Hayley ThomasCraving a steaming bowl of hand-pulled noodles or crispy, pan-seared pork dumplings? Finding the best Chinese restaurant in Nashville is a delicious mission, especially with the city’s rapidly expanding culinary scene.
Forget the standard, greasy takeout boxes. Music City now serves up everything from tongue-numbing Sichuan hot pots to delicate soup dumplings bursting with savory broth.
Whether you’re a local food lover hunting down authentic regional spices or a visitor wanting a hearty family meal after exploring the sights, there’s a table waiting for you.
Let’s dive into the top spots where you can satisfy those serious cravings and discover your new favorite dishes.
How much does eating at a Chinese restaurant cost in Nashville?
Dining at a Chinese restaurant in Nashville is generally affordable, offering great value for casual meals and slightly higher prices for mid-range spots.
| Meal Type | Average Cost |
| Lunch Buffet | Starting around $7 |
| Dinner Entrees (Takeout/Casual) | $7 to $12 per person |
| Mid-Range Sit-Down | Slightly higher |
1. Steam Boys
Website: https://www.steamboys.com/
Address: 412 Harding, Suite 105
Contact: (615) 679-9144
Hours: Mon – Sun 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Walking into Steam Boys immediately wraps you in the comforting aroma of fresh dough and savory meats.
I recently stopped by for a quick lunch and was blown away by the hard-to-find treats like delicate, soup-filled Xiao Long Bao alongside perfectly pan-seared pork buns.
Trust me on this. Pairing a spicy noodle dish with one of their signature tiger sugar milk teas elevates the entire casual dining experience.
It’s a fantastic spot to grab a bite before exploring other restaurants around town. But keep in mind that their narrow menu focus means you won’t find large, family-style stir-fries here.
You might also notice that the portion sizes feel a bit small for the price point.
Customer Reviews
Great food and atmosphere. Got the lunch combo with noodle and dumplings. The soup had the right taste and the noodle perfect texture. Dumplings were juicy, with the skin being slightly too thick for my liking but overall I enjoyed the experience! Definitely coming back.
- Ruth Zhou Google Review
Great experience! I ordered takeout and the service was incredibly fast. The food was nice and hot, clearly freshly made, and everything tasted delicious. Really impressed with how smooth and quick the whole process was. Will definitely order again!
- sravya madhavarapu Google Review
2. Sichuan Hot Pot & Asian Cuisine
Website: https://sichuanhotpottogo.com/
Address: 5680 Nolensville Pike
Contact: (615) 750-2582
Hours: Mon – Tue 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm – 10:00 pm; Thu 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm – 10:30 pm; Fri 11:30 am – 10:00 pm; Sat 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm; Sun 12:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Spice lovers looking for an interactive meal will feel right at home at Sichuan Hot Pot & Asian Cuisine.
This lively spot centers its identity on the traditional hot pot experience while serving up highly authentic regional delicacies like spicy beef tendon and pork lungs in chili sauce.
Diners can enjoy the luxury of individual induction burners, allowing everyone at the table to customize their bubbling broth without compromising on flavor preferences.
Plus, we think that creating a personalized dipping sauce at the massive self-service station adds a fun layer to the feast.
It’s a fantastic choice for group celebrations, complete with private karaoke rooms for post-dinner entertainment.
However, you should prepare your wallet for the à la carte pricing structure. Because you pay per item rather than a flat fee, the final bill can climb quickly for large groups.
Customer Reviews
A nice restaurant with interesting decor of live koi fish and Chinese clay warrior and his horse. They have it all, dim sum, hot pot, and traditional Chinese menu. The dim sum and regular menu were tasty, the service was good, and the price were reasonable. I wish I live close by, I’ll be a regular customer!
- Lily P Google review
I’ve been to this place several times. Fresh food. Hot Pot tables are always so clean. They have a great selection of international beer. I also really like the sauce bar to complement the hot pot. I’ve never had a bad experience here. The staff is kind and attentive. I’ve tried a few hot pot places and this is my favorite in the Nashville area.
- Jenna O Google Review
3. Dumpling House
Website: https://dumplinghousenashville.net/
Address: 2117 Belcourt Ave
Contact: (615) 891-4728
Hours: Sun – Thu 11:30 am – 9:30 pm; Fri – Sat 11:30 am – 10:30 pm
Nothing beats the texture of a freshly rolled wrapper, and Dumpling House delivers that delightful bite every single time.
I popped in last week to try their famous peanut butter pork dumplings, and the spicy, sweet flavor profile completely won me over.
The culinary team meticulously hand-crafts their food on-site, offering an adventurous menu that even features creative pork pizza dumplings alongside a full tea house beverage program.
