Let’s be honest: Cleveland winters can make you want to hibernate with takeout menus. But instead of lamenting the gray skies, let’s celebrate the vibrant warmth found in steaming bowls of hand-pulled noodles and sizzling hot pots. This guide highlights the spots where you can do just that—embrace the season with exceptional Chinese cuisine that turns a chilly day into a delicious adventure. Dig in.
Wonton Gourmet & BBQ
$ | (216) 875-7000 | WEBSITE
It’s the generous portions that should motivate you to become a weekly regular at Wonton Gourmet & BBQ if you live or work anywhere near Cleveland. On winter days, they serve Hong Kong style noodles that are perfect for the season. The Seafood Pan-Fried Noodles and Szechuan Fish Filet come highly recommended. That and a bowl of Wonton Noodle Soup will become your winter antidote to the cold weather.
Dagu Rice Noodle
$ | (216) 291-7533 | WEBSITE
Dagu Rice Noodle continues to be the one Chinese spot we can recommend in Cleveland with a straight face. It’s just that good. Plus, the warmth from their freshly renovated dining area is very inviting, and the expanded menu is available if you need a few more braised or BBQ options.
Li Wah
$$ | (216) 696-6556 | WEBSITE
Li Wah found a dim sum destination to settle into this weekend. The traditional cart service is rolling through the dining room Saturday and Sunday. Consider it a classic Hong Kong-style experience, which has been holding down this same Cleveland location for years. For now, they’re serving authentic dishes like shrimp shiu mai, crispy pork belly, and soup dumplings from carts piled with steaming bamboo baskets.
No. 1 Kitchen
$ | (216) 252-5588 | WEBSITE
No. 1 Kitchen is a perfect Chinese takeout spot, whether you need a reliable dinner before catching a show downtown or comforting food after scrolling through endless vacation photos. There are no cravings their crispy dishes and friendly service can’t satisfy.
Wen’s Kitchen
$$ | (216) 205-4859 | WEBSITE
It’s winter in Cleveland—that time of year when the cold settles in and you crave something warm and comforting. That’s where Wen’s Kitchen comes in. This excellent Chinese restaurant will get you through the chilly evenings when you want authentic flavors without breaking the bank. They’re small and cozy, with simple decor and friendly staff who make you feel welcome despite the limited space.
Great Wall
$ | (216) 883-8898 | WEBSITE
As Cleveland’s dining scene keeps evolving with new trends, one reliable constant remains: Great Wall. This classic Chinese takeout spot is still out there serving hungry customers with authentic flavors and quick service seven days a week. If it’s been too long since your last order, go pay tribute to the wonton soup legend this weekend.
Taydo Vietnamese & Chinese
$ | (440) 842-0392 | WEBSITE
Pho and summer rolls are a perfect comfort meal. And by that logic, Taydo is a perfect neighborhood spot. The friendly team maintains their cozy space where you can sip a jasmine tea while enjoying dumplings and pho like a regular being welcomed back for years of loyalty.
Grand China
$ | (440) 995-1819 | WEBSITE
Grand China has been serving Cleveland for years. To experience it, you just need to order the classics like Moo goo gai pan and Chicken with Broccoli. The atmosphere is casual, and the service is generally good, though sometimes you might wait a bit. But the dishes show Grand China’s true form as a reliable, affordable Chinese spot. We’re always happy we get to enjoy the hot, delicious food whether dining in or taking it to go. It’s all satisfying.
Ni’s Express Chinese Restaurant
$ | (216) 635-0888 | WEBSITE
Ni’s Express is the Chinese restaurant of the week, month, year—its appeal can’t be contained by calendars. But there is one big reason to think about it as a weekday spot: tables should be easier to snag. Take advantage of the lack of crowds gobbling up all the crab rangoon, even if you have to sit near the kitchen. A busy evening is no match for a couple of rounds of general tso chicken.
Siam Cafe
$$ | (216) 361-2323 | WEBSITE
Siam Cafe is Cleveland’s de facto Chinese comfort food, so one more noodle house can’t hurt. Especially one that’s perpetually two dishes away from turning into a family feast. This long-standing Cleveland spot should be where you cap off a workday with No. 20 Noodles in generous bowls, hide from the winter chill over a long Saturday lunch, or pop in on a holiday to savor the No. 1 soup.
Han Chinese Kabob & Grill
$ | (216) 713-0018 | WEBSITE
Five months from now, when you’re craving something beyond the usual takeout, you’ll wish you’d discovered this haven of Sichuan noodles, Mongolian beef, and authentic kabobs. Yes, you’re going to feast. But there’s consistent quality, fast service, and a clean atmosphere. Bring a group and let them share the flavorful rolls while they savor the rich, authentic tastes (and you savor a meal that won’t leave you in a food coma).
Golden House Restaurant
$ | (216) 881-5374 | WEBSITE
Whether or not you’re a late-night foodie, your inner reveler will emerge at Golden House Restaurant, a decades-old establishment tucked near Cleveland’s Asia Town neighborhood. The unique Chinese-food-in-a-bar setting hosts friendly service and well-liked staff who make you feel like a regular from the moment you walk in.
They serve large portions of excellent, fresh food at good prices (think around $12–18 for generous entrees), feature a full bar with great cocktails including their signature Zombie, and stay open late for those downtown cravings. It’s a hidden gem that delivers exactly what you want when you want it.
Saigon Restaurant & Bar
$$ | (216) 344-2020 | WEBSITE
When you need a change of pace this winter, plan an evening around Saigon Restaurant & Bar in Cleveland. This welcoming Vietnamese spot, nestled in the lively E 4th street alley, is still a flavorful escape unlike anything in downtown. Every Clevelander should try it once. That’s as much for the convenient location near Progressive Field, and more for the reliably delicious pho.
China Mountain III
$ | (216) 881-4477 | WEBSITE
Everyone wants to be at China Mountain III right now, grabbing takeout boxes of sesame chicken and nodding to the sizzle of the wok. You should join them. The most reliable Chinese spot in Cleveland is also one of the most affordable. And since you’re already craving something comforting, order the egg fu young and egg drop soup.
Hunan East
$ | (216) 381-2266 | WEBSITE
You’ll find this gem tucked away in Cleveland’s Chinese restaurant scene. Get adventurous and try the peapod tofu with cumin lamb, or play it safe and stick to their renowned shrimp rolls that make perfect sense. Either way, it’s a reliable dinner spot where your taste buds can explore while you enjoy the welcoming service and long-standing tradition of excellence.
Sichuan Hot Pot
$ | (216) 523-1188 | WEBSITE
It is too easy to settle for bland takeout, huddled around lukewarm containers and sheltered from any real flavor. But Sichuan Hot Pot is exactly the sort of no-frills space you want to be trapped in with fellow spice lovers during a craving. Linger here over generous portions and authentic Sichuan dishes. Then stay for an extra bowl of that fiery broth if you’re still sweating from the heat.
King Fong Chinese Restaurant
$ | (216) 251-7678 | WEBSITE
King Fong is our go-to Chinese spot in Cleveland, and still the only place that delivers handwritten notes with your order. Crank your stove’s heat and enjoy a moment of solitude with your favorite show and a steaming plate of pepper steak with extra onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms. We tried to eat one of those plates without the egg drop/wonton soup combination one time. It didn’t end well.