The 6 Best Chinese Restaurants in Istanbul: From Hotel Cantonese to Late-Night Noodles
The 6 best Chinese restaurants in Istanbul: Cantonese fine dining at Shang Palace and Dragon, late-night noodles at Çin Büfe in Taksim, and more.
Chinese food in Istanbul takes a little research. The restaurants are limited in number, and you will not stumble on a Chinese restaurant or supermarket at every corner. The good news is that the short list is strong. It runs from Cantonese dining rooms inside the Shangri-La and the Hilton to build-your-own noodle bowls in Beşiktaş and a casual late-night spot in Taksim. This guide is part of our coverage of international restaurants in Istanbul; for the local table, start with our guide to the best food in Istanbul.
The six at a glance
| Restaurant | Area | What to order |
|---|---|---|
| Shang Palace | Beşiktaş (Shangri-La Hotel) | Wonton soup, then the two-course Peking duck |
| Dragon Restaurant | Hilton Istanbul, plus a Bebek branch | Beef with orange, pineapple fried rice |
| China Lotus | Ataşehir | Crispy chicken with hot ginger sauce |
| Çin Büfe | Taksim | Peanut chicken noodles with curry sauce |
| Noodle House | Beşiktaş | A build-your-own noodle bowl, summer rolls |
| Chinese & Sushi Express | Shopping malls citywide | Shanghai Bento |
1. Shang Palace, Beşiktaş
For authentic Cantonese cooking in Istanbul, Shang Palace at the Shangri-La Hotel sets the standard. The dining room is elegant, and the kitchen earns the setting. Start with the wonton soup, then move on to the roasted Peking duck, served as two courses, with a glass from the international and Turkish wine list alongside.
Two more dishes deserve the table space. The deep-fried eggplant with crispy garlic will reset your opinion of eggplant. The Lo-Hei salmon combines salmon sashimi with shredded fruits, vegetables, and a peanut-tahini dressing, and it is the plate you will still be describing to friends long after the trip. Finish with fried ice cream and you have fine dining at its best. Shang Palace is one of two Beşiktaş addresses on this list; our guide to Beşiktaş restaurants covers the rest of the neighborhood.
2. Dragon Restaurant, Hilton Istanbul
Dragon has history behind it. The first Dragon opened in Cyprus around 1980, and the Istanbul restaurant at the Hilton has been operating since 1987. The chefs come from Hong Kong, so the Cantonese cooking is the real thing, and the decor traveled from Taipei. A second branch now runs at the Bebek Hotel by The Stay, though the Hilton remains the historic location.
The crispy duck is the classic. The beef with orange won us over completely, the chicken with lemon sauce surprises, and lobster dishes anchor the top of the menu. Save room for the pineapple fried rice. On a good evening, the small covered terrace is the place to eat all of it.
Bookings are essential. Reserve your table here.
3. China Lotus, Ataşehir
China Lotus looks like a sushi restaurant at first glance, peach rolls and mango sushi included, yet the Chinese menu is the reason to go. Soups, appetizers, salads, and plenty of noodle options fill it out, and the noodles in particular are remarkably authentic. The crispy chicken with hot ginger sauce carries a real kick.
The vibe stays friendly, almost homey. Mornings bring healthier options; if a salad is the plan, the Chinese salad with its finely sliced raw ingredients is the one to pick.
4. Çin Büfe, Taksim
The name translates as “Chinese buffet,” and the mood matches: a casual room, a takeout counter, and food that suits a late night around Beyoğlu, with friends or on a date. The Peking duck, listed as kızarmış ördek, runs a little expensive for the setting, though set menus soften the bill. Order noodles. The peanut chicken noodles with curry sauce, kori soslu fıstıklı tavuk erişte on the menu, are a must-eat.
The one drawback is the lack of an English menu. Bring patience or a translation app, and if you want to scout the area first, our guide to the best restaurants in Taksim maps out the neighborhood.
5. Noodle House, Beşiktaş
There is Japanese food on the menu here too, but for noodle lovers this may be the spot. Every dish is built to order. Pick one of the aromatic noodle bases, add the extras you want, then choose a sauce, anywhere from sriracha to teriyaki. Each bowl comes out matched to your taste because you assembled it yourself.
Some of the best plates are the vegetarian ones. Fried ramen, rice sticks, and spring rolls round out the menu, and the summer rolls taste bright enough to put summer in the room.
6. Chinese & Sushi Express
Chinese & Sushi Express is the Asian chain you will find in the food court of nearly any shopping center, with branches on both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. It sits somewhere between a Chinese restaurant and a sushi bar, and it manages a full Japanese menu without sacrificing the Chinese side.
The Shanghai Bento shows the range in one tray: dumplings, edamame, rice with vegetables, crispy chicken in ginger sauce, and a soft drink. The Hawaiian poke bowl covers the lighter end. If eating in a shopping center does not appeal, use the takeout service. The dishes hold up, the sushi especially.
Final words
Six restaurants, two of them inside hotels, and a city where finding them takes a plan. That is the honest state of Chinese food in Istanbul, and the short list above earns the trip. Our Istanbul food guides cover the rest of the city’s tables, from kebab counters to sushi bars. And when the craving shifts to the food Istanbul itself is famous for, that is what our Istanbul food tours are for: groups of 10 at most, eating with a local guide, the way we have done it since 2013.
