The Best Chinese Food Spots to Ring in the New Year

Washington D.C.

Craving some dumplings? True to form, D.C. has Chinese fare that caters to both gourmands and late-night bar goers. If you want a cocktail with your dumplings, try Copycat Co. This dumpling shop is more of a bar that serves up delicious late-night skewers, buns, and potstickers. Open until 3 am, it's perfect for a post-midnight pit stop this New Year's Eve.

For those looking for a higher-end option, Wolfgang Puck's Chinatown gem The Source serves up almost anything Chinese-inspired you can think of, with an emphasis on noodles, dim sum, and stir-fry. To go all-out, book a Sichuan-style hot pot table to quickly cook your own meats, veggies, and seafood in a delicious broth. You eat your food piping hot, right out of the broth. The chef at this Zagat-reviewed spot will guide newcomers through the hot pot menu options.

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Austin

Austin has an array of international food, but when it comes to Asian food in Texas, a Chinese barbecue spot is a must. Din Ho Chinese BBQ diners rave about the Beijing duck barbecue served with steamed buns, and the generous portion sizes. The noodle soups and vegetarian dishes are authentic alternatives for those who don't eat meat, or just want something lighter.

Xian Sushi and Noodle is also known for its steamed buns, or bao, and is also perfect for large servings of sushi.

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Honolulu

Asian influences are prevalent in Hawaii, so it's no surprise Honolulu's food scene is littered with high-rated Chinese take-out and dine-in options. Two are consistently ranked among the best:

Little Village Noodle House has huge portions of steaming noodles and hot soups. The seafood-heavy menu is appropriate for its near-seaside location, and the prices will be softer on your wallet than many other dining options in expensive Honolulu.

The low-maintenance Golden Eagle Chinese is the island's top-ranked Chinese, with a no-frills location that pumps out heaping portions of authentic dishes like pork knuckle, quail wings, and Peking duck. The massive menu is sure to have something for pickier eaters as well.

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Los Angeles

L.A. foodies flock to Beverly Hills' hip dim sum restaurant, Bao, for small, steamed portions of everything from seafood to juicy xiao long bao, or soup-filled dumplings. This hip spot has a huge menu, and dining on dim sum means you get to taste everything, so go slow and savor the flavors.

Taiwanese restaurant Pine & Crane on Sunset Boulevard also receives rave reviews, with beautifully bright dishes of soups, noodles, and Boba teas for less than you'd expect ($3!). Mains can easily be shared and small appetizers will warm you up beforehand.

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Boston

It's almost impossible to get into Gourmet Dumpling House in Boston's Chinatown around dinner time without a short wait, but it's always worth it. Authentic xiao long bao here are heralded as the best for many miles, and the massive, affordable menu has something for everyone, from noodle soups to fresh fish, served in a tiny dining room that's always packed.

If the wait deters you from Dumpling House, head for Shabu Zen's large Chinatown location, which offers huge plates of Japanese and Chinese hot pot fixings to be boiled by you, at your table, just the way you like them. The broth, spices and side sauces make each bite of quickly cooked veggies and thinly sliced meats incredibly flavorful, and you'll leave full.

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New York

It's a close race when it comes to ranking New York City's many Chinese restaurants. Wah Fung No. 1 Fast Food and Buddakan, however, stand out for the sheer number of people that took time to give them reviews—most of them positive. These spots are about as opposite as it gets, but both are delicious.

Wah Fung No. 1 Fast Food lives up to its name. The tiny Chinatown shop's kitchen pumps out to-go boxes of delicious roasted barbecue options—pork, duck, or chicken—over noodles (or rice) and cabbage. Fish balls are also available, but the bulk of the small menu is barbecue for a reason. The low prices also don't disappoint.

Buddakan is in Chelsea's Meatpacking District. The trendy, cathedral-esque restaurant serves up Asian Fusion cuisine that includes Chinese. It's pricey, but serves up cocktails, delicious dumplings, dim sum, and more in a lively environment. Perfect for late night drinks, most reviewers recommend Buddakan for its ambience and black pepper beef.

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Chicago

Another spot known for its large portions and small prices, King Garden in Chicago gets rave reviews on its strictly Chinese menu, which includes seafood, stir-fry, and hot soup options galore. Reviewers recommend the giant crab rangoon and jumbo shrimp dishes.

A pricier, more upscale option, Shanghai Terrace's cocktails, dim sum, and refined presentation don't disappoint. This Near North spot has ambient outdoor seating for romantic evenings during warmer months, and reviewers recommend the noodles, spring rolls, and crispy duck.

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Seattle

Chilly, wet winters in Washington call for xiao long bao—and the best place to get them (and more) is Seattle's Din Tai Fung. Reviewers also rave about this restaurant's truffle dumplings, and classic dishes like spareribs and hot noodle soups.

To try an authentic Chinese delicacy that might make your toes curl, head to Facing East in nearby Bellvue. This Taiwanese spot offers century eggs—quail eggs aged in lime and clay for a few months, until they become gelatinous. If warm, solid Taiwanese is more your style, opt for their famous pork burger, served on a steamed bao bun.

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San Francisco

For great dim sum and dumplings in a high-end environment, head to San Francisco's appropriately pricey Hakkasan. From the house noodles to crispy duck salad and dim sum samplers, this Cantonese restaurant's loyal clientele recommend an array of items. As an added bonus, this spot also offers some Asian-fusion and Indian dishes, but it's their Chinese dishes that they're known for.

For a more lax dining experience, try the Little Saigon neighborhood's trendy bao shop, The Chairman. The bao sandwiches, rice bowls, and cola-braised pork stand out among The Chairman's admirers, and ginger lemonade and fruit sodas are perfect for washing it all down.

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More from SmarterTravel:

• 12 New Years Traditions from Around the World
• The Airline with the Best Food
• The World's Best Food Halls

Associate Editor Shannon McMahon believes New Years is almost always better spent eating Chinese take-out. Follow her food and travel adventures on Instagram @shanmcmahon.