Dubai's Chinese food scene is one of the most underrated and overlooked stories in the city's culinary world. While everyone talks about the Japanese restaurants and the steakhouses, quietly — across DIFC, Palm Jumeirah, Deira and International City — a world-class Chinese dining ecosystem has taken root. Michelin stars. Dim sum masters. Proper Peking duck. Sichuan fire that'll make your eyes water. And late-night congee that's worth a 1am drive across town.
We've eaten our way through more than 40 Chinese restaurants across Dubai. This is everything you need to know.
The Six Traditions of Chinese Cuisine in Dubai
Chinese food isn't one cuisine — it's six distinct regional traditions, each with its own techniques, ingredients and philosophy. Dubai has restaurants doing justice to most of them.
Cantonese
The bedrock of Dubai's Chinese scene. Light, delicate, technique-heavy. Dim sum, Peking duck, char siu BBQ, silky steamed fish. Hakkasan and Mott 32 represent the pinnacle. Best for: special occasions, dim sum brunches.
Sichuan
Mouth-numbing mala heat from Sichuan peppercorns, fiery chillies and bold broths. Mapo tofu, Dan Dan noodles, Chongqing hot pot. Hutong's Northern Chinese menu flirts with Sichuan; for authentic, head to International City.
Northern Chinese / Beijing
The home of Peking duck — roasted whole, carved tableside, served with pancakes, hoisin and spring onion. Hutong in DIFC leads this category in Dubai. Heartier, wheat-forward, dumplings and hand-pulled noodles.
Shanghainese
Sweet-savoury sauces, braised pork belly, xiao long bao soup dumplings and red-cooked dishes. Maiden Shanghai at FIVE Palm Jumeirah blends Shanghai with Beijing and Cantonese for a modern take.
Hong Kong / Yum Cha
The dim sum tradition. Har gow, siu mai, turnip cake, egg tarts — eaten with endless refills of jasmine tea. Shang Palace at Shangri-La executes this flawlessly. Saturday brunch is peak dim sum culture in Dubai.
International City & Community Chinese
The unsung heroes. International City's Dragon Mart area has 30+ authentic Chinese restaurants serving Quanjude's legendary Peking duck (AED 118 whole), hand-pulled noodles and congee at prices that would shock DIFC diners.
The 5 Best Chinese Restaurants in Dubai Right Now
Ranked by our team based on multiple visits, consistency, value for the price point, and — most importantly — how the food actually tastes.
Mott 32
On the 73rd floor of Address Beach Resort, Mott 32 is Dubai's most spectacular Chinese restaurant — in terms of both view and food. The 42-day apple wood-roasted Peking duck (AED 688, serves up to four) must be pre-ordered and is worth every dirham. The Cantonese-leaning menu spans dim sum, wok dishes and showstopping whole fish. But the real genius is the atmosphere: stunning at sunset, electric at night.
Must order: Apple wood Peking duck, black cod, signature dim sum basket · Price: AED 400–600pp
Hakkasan Dubai
The only Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant in Dubai, located within Atlantis The Palm. Chef Andy Toh's Cantonese cooking is precise, beautiful and genuinely emotional in the best dishes — particularly the lychee lobster with yuzu pearl and the legendary crispy duck salad. The moody blue-lit interior is a classic for a reason. This is the benchmark. AED 300 per person minimum; expect AED 500–600 for a proper feast.
Must order: Lychee lobster yuzu pearl, crispy duck salad, har gow dim sum · Price: AED 500–700pp
Hutong
Hutong in Gate Building 6, DIFC is the most exciting Chinese restaurant in Dubai for flavour. Its Northern Chinese cuisine is bold, occasionally fiery and never boring. The flaming Peking duck is theatrical and delicious. The dim sum (AED 55–145) is some of the best in the city. Their Saturday brunch (from AED 288 with drinks) is a ritual for Dubai's food crowd. The Silk Road-inspired interiors are dramatic without being overwrought.
Must order: Flaming Peking duck, wagyu wok, unlimited dim sum lunch · Price: AED 250–400pp
Shang Palace
Shang Palace at the Shangri-La Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road is the gold standard for traditional Cantonese cooking in Dubai. Its Michelin Guide listing is justified: the dim sum is flawless, the Peking duck portions are generous, and the service has old-school Chinese restaurant formality (a rare pleasure). This is where Hong Kong expats come when they're homesick. Weekend yum cha is a must.
