Park 

Price: Mid-range

Follow your nose to Gouger Street’s Star House Chinese Restaurant, where Cantonese classics take centre stage. Since opening in 2007, this Adelaide favourite has built a loyal following for its daily yum cha and impressive seafood offering. Their extensive menu (we're talking 50 pages!) has everything from fluffy barbecue pork buns and dim sim to the always popular sweetcorn soup and sizzling hot pots. Their standout? The chef's special stir-fried Wagyu beef with teriyaki sauce and golden garlic. Come with an empty stomach, leave with a happy heart. 

Address: Shop 1 & 2/31 Gouger St, Adelaide

Price: Mid-range 

Set in the heart of Adelaide’s Chinatown, Ky Chow has been a go-to for authentic Cantonese flavours and yum cha for years. The aroma of freshly steamed dumplings, dim sim and jasmine tea wafts through the air, inviting families and friends to gather and share. Favourites like Shandong chicken, honey king prawns and sweet and sour crunchy beef keep locals coming back, while dishes like eggplant with black bean sauce and salted fish hotpot are waiting to be discovered. With quick, friendly service, hearty portions and consistently tasty food, Ky Chow is the perfect spot for anything from a casual lunch to a lively family banquet.

Address: 27-29 Gouger St, Adelaide

Price: Mid-range

At the top of Gouger Street is Concubine, a Chinese restaurant bringing sophistication to Adelaide’s dining scene. The interiors of this award-winning restaurant are intimate with dark wood, glowing lanterns and elegant oriental art. The menu is equally polished, blending traditional Chinese dishes with premium local produce. Try the chicken and glass noodle spring rolls, silky prawn and chive dumplings, sticky lamb ribs and wok-fried SA prawns in XO sauce. With a carefully curated wine list to match the bold flavours of their food, plus stellar service, Concubine is where Chinese cuisine meets contemporary dining in style.

Address: 132 Gouger St, Adelaide

Price: High-end 

Let's face it, Chinatown can seem chaotic, so Wah Hing is a welcome retreat with its more intimate, laid-back vibe. The mood is set with soft pendant lights, dark furnishings and timber floors, allowing the vibrant flavours of the dishes to take centre stage. Our advice? Start with the flaky shallot pancakes, san chow bow, and Sichuan hot and sour seafood soup. For mains, the house smoked tea duck and Peking duck salt and pepper whitebait are always a hit. Add some Asian greens and fried rice, and you’ve got a winning meal. No wonder locals return to it time and time again. 

Address: 85 Gouger St, Adelaide 

Price: Mid-range 

Step into Xiao Long Kan Chinese Hot Pot and prepare for hot pot heaven. Part of a global franchise with over 900 restaurants, this spot brings flavour and fun to Adelaide’s Chinatown. Choose your broth – fiery Sichuan, tangy Thai tom yum, or something milder – then add an impressive spread of fresh vegetables, premium meats, seafood and house specialties into your chosen broth. The service is fast, the prices are fair and the traditional décor completes the immersive dining experience. For the ultimate feast, go for the two-hour all-you-can-eat experience – choose from the classic buffet or the wagyu; the unlimited drinks are a welcome bonus. 

Address: 123 Gouger St, Adelaide

Price: Mid-range

Open until 2am on Saturdays, East Taste is Gouger Street’s answer to those midnight cravings. Since 2003, chef-owner Michael Chow has been dishing up Asian fusion favourites with a strong Chinese influence and locals love it. Soft lighting, wooden floors and modern amenities give a softness to the busy restaurant in Chinatown. The menu is packed with crowd-pleasers like flaky shallot pancakes, sizzling black pepper beef, coriander chicken and salt and pepper eggplant. There’s fried ice cream for dessert, a solid drinks list or BYO wine for a small corkage. Always lively, East Taste is the perfect no-fuss spot for a late-night feast with friends. 

Address: 119 Gouger St, Adelaide 

Price: Mid-range 

An Adelaide icon since 1983, House of Chow is the brainchild of David and Roz Chow and is loved for its extensive flavour-packed menu. Its food takes you on a trip through Asia, with dishes from Sichuan, Shanghai, Singapore and more (they also have heaps of gluten-free options). Start with seafood bean curd soup, san choy bow and crispy pork and prawn spring rolls, then move on to classics like sweet and sour pork, pepper chicken, Peking duck or live seafood cooked to order. There’s also nuggets and fish and chips for the little ones – yes, there’s something for everyone.

Address: 82 Hutt St, Adelaide

Price: Mid-range

Located in Glengowrie, House of Tien has long been a favourite for Adelaide locals craving authentic Cantonese food in generously sized portions. Think crispy beef in sweet chilli plum sauce, sizzling Mongolian lamb, perfectly roasted duck and delicate steamed fish – all served with a smile. The value-packed banquets make it a go-to for birthdays and celebrations, while the Family Bundle and Value Meal Deal take the stress out of ordering. Prices are reasonable, takeaway is a breeze, and if you visit during the Lunar New Year, you might even see an awesome Lion Dance performance as you enjoy your sweet and sour pork.

Address: 160 Morphett Rd, Glengowrie 

Price: Mid-range 

Since 1994, Ying Chow has been an Adelaide favourite, pulling in hungry crowds to Gouger Street night after night. The décor is simple, but the food and friendly service are what keep people coming back. Signature dishes like the famous E-shand chicken, salt and pepper bean curd, red vinegar ribs and crispy shallot pancakes are absolute musts, while the cult BBC (broad beans, bean curd and Chinese chutney) has a loyal following of its own. Portions are generous, the vibe is always buzzing and with the option to BYO or grab a local wine or beer, it’s a guaranteed good time.

Address: 114 Gouger St, Adelaide

Price: Mid-range