Chinese food in Dubai occupies two entirely separate worlds. At the top end, you have some of the finest Chinese restaurants outside Greater China — Mott 32's award-winning modern Chinese 73 floors above the Gulf, Hakkasan's dark luxury at Atlantis, and Hutong's Northern Chinese kitchen in DIFC. At the other end, Deira and Karama have a robust network of straightforward Cantonese and Sichuan restaurants that feed Dubai's large Chinese community with admirable authenticity.
We cover both worlds in this guide. Whether you're looking for the definitive Peking duck experience at AED 285 or a bowl of hand-pulled noodles at AED 45, Dubai delivers.
Our Top Chinese Restaurants in Dubai
Mott 32 — Address Beach Resort, JBR
Mott 32 is named after 32 Mott Street in New York — the first Chinese grocery store in the United States, established 1891 — and the Dubai restaurant at the 73rd floor of Address Beach Resort lives up to its heritage reference: this is Chinese food as a grand, global proposition. The views are among the best of any restaurant in Dubai — a full 360° panorama spanning JBR, the Palm Jumeirah, Downtown, and the Gulf horizon.
Two consecutive FACT Best Chinese Restaurant awards reflect what the food delivers. The signature maple wood roasted Peking duck (AED 285, served tableside in two courses — pancakes first, then the carcass soup) is the finest Peking duck in Dubai. The XO stir-fried short rib (AED 185) has a depth of flavour that comes from a kitchen that takes its sauces seriously. The vegan menu (unusual for fine Chinese) is genuinely creative, not an afterthought. The dim sum lunch (Fri–Sun, from AED 45 per basket) is the best value experience at Mott 32.
Must-Order Dishes
Reservation Tip
Book 2–3 weeks ahead for dinner, particularly Thursday and Saturday. For the dim sum lunch (Fri–Sun), 1 week usually suffices. Request a window table at the 73rd floor — specify "Gulf view facing west" for the best sunset vistas.
Best Time to Visit
Sunset dinner (book for 7pm) for the extraordinary light over the Gulf. Friday dim sum lunch is brilliant value and less hectic than dinner. Avoid Saturday evening unless booked very far in advance.
Hakkasan — Atlantis The Palm
Hakkasan's global reputation for Cantonese fine dining — born in London in 2001, the first Chinese restaurant to receive a Michelin star — is fully maintained at the Atlantis The Palm location. The dining room is moody and spectacular: dark lacquered wood, backlit onyx screens, deep banquettes, and the low hum of serious dining. This is Chinese food as luxury product, and it delivers.
The dim sum here is Dubai's finest — full stop. The har gow (AED 75, four pieces, crystal-clear pastry that shatters at pressure, perfectly seasoned prawn) is the benchmark. The char siu bao (AED 65, steamed pork bun) is made from a recipe unchanged since London 2001. The crispy duck salad (AED 135) is a Hakkasan signature that travels perfectly to Dubai. The black pepper rib-eye stir-fry (AED 225) is everything a wok dish should be — high heat, fast, precise.
Must-Order Dishes
Reservation Tip
Book 2 weeks ahead for dinner. The dim sum lunch (Fri–Sat) is the best value entry point and requires 1 week ahead. Request the main dining room rather than the bar area for the full atmosphere.
Best Time to Visit
Friday dim sum lunch is our top recommendation — exceptional food in a magnificent room at a more accessible price point. Dinner on weeknights is more intimate than the buzzing weekend service.
Dim sum at Hakkasan and Mott 32 is among the finest in the world outside Hong Kong — pristine pastry, precise seasoning, tableside tea ceremony
Hutong — DIFC
Hutong brings something distinct to Dubai's Chinese scene — specifically Northern Chinese (predominantly Beijing) cooking, which leans towards roasted meats, hand-rolled noodles, and the bold, savoury flavours of the Peking tradition. The DIFC location references the hutongs (alleyway communities) of old Beijing in its decor: dark timber, red lanterns, carved stone screens, and a bar that's among the most atmospheric in DIFC.
