If it seems like there’s a Chinese restaurant on every street in America, that’s understandable. There are approximately 41,000 Chinese eateries in the United States, according to research by 24/7 Wall St.
In recognition of Chinese cuisine’s proud place in the American culinary tradition, 24/7 Wall St. has created a list of the most popular Chinese restaurants in each state.
The popularity of Chinese cuisine has reached every state and the District of Columbia. It is one of the oldest ethnic foods in the U.S., arriving in the mid-19th century during the Gold Rush in California, and the construction of the transcontinental railroads. With American cuisine in its infancy at that time, Chinese food, with its exotic flavors and fragrances, extended its popularity beyond Chinese immigrants. In time, the cuisine adapted spices and ingredients indigenous to the U.S. An example of this is the inclusion of broccoli, a vegetable not eaten in China, that is ubiquitous in Chinese cuisine.
Despite a racist backlash in the late 19th century that included restrictive immigration policies, Chinese food maintained its allure. A dish created by Chinese people in America called chop suey — a combination of meat, eggs, and vegetables — began to be served in Chinese restaurants around the turn of the 20th century. In a sense, chop suey is a microcosm of the American melting pot experience.
More authentic Chinese food began arriving into the United States in the 1960s and 1970s as immigration policies became less restrictive and the People’s Republic of China allowed greater freedom of travel.
Today, Chinese food is at or near the top of Americans’ favorite ethnic cuisines. We all know General Tso’s chicken and Peking Duck, sip seemingly limitless cups of Chinese tea, crack open fortune cookies, and hoard packets of duck sauce, Chinese mustard, and soy sauce.
For some Americans who are not Chinese, having dim sum — small portions of food served in steamer baskets — on Sundays is part of their weekly routine. And for many Jewish Americans, dining at a Chinese restaurant on Christmas is an annual ritual.
Click here to find the most popular Chinese restaurant in each state.
To identify the best Chinese restaurants in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the Chinese Restaurant Foundation’s annual Top 100 Awards and dozens of restaurants reviews, polls, and other internet sources. The 2014 Top 100 Chinese Restaurants represents the most recent available complete list. We reviewed average Yelp reviews for all restaurants considered. The best Chinese restaurant in a given state needed to be either among the Top 100 best Chinese restaurants or have the highest average Yelp rating of restaurants considered. All restaurants needed to have an average Yelp review of at least 3.0. The total number of Chinese restaurants in each state was obtained from ChineseMenu, a supplier and publication of online Chinese restaurant services produced by Chinese Restaurant News. These totals represent take-out restaurants only.
Source: superorientalmkt.com
1. Alabama
> Best Chinese restaurant: Super Oriental Market and Red Pearl Restaurant
> Location: Birmingham
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 314
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Source: MsBBR / TripAdvisor
2. Alaska
> Best Chinese restaurant: Charlie’s Bakery
> Location: Anchorage
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 80
Source: Jackie Mercandetti / Phoenix New Times
3. Arizona
> Best Chinese restaurant: China Magic Noodle House
> Location: Chandler
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 539
Source: Three Fold Noodles and Dumpling Co. / Facebook
4. Arkansas
> Best Chinese restaurant: Three Fold Noodles and Dumpling
> Location: Little Rock
> Average Yelp rating: 4.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 202
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Source: Bryan P. / Yelp
5. California
> Best Chinese restaurant: Kingdom Of Dumpling
> Location: San Francisco
> Average Yelp rating: 3.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 5,403
Source: starkitchendenver.com
6. Colorado
> Best Chinese restaurant: Star Kitchen
> Location: Denver
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 548
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Source: Black Bamboo Chinese Restaurant / Facebook
7. Connecticut
> Best Chinese restaurant: Black Bamboo Chinese Restaurant
> Location: West Hartford
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 546
Source: yipalace.net
8. Delaware
> Best Chinese restaurant: Yi Palace Authentic Chinese Food
> Location: Wilmington
> Average Yelp rating: 3.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 121
Source: Chailatte Lee / Facebook
9. Florida
> Best Chinese restaurant: Abc Seafood Restaurant
> Location: St. Petersburg
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 2,228
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Source: chinatastesavannah.com
10. Georgia
> Best Chinese restaurant: China Taste
> Location: Savannah
> Average Yelp rating: 3.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 1,157
Source: Hawaii Scoop / Facebook
11. Hawaii
> Best Chinese restaurant: Sweet Home Café
> Location: Honolulu
> Average Yelp rating: 4.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 259
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Source: treatsandtragedies.com
12. Idaho
> Best Chinese restaurant: Wok-Inn Noodle House
> Location: Boise
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 88
Source: Irene / YouTube
13. Illinois
> Best Chinese restaurant: Sun Wah BBQ
> Location: Chicago
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 1,181
Source: gomk8888.com
14. Indiana
> Best Chinese restaurant: Mandarin Kitchen
> Location: Elkhart
> Average Yelp rating: 3.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 453
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Source: Sam’s Fine Food Egg Rolls / Facebook
15. Iowa
> Best Chinese restaurant: Sam’s Fine Food Egg Rolls
> Location: Des Moines
> Average Yelp rating: 4.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 237
Source: Blake H. / Yelp
16. Kansas
> Best Chinese restaurant: Lee’s Chinese Restaurant
> Location: Wichita
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 314
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Source: Seven H. / Yelp
17. Kentucky
> Best Chinese restaurant: August Moon
> Location: Murray
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 279
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Jo Jo's China Bistro / Facebook
18. Louisiana
> Best Chinese restaurant: Jo Jo’s China Bistro
> Location: Lake Charles
