China Max Dumpling House
Chinese restaurant · San Diego ·
Seafood, Cantonese entrees, made-to-order dim sum
Seafood, Cantonese entrees, made-to-order dim sum
"Under new ownership and with a refreshed dumpling-centric menu, China Max is back after a devastating fire in 2020 and a multi-million dollar remodel. Although the Kearny Mesa spot’s menu has shifted to handmade noodles, dumplings, and more signature fried rice dishes, there are still plenty of dim sum favorites on the new menu. The restaurant had a short-lived all-you-can-eat weekday promotion to celebrate its reopening, causing lines to form around the block. Make sure to try the har gow (shrimp dumplings) and the delicate rice rolls." - Helen I. Hwang
"One of the best comeback stories in the neighborhood is the reopening of the iconic China Max, which was destroyed in a fire early during the COVID-19 pandemic. After being closed for five years, the restaurant has recently reopened under new ownership. The restaurant has undergone massive reconstruction and revamped its menu to focus more on dumplings, having found success with its Dumpling Bar restaurant in Encinitas, which opened in the summer of 2024. All-you-can-eat weeknight dim sum with desserts and drinks has drummed up lines around the corner. Try the soup dumplings (either steamed or pan-fried), har gow, potstickers, and chicken wontons in chile sauce." - Helen I. Hwang
"After a devastating 2020 fire, this long-standing Convoy District restaurant is slated to reopen by August 2024 with a multi-million-dollar, two-level remodel that includes a main dining room on the first floor and an upstairs banquet space for up to 300 guests. The relaunched concept will restore the classic seafood and other Cantonese dishes China Max was known for while expanding service to made-to-order dim sum offered from morning through dinner and adding an elevated, fine-dining tasting-menu experience with wine pairings. The new ownership team — working closely with original owner Cindy Woo (who founded the landmark Convoy District restaurant with her husband in 1983) — has recruited many former chefs, managers, and waitstaff to return and includes partners Shuai Liu and Yingkang Lu (a UCSD grad whose family runs large catering halls in Wuhan) and Yukun Sun (who owns several restaurants and karaoke bars in China, including an elegant, high-end restaurant in Kunming). The owners have been researching offerings by visiting Chinese restaurants in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, and say they’re excited to bring back a beloved community institution that has been serving authentic Chinese cuisine and dim sum to San Diego since 2003." - Helen I. Hwang
"Serving San Diego from 1983 until an April 2020 fire that caused an estimated $4.5 million in damages, China Max was one of the first Chinese restaurants in the area and specialized in dim sum, seafood, and other Cantonese specialties. Although owner Cindy Woo initially intended to rebuild and reopen, she and her husband ultimately sold the business to a team that includes one of the proprietors of Kanpai BBQ & Shabu and the owners of nearby Taste of Hong Kong; a chef and several staff members from China Max are currently working at Taste of Hong Kong." - Helen I. Hwang
"After its kitchen closed for takeout on the evening of April 6, 2020, a fire broke out and completely gutted China Max Seafood Restaurant; the blaze was ultimately determined to be accidental and, thankfully, caused no major injuries, though the well-established Chinese restaurant—popular for its dim sum—and surrounding businesses sustained more than $4.5 million in damages. Owner Cindy Woo said, "We are thankful to our loyal customers and our hardworking employees who have supported us for the last seventeen years. With your help, we are determined to rebuild and reopen as quickly as possible." Fans are now rejoicing after China Max announced on its Facebook page this week that it plans to reopen in 2022, with reports saying the two-level restaurant will be returning to its original state. China Max has been serving authentic Chinese cuisine and dim sum to San Diego since 2003." - Candice Woo