San Diego
San Diego's Chinese Food Scene Is More Than Convoy Street — But That's Still Where You Start
Let's be honest: if you're hunting for great Chinese food in San Diego, you're probably ending up in Clairemont's Convoy corridor. That strip-mall-dense stretch between the 805 and the 163 is where the city's Chinese food story really happens — hand-ripped Shaanxi noodles, proper soup dumplings, Sichuan spice that doesn't apologize.
But here's what makes San Diego's Chinese food scene interesting: it's not just Convoy. You've got a family-run dumpling spot in Point Loma where the wait hits an hour on weekends. A dim sum palace in City Heights with a parking lot (revolutionary, if you know Convoy). Even a legit Taiwanese breakfast operation that opens at 8am when most of the city is still nursing hangovers.
The challenge isn't finding good Chinese food in San Diego — it's knowing which spots do which things well. Because the hand-pulled noodle house and the soup dumpling factory and the late-night hot pot carnival all serve completely different needs. And the Yelp-famous tourist traps? They're usually not the ones the Mandarin-speaking tables are ordering from.
Best for:Soup dumpling puristsLate-night noodle cravingsGroup dinners with kidsSichuan heat seekersDim sum brunches
Local Tip
Convoy parking is a blood sport on weekends — arrive before noon or after 2pm for dim sum spots, or just park in the structure behind Jasmine and walk. Most places take cards now, but a few cash-only holdouts remain.
Editor's Picks
Where to start
- 01
Din Tai Fung
$$Din Tai Fung
University City
$$ · Chinese · 2.4
The international chain that built its empire on soup dumplings, and the San Diego location doesn't phone it in. Reviewers who've eaten at the Seattle and NYC outposts confirm the consistency — thin-skinned xiao long bao, solid shrimp fried rice, and a staff that handles three couples with babies without breaking stride. Expect an hour wait, but the mall location means you can browse while your name crawls up the list.
- 02
formoosa
30venues · Sorted by relevance
Common questions
FAQ
Where's the best soup dumpling in San Diego?
Din Tai Fung in University City is the consensus pick — they're the international chain that built its reputation on xiao long bao, and the San Diego location maintains the standard. Expect waits, but you can browse the mall. For a less corporate experience, Dumpling Inn on Convoy does solid XLB with thinner skin, though texture can be inconsistent.
Is there good Chinese food outside of Convoy Street?
Yes, but it's scattered. Meet Dumpling in Point Loma is a family-run gem serving scallop-shrimp dumplings worth the hour wait. Diamond Palace in City Heights does dim sum with actual parking. Corner Cafe in Hillcrest is a hole-in-the-wall late-night option. But realistically, Convoy's Clairemont strip is where the density and quality both peak.
Which Chinese restaurants in San Diego are open late?
Haidilao Hot Pot stays open late (often past midnight on weekends) and turns dinner into performance art with noodle dancing and birthday chaos. OB Noodle House serves Thai-Japanese fusion until late with a sake program that's better than expected. Most Convoy spots close by 9 or 10pm, so plan accordingly.
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