From Wok To Wow—The 5 Best Chinese Restaurants in Malaysia to Try Now!
One rainy afternoon, the scent of garlic and soy wafted from a nearby stall and instantly awakened a craving I couldn’t ignore—something rich, nostalgic, and unmistakably Chinese. I wasn’t after just any meal and I wanted the kind of flavours that warm your soul and leave a hint of wok char behind every bite.
That little moment set off a quest to find truly authentic Chinese restaurants across Malaysia, from bustling Chinatown joints to hidden spots run by families. Each place brought its own character—some served silky handmade noodles, others dished out roasted duck with skin so crisp it crackled before it touched your tongue.
What amazed me most was how every meal felt like a journey into heritage and heart. So, for anyone chasing bold, honest Chinese cuisine, here are the best restaurants in Malaysia that take your hands from wok to wow!
How much does Chinese food in Malaysia cost?
The cost of Chinese food in Malaysia varies widely, with simple meals like chicken rice or a noodle dish at a hawker stall typically ranging from RM7 to RM15. For a meal at a mid-range restaurant with shared dishes, expect to pay around RM30 to RM60 per person.
1. Chuan Yue De Cuisine
Address: A-GF-12 Sunway Nexis, Jalan PJU 5/1, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: +601152983232
Business Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 11 AM to 10 PM
- Friday to Sunday – 11 AM to 12 AM
We visited Chuan Yue De Cuisine with high expectations, and overall, it delivered a satisfying Sichuan dining experience. The first thing you’ll notice is the bold and authentic flavour in nearly every dish.
We ordered grilled fish with sour and spicy broth, spicy chicken, and “crossing-the-bridge” tofu soup. Each dish packed serious heat and layers of flavour.
The grilled fish, in particular, had just the right amount of tang and spice, and came bubbling hot to the table. If you’re into Sichuan peppercorn, you’ll appreciate how they handle spice—and not just heat, but depth.
The staff were efficient and knew the menu well. They recommended pairing our mains with light stir-fried spinach, which balanced the meal nicely. The atmosphere is low-key but comfortable—bright enough for casual lunches, yet warm enough for family dinners.
Pricing was within mid-range as we spent about RM30 to RM45 per person.
However, parking was a headache. It’s located on a busy street, and we had to circle twice before landing a spot nearby. If you’re driving, give yourself some buffer time.
Amazing and delicious Chinese food
“This is my first time ordering from this restaurant. All of the food that I ordered was amazing and delicious, although a bit expensive. But since the food tastes so good, I will definitely order from them again.”
-Nam Honey, Google Review
Awesome Chinese food selection
“The food is amazing here! The fried lamb with cumin is very unique and comes with lots of spices.The braised beef noodles was spicy and mouth numbing. The hot and sour fungus taste refreshing too. Will definitely come back, there’s still a huge variety of food in the menu for us to try.”
-Sok Wan Kong, Google Review
2. Dragon-i Peking Duck Restaurant
Address: Lot SA – T2 – 22 & 23, Genting Highlands, 69000 Genting Highlands, Pahang
Phone: +60361013880
Business Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 11 AM to 2:30 PM | 5 to 9:30 PM
- Friday to Sunday – 11 AM to 9:30 PM
If you’re after a place that serves up consistently good Chinese cuisine in a refined setting, Dragon-i Peking Duck Restaurant is a solid pick. We checked out their outlet at Genting Highlands and were drawn in by their signature Shanghainese and Cantonese dishes.
The Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) was a standout—thin wrapper, rich broth, and juicy pork filling. You should also try the la mian (hand-pulled noodles), which comes in hearty portions with flavourful broth.
The ambiance was family-friendly yet upscale, and the service team was attentive without being overbearing.
We did run into one small limitation: you can only order the signature Peking Duck as a whole. While that might be great for large groups, it felt impractical for our party of two, who just wanted to try a few slices.
A half-portion would help smaller groups experience the dish without over-committing.
Price-wise, expect to spend around RM40 to RM60 per person, depending on your order. For the quality of food and service, it felt justifiable.
Fantastic experience
“Good service and dining experience. Taste-wise, quite nice; the fish tasted smooth and the vegetables tasted fabulous without a salty feel. Thanks to the service crews, especially Kai Yee and Cho, for keeping our overall experience fantastic.”
-CHEE CHANG H’NG, Google Review
Peking duck is highly recommended
“the peking roast duck is very recommended👍🏻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ the duck meat is tender, the skin is crispy, the sauce is delicious, the way of eating it is unique with pancakes. Also special credit for excellent service from Paing Thu, its very rarely to got the excellent service in any restaurant like what he did to us👍🏻”
-Jessica Angela, Google Review
3. Canton-i Restaurant
Address: 170-B1-03&04, Gurney Plaza, 170, Gurney Dr, 10250 George Town, Penang
Phone: +6046050988
Business Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 11 AM to 10 PM
Canton-i Restaurant delivers on taste and consistency, but before we get into what worked, we should mention a couple of drawbacks.
First, the air-conditioning was freezing during our visit. It made the otherwise cosy dining experience a bit uncomfortable, especially when waiting for food. Second, prices here lean toward the higher end.