Must order: Assorted dim sum, Peking duck, BBQ char siu · Price: AED 200–350pp
Maiden Shanghai
Located at FIVE Palm Jumeirah, Maiden Shanghai merges Cantonese, Sichuan, Shanghai and Beijing flavours into a slick, entirely MSG-free menu. The Peking duck is excellent; so is the Kung Pao lobster. The setting — poolside-adjacent at FIVE — gives it an energy that more formal Chinese restaurants can't match. Perfect for groups where one person "doesn't really do Chinese food" — there's enough variety to win anyone over.
Must order: Peking duck, Kung Pao lobster, king crab in chilli tomato · Price: AED 250–400pp
Where to Eat Chinese Food by Area
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Chinese restaurants are spread across Dubai — here's where to go based on where you are and what you're spending.
| Area | Best Restaurant | Cuisine Type | Price per Person |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIFC | Hutong | Northern Chinese / Dim Sum | AED 250–400 |
| Palm Jumeirah | Hakkasan Dubai | Cantonese (Michelin ★) | AED 500–700 |
| JBR / Beach | Mott 32 | Cantonese / Contemporary | AED 400–600 |
| Sheikh Zayed Rd | Shang Palace | Cantonese / Yum Cha | AED 200–350 |
| Dubai Marina | Hakkasan (Marina outpost) | Cantonese | AED 250–400 |
| International City | Quanjude Restaurant | Peking Duck / Sichuan | AED 60–120 |
| Deira | China Club (Radisson) | Cantonese / Shanghainese | AED 120–200 |
| Downtown | Zheng He's | Pan-Chinese | AED 200–350 |
Essential Chinese Dishes to Order in Dubai
Whether it's your first time at a Chinese restaurant in Dubai or your fiftieth, these are the dishes that define the scene here:
Peking Duck
Har Gow & Siu Mai
Steamed Sea Bass
Mapo Tofu
Xiao Long Bao
Char Siu BBQ Pork
Chinese Food for Every Budget
Budget Guide: Chinese Food in Dubai
Best Occasions for Chinese Food in Dubai
Special Occasion
Mott 32 for the view. Hakkasan for the Michelin star. Both require reservations weeks ahead.
Business Dinner
Hutong DIFC is perfectly positioned for finance-world entertaining. Impressive without being ostentatious.
Dim Sum Brunch
Shang Palace for traditional yum cha. Hutong's Saturday brunch (from AED 288) for a livelier experience.
Family Dinner
Maiden Shanghai at FIVE for groups. Good variety, manageable noise levels, shareable dishes.
Best Value
International City / Quanjude for authentic Chinese on a budget. The Peking duck rivals restaurants charging 5× the price.
Late Night
Several Deira Chinese restaurants serve until midnight or later. Congee and fried rice after a long night — deeply satisfying.
Frequently Asked Questions: Chinese Food in Dubai
Is there good Chinese food in Dubai?
Yes — better than most cities outside Asia. Dubai has a Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant (Hakkasan at Atlantis), multiple award-winning fine dining options (Mott 32, Hutong, Shang Palace), and an entire district (International City) with authentic budget-friendly Chinese canteens. The Chinese expat community in Dubai has maintained high standards across all price points.
Where is the best Peking duck in Dubai?
For fine dining Peking duck: Mott 32's 42-day apple wood-roasted duck (AED 688, must pre-order) is the most impressive in the city. Hutong's flaming Peking duck in DIFC is theatrical and delicious. For value, Quanjude in International City offers a whole Peking duck for AED 118 — genuinely excellent cooking at a fraction of the price.
Where is the best dim sum in Dubai?
Shang Palace at Shangri-La Hotel for traditional Cantonese yum cha — the gold standard. Hakkasan at Atlantis for Michelin-level precision. Hutong DIFC for the Saturday unlimited dim sum brunch. Each offers a different experience; all are excellent.
Is Chinese food halal in Dubai?
Most Chinese restaurants in Dubai serve halal food — this is standard across the UAE. However, a small number of restaurants in International City and Deira may serve pork (common in authentic Chinese cuisine). Always ask if you have dietary requirements. The major venues (Hakkasan, Mott 32, Hutong, Shang Palace) serve fully halal menus.
Do I need to reserve a table at Chinese restaurants in Dubai?
For Mott 32, Hakkasan and Hutong, yes — especially weekends. Book 2–4 weeks ahead for Friday/Saturday evenings. For the Peking duck at Mott 32 specifically, you must pre-order when booking. Mid-range restaurants like Shang Palace typically have walk-in capacity on weekdays.
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Weekly restaurant intel for Dubai's serious food lovers. New openings, honest reviews, table-booking tips.