The 10 Best Chinese Restaurants in Cape Town

If you’re looking for incredible Chinese food without any fuss, Food Joy deserves a place at the top of your list.

Don’t expect fancy interiors or attentive service. With plastic tablecloths, bright fluorescent lighting and a distinctly no-frills atmosphere, this is somewhere you visit for the food rather than the dining experience.

And the food is exceptional.

The standout is the beef noodle soup. A deeply savoury, rich broth filled with freshly made noodles that have a wonderful texture and soak up all that flavour. It’s hearty, comforting and easily one of the most memorable noodle soups you’ll find in Cape Town.

The cold salads are another highlight. Look out for the seaweed, kimchi and cashew-and-celery salads, piled generously onto small plates. They’re packed with flavour and make excellent accompaniments to the richer dishes.

There’s also a counter near the entrance stocked with Chinese pastries, steamed buns and dim sum, making it worth popping in even when you’re just after a quick bite.

Tomson brings the comforting flavours of traditional Cantonese cooking into a contemporary Cape Town setting, making it an excellent choice when you want exceptional Chinese food somewhere that also feels like a night out.

The restaurant is the creation of chef Andrew Kai, a third-generation Chinese-South African who grew up surrounded by Cantonese cooking in Johannesburg. Drawing on the flavours of his childhood and his experience working in professional kitchens, Kai brings a thoughtful, refined approach to dishes rooted in tradition.

The steamed fish is a standout. Delicately cooked and full of flavour, it’s a dish that demonstrates just how good simple ingredients can be when prepared properly. The wontons and noodle dishes are equally worth ordering, with bold, comforting flavours and excellent execution.

Located on bustling Bree Street, Tomson has a lively, contemporary atmosphere that makes it particularly well suited to dinner with friends.

Did you know? Tomson is named after chef Andrew Kai’s father, with the menu drawing inspiration from the Cantonese dishes Kai grew up eating.

For anyone who loves Chinese dumplings, HeSheng is an essential stop.

The restaurant is particularly well known for its xiao long bao, delicate steamed soup dumplings filled with meat and a rich, savoury broth. They’re surprisingly difficult to find done well in Cape Town, which makes HeSheng’s version particularly special.

But the menu offers plenty beyond dumplings.

The noodle soups are excellent, with rich, comforting broths and generous portions. Seafood dishes are also worth exploring, particularly the crispy prawns, which are packed with flavour and can be enjoyed shell and all when prepared in that style.

The restaurant itself is casual and unpretentious, with a traditional Chinese restaurant atmosphere and a focus on hearty, satisfying food.

Did you know? HeSheng developed a loyal following under a cook affectionately known as Ma, whose handmade dumplings became a favourite among Cape Town diners. Much of the original menu was preserved when the restaurant changed hands. Source ↗

A popular fixture on Sea Point’s Main Road, Make serves a broad selection of Chinese dishes alongside Japanese favourites and sushi.

It’s a great option for diners who enjoy Chinese food but prefer familiar flavours over more adventurous regional specialities.

The wontons are a particular highlight, with delicate wrappers and flavourful fillings that make them well worth ordering. The extensive menu also means there’s plenty of variety, from Chinese classics to sushi and other Asian dishes.

Make is often busy, particularly during peak dining hours, and its lively atmosphere makes it a good choice for a casual meal with friends or family.

Some of Cape Town’s most interesting Chinese food can be found in unexpected places, and Hot Chinese Food is a perfect example.

Tucked away in a residential street in Sanddrift, this restaurant operates from a converted house, giving it a distinctly unconventional atmosphere. It’s a far cry from the polished dining rooms of the city centre, but that’s part of its appeal.

The cooking draws on bold Chinese flavours, with Sichuan-style dishes, chilli-rich preparations and traditional hotpot among the reasons to visit.

Hotpot is a particularly fun way to experience Chinese dining. A simmering pot of broth is placed at the centre of the table, with diners cooking their own selection of meat, vegetables, mushrooms and noodles.

For those interested in exploring regional Chinese cuisine beyond the familiar takeaway menu, Hot Chinese Food is an intriguing option.

If you’re craving traditional Cantonese dishes or a table full of dim sum, Tao Yuan is well worth considering.

Located on Sea Point’s Main Road, the restaurant serves an extensive menu of Chinese classics, from roast meats and seafood to stir-fries, noodles and steamed dumplings.

The dim sum selection is a particular draw, with options such as prawn dumplings, pork dumplings and barbecue pork buns. It’s one of the places in Cape Town where you can settle in and enjoy a proper selection of Cantonese-style small dishes.

The surroundings are fairly ordinary, but the food is the main attraction.

For Chinese food in a more sophisticated setting, Dawn offers a distinctly different dining experience.

Located in the Cape Quarter, the restaurant combines contemporary Chinese cooking with an elaborate interior featuring rich colours, decorative details and an atmosphere designed for a more polished night out.

The menu explores several Chinese regional cooking traditions, with dishes ranging from delicate dim sum and Cantonese roast meats to bold Sichuan-inspired specialities.

There’s plenty to explore, including Peking duck, crispy aubergine, seafood and handmade dumplings. The presentation is refined, and the setting makes it a good option for a special occasion or a more elaborate dinner.

Dawn is one of the pricier Chinese restaurants in Cape Town, so expect to spend considerably more than at the casual spots on this list.

Did you know? Dawn’s owners have roots in Guangdong and Hunan, two Chinese provinces with very different culinary traditions, which influence the restaurant’s varied menu. Source ↗

Located in the Chinatown shopping area at Sable Square, Mr Moustache is a casual Chinese restaurant with an extensive menu featuring dishes that go well beyond the usual takeaway favourites.

It’s a good place to explore traditional Chinese cooking, particularly if you’re interested in trying dishes that aren’t commonly found on mainstream restaurant menus.

The menu includes guo bao rou, a crispy sweet-and-sour pork dish, alongside mapo tofu, braised pork meatballs and Cantonese barbecue pork.

Seafood lovers will also find plenty to explore, including Typhoon Shelter-style prawns, a Hong Kong-inspired preparation featuring crispy garlic, chilli and aromatic seasoning.

The setting is simple and casual, making it well suited to a relaxed meal with a group.

While Sake is known for its sushi and broader Asian menu, its Chinese-style hotpot offering makes it an interesting option for anyone looking to try something different.

Hotpot is a communal dining experience built around a simmering pot of broth. Diners choose from a selection of ingredients, including thinly sliced meats, vegetables, mushrooms and noodles, and cook them at the table.

It’s an interactive, relaxed way to enjoy a meal, particularly with a group of friends or family.

Sake also offers Chinese-style dishes alongside its sushi menu, making it a versatile option for groups with different preferences.

For those in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs, Chuck Yang’s is an established neighbourhood restaurant serving a broad selection of Chinese dishes.

Located on Campground Road in Rondebosch, it’s a straightforward option for familiar Chinese comfort food, whether you’re after a warming bowl of soup, stir-fried noodles or a selection of dishes to share.

The menu includes Chinese favourites alongside sushi, with both sit-down dining and takeaway available.

It’s the kind of place to keep in mind for a casual weeknight meal when you’re craving Chinese food without heading into the city.