The tea-smoked truffle rolls (AED 115) — a Hutong signature — blur the line between dim sum and European fine dining, with imported truffle folded into a gossamer-thin pastry and steamed over jasmine. The half roasted Peking duck (AED 195, served tableside) challenges Mott 32 for the best Peking duck in DIFC. The dim sum at Hutong covers Northern-style dumplings distinct from the Cantonese har gow of Hakkasan — both are worth exploring.
Must-Order Dishes
Reservation Tip
Book 1–2 weeks ahead for Thursday/Friday dinner. Business lunch weekdays is more accessible — 5 days' notice usually works. The DIFC terrace (winter) is one of the best outdoor tables in the financial district.
Best Time to Visit
Pre-dinner drinks at the bar followed by 8pm dinner is the ideal format. Wednesday lunch for the business set menu. The weekend dim sum brunch (Fri–Sat) is excellent value.
More Great Chinese Restaurants
Zheng He's — One&Only Royal Mirage
Classic Cantonese fine dining in one of Dubai's most beautiful hotel settings. The overwater pavilion, with views of the Arabian Gulf, is extraordinary for special occasions. The steamed whole fish (AED 195–285, market price) is the signature. Quieter than DIFC options — our pick for a serious business dinner.
Long Teng Seafood — JLT
The best mid-range Chinese restaurant in Dubai, full stop. Cantonese live seafood (choose from the tank, AED 90–185 per 100g), excellent dim sum lunch, and a menu that changes with market availability. Packed with discerning Chinese residents who know their food.
Royal China — Multiple Locations
Dubai's most reliable everyday Cantonese chain. The dim sum here (AED 45–75 per basket) punches above its price. The roast duck on rice (AED 55) and the Singapore noodles (AED 55) are the weeknight staples. Consistent and good-value.
XU Restaurant — Business Bay
A newer contemporary Chinese with a strong cocktail bar and Sichuan-influenced menu. The mapo tofu (AED 75) and the spicy wontons (AED 65) show a kitchen that understands chilli heat without fearing it. Increasingly popular Thursday nights.
Chinese by Region: What to Order
Dubai's Chinese restaurants cover several distinct regional traditions. Understanding the difference helps you order well:
- Cantonese (Guangdong): The most common style in Dubai — Hakkasan, Royal China, Long Teng. Lighter flavours, premium ingredients, fresh seafood, steaming and quick stir-frying. The home of dim sum.
- Northern/Beijing: Hutong's territory. Roasted meats (Peking duck), hand-pulled noodles, dumpling traditions, bolder seasoning with dark vinegar and sesame.
- Sichuan: Available at XU and several Deira spots. High heat from doubanjiang (fermented chilli bean paste) and numbing Sichuan pepper. The mapo tofu and dan dan noodles are the signatures.
- Modern/Pan-Chinese: Mott 32's approach — drawing on multiple regional traditions with contemporary technique and luxury ingredients. Peking duck with modern French-influenced finishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Chinese restaurant in Dubai?
Mott 32 at Address Beach Resort has won Best Chinese Restaurant at the FACT Dining Awards for two consecutive years — the 73rd-floor views are unrivalled and the maple wood Peking duck (AED 285) is extraordinary. For the best dim sum and moody luxury, Hakkasan at Atlantis is the gold standard. Hutong in DIFC is the best for Northern Chinese cuisine and creative cocktails.
Where can I get the best dim sum in Dubai?
Hakkasan at Atlantis serves Dubai's finest dim sum — the har gow (AED 75) and black truffle shrimp dumpling (AED 95) are outstanding. Mott 32 also has exceptional dim sum at the Friday/Saturday lunch. For accessible, well-priced dim sum any day, Long Teng in JLT and Royal China are the reliable choices from AED 45 per basket.
Is Chinese food expensive in Dubai?
Chinese food spans every budget. Budget (Dragon Noodles, Deira spots): AED 40–80 per person. Mid-range (Royal China, Long Teng): AED 120–250. Fine dining (Mott 32, Hakkasan, Hutong): AED 350–600. The Hakkasan dim sum lunch (AED 200–280pp) is one of Dubai's best-value fine dining experiences.