> Average Yelp rating: 3.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 452
Source: Empire Chinese Kitchen / Facebook
19. Maine
> Best Chinese restaurant: Empire Chinese Kitchen
> Location: Portland
> Average Yelp rating: 4.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 102
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Source: Elle Cayabyab Gitlin / Flickr
20. Maryland
> Best Chinese restaurant: China Bistro
> Location: Maryland
> Average Yelp rating: 3.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 691
Source: Nicole C. / Yelp
21. Massachusetts
> Best Chinese restaurant: Zoe’s Chinese Restaurant
> Location: Somerville
> Average Yelp rating: 3.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 911
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Source: Brad Gettel / Facebook
22. Michigan
> Best Chinese restaurant: Best China
> Location: Canton
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 591
Source: Courtesy of Elizabeth H. via Yelp
23. Minnesota
> Best Chinese restaurant: Shuang Cheng
> Location: Minneapolis
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 462
Source: Mai Little China / Yelp
24. Mississippi
> Best Chinese restaurant: Mai Little China
> Location: Greenwood
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 154
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Source: Lona's Lil Eats / Facebook
25. Missouri
> Best Chinese restaurant: Lona’s Lil Eats
> Location: St. Louis
> Average Yelp rating: 4.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 392
Source: China Garden / Facebook
26. Montana
> Best Chinese restaurant: China Garden
> Location: Missoula
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 37
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Source: Three Happiness Express / Facebook
27. Nebraska
> Best Chinese restaurant: Three Happiness Express
> Location: Omaha
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 194
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Peter K. / Yelp
28. Nevada
> Best Chinese restaurant: SK Noodle
> Location: Sparks
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 406
Source: Shannon Estes / Facebook
29. New Hampshire
> Best Chinese restaurant: Wang’s Garden
> Location: Berlin
> Average Yelp rating: 4.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 130
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Source: Kevin B. / Yelp
30. New Jersey
> Best Chinese restaurant: Yoan’s Garden
> Location: Iselin
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 1,045
Source: Rising Star Chinese Eatery / Facebook
31. New Mexico
> Best Chinese restaurant: Rising Star Chinese Eatery
> Location: Albuquerque
> Average Yelp rating: 4.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 166
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Source: misterhotpotnyc.com
32. New York
> Best Chinese restaurant: Mister Hotpot
> Location: Brooklyn
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 3,657
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Tammy H. / Yelp
33. North Carolina
> Best Chinese restaurant: Gourmet Kingdom
> Location: Carrboro
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 909
Source: chinesemenu.com
34. North Dakota
> Best Chinese restaurant: Rice Bowl Restaurant
> Location: Mandan
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 31
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Source: Randy S. / Yelp
35. Ohio
> Best Chinese restaurant: Dragon China
> Location: Canal Winchester
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 926
Source: Maggie Tran / Facebook
36. Oklahoma
> Best Chinese restaurant: Golden Phoenix
> Location: Oklahoma City
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 338
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Source: Wong's King Seafood Restaurant / Facebook
37. Oregon
> Best Chinese restaurant: Wong’s King Seafood Restaurant
> Location: Portland
> Average Yelp rating: 3.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 412
Source: Emma L. / Yelp
38. Pennsylvania
> Best Chinese restaurant: Tai Lake Restaurant
> Location: Philadelphia
> Average Yelp rating: 3.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 1,257
Source: Jennifer M. / Yelp
39. Rhode Island
> Best Chinese restaurant: Lemongrass
> Location: 1138 Post Road, Warwick
> Average Yelp rating: 3.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 194
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Source: Kim T. / Yelp
40. South Carolina
> Best Chinese restaurant: Sun Ming Chinese Restaurant
> Location: Irmo
> Average Yelp rating: 4.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 483
Source: New China Luck / Facebook
41. South Dakota
> Best Chinese restaurant: New China Luck
> Location: Rapid City
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 27
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Source: Royal Panda / Yelp
42. Tennessee
> Best Chinese restaurant: Royal Panda
> Location: Germantown
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 501
Source: Edwin R. / Yelp
43. Texas
> Best Chinese restaurant: JJ China Diner
> Location: Kingwood
> Average Yelp rating: 3.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 2,019
Source: Red Maple Chinese Restaurant / Facebook
44. Utah
> Best Chinese restaurant: Red Maple Chinese Cuisine
> Location: West Valley City
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 212
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Source: asinglepebble.com
45. Vermont
> Best Chinese restaurant: A Single Pebble
> Location: Burlington
> Average Yelp rating: 3.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 54
Source: A.R. P. / Yelp
46. Virginia
> Best Chinese restaurant: Sampan Cafe
> Location: Alexandria
> Average Yelp rating: 3.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 1,001
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Source: Facing East / Facebook
47. Washington
> Best Chinese restaurant: Facing East
> Location: Bellevue
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 569
Source: Bruce K. / Yelp
48. West Virginia
> Best Chinese restaurant: Main Kwong Chinese Restaurant
> Location: Charleston
> Average Yelp rating: 4.0
> Total Chinese restaurants: 95
Source: chinainnmenu.com
49. Wisconsin
> Best Chinese restaurant: China Inn Of Superior
> Location: Superior
> Average Yelp rating: 3.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 342
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Source: caspermenus.com
50. Wyoming
> Best Chinese restaurant: Chopstix
> Location: Casper
> Average Yelp rating: 3.5
> Total Chinese restaurants: 26
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