Beyond the familiar takeout boxes and mall food court staples, finding authentic Chinese cuisine in Nashua can feel like a culinary treasure hunt. We’ve scoured the city’s strip malls and downtown corners to uncover eight exceptional spots where you can savor hand-pulled noodles, delicate dumplings, and regional specialties—all without breaking the bank. These restaurants prove that great Chinese food in Nashua isn’t just a lucky fortune.
Panda Express
$ | (603) 888-1762 | WEBSITE
Panda Express looks like yet another fast-food Chinese chain. Sure, it’s a national chain (with locations everywhere), but the food here is tasty and still feels like actual Chinese food. You could order anything on the menu and be satisfied, but we like the orange chicken plus a side of the standout spring rolls.
chen yang li
$ | (603) 578-9888 | WEBSITE
It’s 6pm, you just got out of work, and the thought of spending your next hour in traffic for the fourth day in a row is enough to make you want to quit your job. Go to Chen Yang Li for a lively solo dinner instead. Sit at the bar or at a cozy table, order one of the bigger plates (maybe the Mongolian beef or the fresh seafood) and get some sushi for an appetizer so that you can be sure you’ve killed enough time for traffic to die down.
Mint Cafe
$ | (603) 316-6788 | WEBSITE
Nashua has plenty of strip malls and office parks that could be anything, but one thing is certain: Nashua has Mint Cafe. This is where you come when you want a satisfying meal, but you’re watching your budget, so it would be nice to be able to order the best egg rolls in the area for under $8, spend the rest of your money on a generous pupu for 2, and take the other half of your order home for lunch the next day.
Lilac Blossom (Greystone Plaza)
$$ | (603) 886-8420 | WEBSITE
Mostly, Greystone Plaza is a place to drive past, unless you need to run errands or pick up groceries. Lilac Blossom, though, is a nice old-school Chinese restaurant with a bright and very clean dining room. Get the boneless spare ribs and the beef and vegetables, or if you make it in time for lunch, go for the $14 luncheon special that you can enjoy with a terrific wonton soup. The spring rolls are great, and everything is fresh, well-prepared, and flavorful without being heavy or greasy.
It’s fine dining, not fast-food, with waitstaff in bowties and quick, friendly service.
Shanghai Osaka Restaurant
$$ | (603) 888-7999 | WEBSITE
Shanghai Osaka Restaurant might be tucked away from the overpriced chain restaurants filled with $30 entrees and families coming down from sensory overload at the mall, but you won’t find any of that here. Instead, this spacious establishment has pupu platters for $24 and a very generous cocktail menu.
(The rest of your appetite can go towards ordering every sushi roll that doesn’t come with your meal.) Come here after a long day and enjoy all the MaiTais swimming around in your glass, or if you just need to pretend you’re in an Asian fusion paradise for an hour.
Wok N Roll Asian Cuisine
$ | (603) 417-2123 | WEBSITE
Heading to Nashua just for Chinese food might seem like a stretch, but navigating the large lot behind the building proves worthwhile when the reward is a meal from Wok N Roll. This is excellent, traditional Asian cuisine made with quality ingredients, and it’s somehow less heavy than you’d expect. A sushi regular, a Szechuan chicken, and an order of their incredible crab Rangoon still won’t push you past the $25 mark.
Lilac Blossom (Sky Meadow)
$$ | (603) 888-9588 | WEBSITE
Lilac Blossom is the complete opposite of those bustling, noisy Chinese spots. You’re not here for a celebration, you’re here on your own when you need something reliable and comforting (except you’ve been craving this kind of comfort for weeks). At this point you will want something familiar, satisfying, and extremely relaxed.
Head to your well-spaced table, order the shrimp lo mein (which should include the chicken lo mein if you’re feeling adventurous), get a pot of tea to go with it, and you’ll be chatting comfortably in under an hour.
Crane Restaurant
$ | (603) 459-8186 | WEBSITE
Whether or not you think sushi belongs in a Chinese restaurant (and whether or you prefer traditional rolls over creative ones), Crane Restaurant remains a Nashua classic. The West Pearl Street location is small, so you might have to wait a little while, but you’ll be rewarded with excellent $18 special rolls like the Mango Tango and Nashua, and a quiet, family-friendly atmosphere that feels like a hidden gem.