Chinese Chow Down Under: The Top Chinese Restos in Adelaide
Adelaide’s Chinese restaurants are sizzling. Spots like Lotus and Ding Hao aren’t your run-of-the-mill Chinese joints; every dish is on fire, from the starters to the sweets.
But, hey, you should see and taste these for yourself. Thankfully, this guide offers sneak peeks into more of the CBD’s finest Chinese flavor finds!
Ying Chow
Address: 114 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8211 7998
Operating Hours: Daily – 5 pm to 10:45 pm
With refreshing outdoor seats and Chinese meaty magic, Ying Chow is one the hottest diners in town.
The best dish here is the tea-smoked duck, a savory and herby meal loaded with aromatics and spices. For those looking for extra oomph, red pepper beef is the way to go, but don’t forget to adjust its spicy level to your liking.
If you prefer sweet and sour flavors seeping deep into succulent and well-marinated meat, Ying Chow’s diced red vinegar ribs have you covered.
Citi Zen Restaurant
Address: 401 King William St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8212 8383
Operating Hours:
- Mon – 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
- Tue – Closed
- Wed to Sun – 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Spacious and opulent, Citi Zen is a premier spot for a traditional Chinese feast. Their yum cha game is strong, with pork and prawn dumplings.
If yum cha isn’t your jam, start your meal with their Chinese sweet corn soup, a thick and creamy bowl of cream, egg, chicken filet, and, of course, eggs.
Then there’s the Szechuan lamb—tender lamb enhanced by braised cucumber, onion, and capsicum, all smothered in a spicy, sweet, and savory Szechuan sauce.
Star House Chinese Restaurant
Address: 1/31-39 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8221 6303
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 11 am to 3:30 pm, 5 pm to 10 pm
- Sat to Sun – 10:30 am to 3:30 pm, 5 pm to 10 pm
Star House’s cozy and chic mix of modern and time-tested Chinese decor is a total head-turner, but it’s their food that’ll make you plot for seconds.
For crispy, tangy goodness, the sweet and sour crispy beef is our team’s top pick. We balance the robust flavors of this meaty dish with their refreshing Chinese herbal tea.
First-time diners, though, should try their house specialty—stir-fried long bean in sweet and spicy soup. The heat might be too hard to handle, so sweeten it up with their mango pudding or coconut jelly.
Wah Hing Restaurant
– From onlynoodes
Address: 85 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8212 0338
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Closed
- Tue to Thu – 1:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 9 pm
- Fri – 1:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 10 pm
- Sat – 5:30 pm to 10 pm
- Sun – 1:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 9 pm
Wah Hing is a haven for noodle lovers. Their pickled cabbage and duck noodle soup offers tender pieces of succulent duck, pickled cabbage for that tangy kick, and a rich broth simmered to perfection.
The shredded pork fried crispy egg noodle, on the other hand, boasts thin strips of savory pork stir-fried with a medley of vegetables, all on a bed of crispy egg noodles.
And if you’re up for some heat, the spicy fried kway teo is a must-have plate of flat rice noodles, shrimp, chili, and a mix of spices that’ll set your taste buds on fire.
Concubine
Address: 132 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8212 8288
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Closed
- Tue to Thu – 5:45 pm to 9:30 pm
- Fri – 12 pm to 2 pm, 6 pm to 9:30 pm
- Sat to Sun – 5:45 pm to 9:30 pm
Concubine’s lantern-lit interior and Chinese fusion meals are treats for sore eyes and hungry mouths.
You can’t miss their pork belly—succulent pork belly, slow-cooked and glazed in a rich, velvety dark soy sauce. The roasted duck with pineapple and lychee is another banger; it’s sweet, savory, and creamy because it’s bathed in curry.
Our favorite, though, is the show-stopping golden fragrant chicken—wok-tossed with chili and dried South Australian shrimp.
Ding Hao
Address: 36 Wright St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Detail: (08) 8211 7036
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 11 am to 3 pm, 5 pm to 10 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11 am to 3 pm, 5 pm to 11 pm
- Sun – 11 am to 3 pm, 5 pm to 10 pm
Ding Hao’s homey and casual decor may not be the CBD’s grandest, but its traditional Chinese flavors are undoubtedly among Adelaide’s best.
If you’re having doubts, have a bite of their golden fried squid tentacles—crispy, golden nuggets of umami-filled ocean goodness. For your dumpling cravings, they have puffy xiao long bao filled with tender pork and a sweet and savory soup.
Their honey pepper fillet steak is also a must-try. It has tender strips of sizzling steak coated in a glaze made from a delish combo of honey, black pepper, and chili.
Ming’s Palace
Address: 157-159 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8231 9970
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – Closed
- Thu to Sun – 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Ming’s Palace offers a Chinese banquet perfect for groups or families looking to celebrate or simply enjoy a delicious meal out.
Their banquet kicks things off with a three-flavored platter filled with spring rolls, prawn rolls, and honey sesame beef. Then you have to pick between sweet and sour soup or chicken sweet corn soup, both guaranteed to warm and please your tummy.