While most dishes were worth it, some simple items like congee and noodles felt a little overpriced for the portion size.
That said, we still walked away satisfied overall. The restaurant focuses on authentic Cantonese fare—think silky congee, handmade wonton noodles, fragrant rice, and barbecued meats.
We tried their sui kow dumpling soup and fish slice congee. The dumplings were meaty and flavourful, and the congee had a smooth, comforting texture that didn’t feel heavy.
Their dry noodles also stood out—springy and coated in a rich soy-based sauce.
The space is clean, well-maintained, and not too cramped, even during peak hours. It’s a reliable option for family meals or even casual business lunches.
Service was quick, and the staff was helpful in explaining the menu to newcomers.
Delicious Chinese food and nice ambience
“Foods were amazing with nice ambience at this restaurant. Kudos to the manager Mr Ben for the excellent service rendered to us. Definitely a place for dine and we will be back again for sure.”
Ella Lee, Google Review
Right place for Chinese food
“I first came here because the pictures looked appealing and to my surprise, all their dishes tasted very good! Out of the 5 days I stayed in the area, I came here 2 times already. So, if you’re looking for authentic HK style Chinese Dim Sum or food in general, this is the place!”
Obiwan Kenobi, Google Review
4. Xiao Long Xing Jiang Hu
Address: 25D, Jalan Dato Abdullah Tahir, Taman Abad, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim
Phone: +60108888755
Business Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 12 PM to 3 AM
- Friday to Sunday – 12 PM to 4 AM
Xiao Long Xing Jiang Hu provides more than just a hotpot meal—it’s an entire experience. From the moment you walk in, the place is buzzling with activity, and the energy is infectious.
The ambiance leans festive, making it perfect for group outings or casual celebrations. We appreciated the flexibility in choosing soups, especially being able to select a mala broth without beef, which is rare in most hotpot spots.
But there are things you should be aware of before heading over. Parking around the restaurant is limited, and we had to circle several times before finding a spot. Worse still, the toilet condition was disappointing—small, not well-maintained, and didn’t match the restaurant’s otherwise well-kept image.
That said, the hotpot variety was excellent—you’ll have access to fresh meat, seafood, vegetables, and more sauces than you can count. The soup bases were flavourful, and the weekday lunch pricing was reasonable considering the all-you-can-eat concept.
Staff were incredibly attentive, refilling soup, clearing plates, and even offering umbrellas when it rained.
Fresh food selection and top-notch service
“Wonderful spread of selection for the seafood buffet which feature fresh oysters that are freshly shucked. Their Ma La beef soup is really flavourful. Duck blood cube is a must try. Service is also top notch, with their staff attentive to your every needs, without you needing to ask for them.”
-James.KahHuat Seet, Google Review
Great hotpot spot
“Chance discovery of this sumptuous and fresh hotpot spot. We order the luxury buffet which had many seafood offerings. The soup based (nourishing chicken soup, porkbroth and mala beef) recommended by Marcus was on spot and delicious. Their service provided is very good. My kids enjoyed all the food here as well, ice cream variety is amazing. The only drawback was it got abit warm at the end, not sure was it the malasoup working its hot effect on me 😂. Highly recommend this place for people who loves good food and good gathering!”
-Debbie Wong, Google Review
5. Hibiscus Cuisine (Ipoh DimSum)
Address: 163, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, Taman Jubilee, 31650 Ipoh, Perak
Phone: +60108202696
Business Hours:
- Monday – 10 AM to 10 PM
- Tuesday to Thursday – 10 AM to 10:30 PM
- Friday, Sunday – 10 AM to 9:30 PM
Hibiscus Cuisine in Ipoh brings a unique blend of Chinese culinary staples with a halal twist, making it an ideal spot for families, tourists, and Muslim diners alike. Located centrally, it’s easy to reach whether you’re exploring the city or passing through.
The restaurant serves a wide selection of dim sum and classic Chinese dishes throughout the day. We noted a steady stream of tourists, which hints at its growing popularity.
Cuisine-wise, this place leans heavily into Cantonese-style offerings. Their xiao long bao and char siew bao stood out—both prepared well, with flavourful fillings and soft, fresh textures.
The shumai and dumplings were solid as well, and the char siew bao was surprisingly addictive. For drinks, we saw many tables ordering chendol alongside savoury meals, which worked well.
Portions are generous, and the atmosphere feels casual but organised.
That said, if you’re planning to visit during lunch or dinner rush, be prepared to wait. Service tends to slow down at peak times. We had to wait longer than usual between dishes, and getting the bill took some follow-up.
Reasonable price and attentive staff
“This place cater halal dim sum. This atmosphere was relaxing and not many people which I likes. Staff very friendly and respond well to my question. Food was serve fast and hot. Dim sum was delicious and the price was reasonable.If I ever in Ipoh, I definitely will come here for its food. Other than dim sum, they also cater Chinese & Western style food.”
-Sheri Ha, Google Review
Highly recommended
“The staff was great. Celebrated my friend’s birthday here .The attentive and knowledgeable staff ensured that our meal was a memorable one, providing excellent recommendations and ensuring our satisfaction.Thank you boss for fulfilling our requested dish.”
-Haema Wathy, Google Review