Chinese Food in San Diego

A cornerstone of the Convoy District since the 1990s, Jasmine delivers Hong Kong–style banquets and rolling-cart dim sum. Featured on Eater San Diego and praised by local critics, it’s a gathering place for weddings, festivals, and community events.

Family-run and local since the 1990s, this Convoy stalwart helped popularize xiao long bao in San Diego. The connected Shanghai Saloon adds craft beer and whiskey. Covered by Eater San Diego and profiled by Thrillist for its hand-made dumplings.

Cantonese roast meats and seafood done with conviction — think lacquered roast pork belly, Peking duck, and lobster yee mein. Highlighted by Eater San Diego and named Best Chinese by San Diego Magazine critics in 2023.

Knife-cut and hand-ripped biang biang noodles bring Shaanxi’s wheat-based cuisine to life. Frequently recommended by Eater San Diego and selected as Best Chinese restaurant by San Diego Magazine in 2025.

This North County Restaurant Highlights One of China’s Gastronomic Centers | Eater San Diego

In Rancho Bernardo I saw a longtime Chinese restaurant remodeled and revamped as Hometown Taste, a showcase for regional Yangzhou-style (Huaiyang) cuisine run by Bruce Bu, who took over the space at the end of 2023 while keeping the previous waitstaff after Hunan Restaurant closed following 41 years. Bu, who ran his own restaurant in Yangzhou for 15 years before moving to the U.S. in 2013 and spent the last decade cooking at local spots like Double Happiness, Chin’s, and Taste of Hunan, is highlighting dishes he misses from home and introducing lesser-seen regional specialties to San Diego. On the chef’s menu I found standouts such as Shanghai soup dumplings, osmanthus cakes, and Yangzhou items like boiled dried bean curd shreds and “absolute sauce steak,” a tender, marinated pork bone dish; other offerings include dim sum, stone pot rice casseroles, chef’s specials, and an assortment of cold prepared dishes like chicken in rice wine and Mr. and Mrs. Smith (spicy beef and ox tripe in chili sauce). The menu nods to the wider Yangzhou tradition—known for Yangzhou fried rice, minced crab meat and pork balls, braised shredded chicken with ham and dried tofu, sweet-and-sour Mandarin fish, and pingqiao bean curd soup—and Bu says he hopes to eventually open a second Chinese restaurant in San Diego. - Helen I. Hwang

A dumpling specialist known for colorful xiao long bao and a weekend giant soup dumpling served with a straw. Noted by Eater San Diego and popular with local families for its approachable prices and lively dining room.

A grand dim sum hall with all-day service, banquet menus, and live music nights. Frequently cited by Eater San Diego; its in-house schedule and community events make it a reliable pick for celebrations.

A Convoy mainstay for Sichuan classics — dried red pepper chicken, cumin beef, and a cold-plate counter. Featured on Eater San Diego’s Chinese list; dependable heat and hearty portions keep regulars coming back.

Tiny, fiercely focused dumpling shop where fillings are folded to order. Eater San Diego highlights its handmade approach and northern-style sides; a great stop near Point Loma’s waterfront.