I think that watching the kitchen staff fold each order adds a wonderful touch of transparency to the meal. This specialized approach makes it a standout choice among other downtown restaurants.
Just be prepared to practice a little patience during your visit. Because the dining area is compact and every item is made from scratch upon ordering, you’ll likely experience slower service and wait times during the busy dinner rush.
Customer Reviews
The dumpling house is hard to beat! I’ve tried most of the chicken, pork, and beef flavors . The spicy pork is delicious but i haven’t had anything I wouldn’t recommend. Always have to get yummy milk tea.
- Lauren E. Google Review
The dumplings, both steamed and pan fried, were great. The hot and sour soup needed more sour but the vinegar on the table took care of that. The service was slow, but it is for good reason; the dumplings are made to order and you can watch them be made at the counter. If you’re hungry for dumplings in Nashville, this is the place to go.
- Jacob McClure Google Review
4. SHAOKAO – Chinese Street Food
Website: https://shaokao.kwickmenu.com/
Address: 1812 Hayes St
Contact: (615) 922-4987
Hours: Sun 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm; Mon 11:30 am – 10:00 pm; Wed – Sat 11:30 am – 10:30 pm
Late-night cravings for smoky, charcoal-grilled meats find their ultimate cure at SHAOKAO – Chinese Street Food.
This unique eatery brings authentic Northern-style street barbecue to the city, heavily seasoning diverse skewers with bold cumin and chili flavors.
Adventurous eaters will love exploring regional delicacies like lamb kidneys and chicken feet, while comforting handmade noodles provide a satisfying base for the meal.
Their specialized tin-foil cooking technique brilliantly locks in moisture for dishes like enoki mushrooms and bullfrog. Plus, sipping on their traditional plum juice perfectly cools down the lingering heat from the spices.
While the late hours make it a fantastic evening spot, the highly specific menu might not appeal to everyone. Diners searching for familiar American-Chinese staples like orange chicken will need to look elsewhere to satisfy those specific cravings.
Customer Reviews
Authentic Chinese BBQ in Nashville is absolutely amazing! The meat is very tender and juicy, and the flavors are truly authentic with a unique Chinese-style BBQ sauce that you don’t often find elsewhere. My family and I really love this place. Our favorites are the grilled pork feet, lamb skewers, lamb hot pot, and the big plate chicken (Da Pan Ji). Everything tastes delicious and feels just like real Chinese barbecue. Highly recommended!
- kui xiao Google Review
This place is a hidden gem for now. Authentic Chinese Street Food and nothing else like it here in Nashville. Tried mainly the skewers on my first visit but will go back and look forward to trying some of the entrees and noodle dishes very soon. My only wish was some dipping sauce available to go with the skewers but it was still tasty and sauces usually aren’t an item in the street food market so that make sense. Highly recommend this spot!
- Phom Sisoukrath Google Review
5. Meet Noodles
Website: https://www.meetnoodlestn.com/
Address: 2121 Belcourt Ave #100
Contact: (615) 679-9941
Hours: Mon – Sun 11:30 am – 9:00 pm
Bold, numbing heat takes center stage at Meet Noodles, a culinary gem located right in the bustling heart of Hillsboro Village.
This kitchen specializes strictly in Chongqing-style cuisine, bringing intensely flavorful broths and unique textures to the local dining scene.
Diners can slurp through satisfying bowls of Shanxi sliced noodles or dive into fiery sweet potato noodles paired with pickled swai fish.
For drinks, refreshing grass jelly drinks and chilled soy milk are readily available to tame the intense spice levels of their signature dishes.
We love the streamlined online ordering system here, which makes grabbing a quick lunch incredibly convenient for busy students and professionals.
Unfortunately, visiting the physical location presents a few logistical headaches. The high-traffic urban neighborhood suffers from limited street parking, which often forces drivers to circle the block multiple times.
Customer Reviews
We loved this place. We had a good chat with the owner (co-owner, I think), very nice guy. The food was amazing. Way better than your average place. Especially loved the Shanxi Sliced noodles & the pork & cabbage dumplings. I totally recommend both of these. Definitely going back. I really can’t say enough nice things about this place. Please try it.
- Will Warstler Google Review
Situated near Belcourt, we couldn’t resist a visit to Meat Noodle. Upon entering, the special of the day, Duck noodles, caught my attention due to my fondness for duck dishes. My companion went for the tomato sirloin noodle bowl. To begin, we ordered a seaweed appetizer that pleasantly surprised us. The duck, though flavorful, contained quite a few bones. The sirloin proved delectable and both dishes had exceptional broths. The experience was positive enough to warrant a return visit in the future.
- Ali E Google Review