Their kung pao chicken also packs a spicy punch, and the prawns with cashews are a crunchy delight. But the showstopper is the fried rice—best eaten with the savory Mandarin sauce or the straw mushrooms brushed with oyster sauce.
Chef Dong
Address: 3/103 Payneham Rd, St Peters, SA 5069
Contact Details: (08) 8362 8878
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Tue – 11 am to 3 pm, 5 pm to 10 pm
- Wed – Closed
- Thu to Sun – 11 am to 3 pm, 5 pm to 10 pm
Chef Dong is the place to be if you’re drooling for a flavorful journey through classic Cantonese and Fujianese delights.
First on the menu is braised king prawn with cashew nuts, a dish that’s a sweet-and-savory gift to your taste buds. To make things spicy, grab a plate of their Szechuan braised pork slices.
Our vegetarian teammates also enjoyed their salt and pepper eggplant and pumpkin. As for desserts, it’s a toss-up between their matcha ice cream and steamed custard egg yolk bun!
Lotus Chinese Restaurant
Address: 83 Melbourne St, North Adelaide, SA 5006
Contact Details: (08) 8267 3003
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Closed
- Tue – 5 pm to 9 pm
- Wed to Thu – 12 pm to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to 9 pm
- Fri – 12 pm to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to 9 pm
It’s hard to top Lotus’ soups, especially their classic wonton soup with an irresistible, rich flavor.
But if you have the wallet for it, prioritize and savor their velvety lobster sweet corn soup with a thick, creamy base offering briny and slightly sweet flavors.
For veggie lovers, you can’t go wrong with their bean curd soup. It’s a bowl of silky cubes of bean curd in an earthy broth that’s both delicate and hearty.
Pagoda
Address: 189 Glen Osmond Rd, Frewville, SA 5063
Contact Details: (08) 8379 6248
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 12 pm to 2 pm, 5 pm to 10 pm
- Sat to Sun – 5 pm to 10 pm
If you’re after Chinese classics with a twist, look no further than Pagoda—a staple in Adelaide since 1965. Their chop suey is a blast, featuring a tender chicken fillet that gets a sizzling stir-fry treatment with seasonal veggies.
Their Pagoda pork ribs are worth every penny too. This meal has juicy and bite-sized pieces of pork ribs that are lightly battered and then dunked in a tangy, sweet sauce.
The show’s main star, though, is their legendary and best-selling caramelized and smoky Mongolian steak. This dish has bold flavors with a hint of sweetness, thanks to a flavorful marinade made with ingredients like soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and brown sugar.
Fung Shing
Address: 158 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: 0434 898 140
Operating Hours: Daily – 5 pm to 12 am
Fung Shing shines when it comes to affordable and finger-licking bite-sized Chinese chow.
You can’t miss their crispy and fresh 3-piece prawn dumplings just for $5.50. They also have a $4.50 pork BBQ rice roll featuring a soft meat filling elevated by nutty sesame paste with a touch of BBQ sauce’s smokiness.
The scallion pancakes for 5 bucks are crispy, savory bites perfect with their red and white wines. For a sweet flavor finale, order their fried ice cream or mango black sticky rice.
Park Lok Chinese Restaurant
Address: 53 O’Connell St, North Adelaide, SA 5006
Contact Details: (08) 7111 5516
Operating Hours: Daily – 5 pm to 9:30 pm
Park Lok’s spotlight shines on Chaozou City’s briny specialties. Their brine pig stomach, for example, is tender and marinated in a special coating that brings a rich sweet, salty, and savory taste.
The same flavors are prominent in their green peppercorn chicken—just with a zesty and chili-fired burst. Some of our teammates couldn’t handle this dish’s tongue-tingling kick, but their crystal yam pudding balanced it out.
Ky Chow
Address: 27-29 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8221 5411
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 12 pm to 9 pm
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 9:30 pm
- Sun – 12 pm to 8:30 pm
Ky Chow’s Chinese casseroles and chicken dishes are irresistible, especially if you dine at their buzzing and refreshing outdoor seats.
Start with the shang tung chicken; each cut is packed with the flavors of garlic, chili, coriander, and soy sauce. Their crispy honey or lemon chicken, on the other hand, is ideal for beer nights and for those craving crispy grub.
For the casseroles, the E-shan eggplant pot is the crowd-favorite. It has fresh eggplants, bell peppers, mushrooms, tofu, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and more ingredients sourced from local gardens and farms.
18th Street Hot Pot
Address: Tenancy 2/94-96 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8231 3941
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 11:30 am to 11:30 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11 am to 12 am
- Sun – 11:30 am to 11:30 pm
If a good-old Chinese soupfest is what you’re after,18th Street Hot Pot should be on top of your list.
Adelaideans, whether it may be a cold or hot month, line up for their Szechuan pepper-infused soup base. The consistency falls perfectly in the middle, not overly thick or too thin, and the harmony between its spicy and citrusy flavor is truly exceptional.
And when it comes to toppings, they offer all the hot pot essentials you could desire, including crab sticks, tofu, eggs, and sliced beef.
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