20 essential Chinese restaurants in Orlando everyone should try at least once

Lam's Garden photo via Lam's Garden/Facebook

Hotto Potto

1700 N. Semoran Blvd., 407-930-5366
Meats aren't too out of the ordinary, though live blue crab, lobster, shrimp and bass keep it interesting. Stock base and spice levels can be adjusted according to taste, though "numb-spicy" isn't as excruciating as you might think/hope. Open daily, and until 5 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays

Photo by Google Maps

Hotto Potto

1700 N. Semoran Blvd., 407-930-5366
Meats aren't too out of the ordinary, though live blue crab, lobster, shrimp and bass keep it interesting. Stock base and spice levels can be adjusted according to taste, though "numb-spicy" isn't as excruciating as you might think/hope. Open daily, and until 5 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays

Photo by Rob Bartlett

Tasty Wok

This modest Cantonese corner noodle house where the dishes are ' cheap, authentic and downright delicious ' and roasted birds dangle freely. The space is small, relatively unadorned and perpetually bustling with families, though heads are typically buried in bowls. We recommend the curry-infused Singapore rice noodles ($9.50), roast duck ($5.95), and chicken ($5.25), hacked into bite-sized chunks and served with a secret dip ' soy sauce and sesame oil were the only ingredients I was able to glean ' offer a proper juicy-to-crisp ratio.

Tasty Wok Facebook

Tasty Wok

This modest Cantonese corner noodle house where the dishes are ' cheap, authentic and downright delicious ' and roasted birds dangle freely. The space is small, relatively unadorned and perpetually bustling with families, though heads are typically buried in bowls. We recommend the curry-infused Singapore rice noodles ($9.50), roast duck ($5.95), and chicken ($5.25), hacked into bite-sized chunks and served with a secret dip ' soy sauce and sesame oil were the only ingredients I was able to glean ' offer a proper juicy-to-crisp ratio.

Tasty Wok Facebook

Lam’s Garden

2505 E. Colonial Drive, 407-896-0370
Lam’s Garden finally serves dim sum on rolling carts, but only on the weekends. For chef suggestions, the menu recommends snow flake chicken which comes with oysters and snow peas, emerald shrimp which is coated in cilantro and broccoli, and Mongolian beef that comes with bamboo shoots and scallions coated in spicy sauce.

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Lam’s Garden

2505 E. Colonial Drive, 407-896-0370
Lam’s Garden finally serves dim sum on rolling carts, but only on the weekends. For chef suggestions, the menu recommends snow flake chicken which comes with oysters and snow peas, emerald shrimp which is coated in cilantro and broccoli, and Mongolian beef that comes with bamboo shoots and scallions coated in spicy sauce.

Facebook

Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi

151 South Orange Ave., 407-999-8989
Sushi and noodles are all the rage at this cool lunch spot. Handsomely presented "torch rolls" with conch, scallops, salmon, tuna and sriracha are luscious, while spicy red tobiko proffer a proper pop. Bento boxes run the gamut and a bonanza of boba awaits tea-totalers. Known for their affordable yet quality sushi and stir-fry, Bento Cafes have been popping up all over the state.

Bento Facebook

Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi

151 South Orange Ave., 407-999-8989
Sushi and noodles are all the rage at this cool lunch spot. Handsomely presented "torch rolls" with conch, scallops, salmon, tuna and sriracha are luscious, while spicy red tobiko proffer a proper pop. Bento boxes run the gamut and a bonanza of boba awaits tea-totalers. Known for their affordable yet quality sushi and stir-fry, Bento Cafes have been popping up all over the state.

Bento Facebook

Taste of Chengdu

2030 W. Colonial Drive, 407-839-1983
Your senses will perk by the tongue-numbing, gut-burning pleasures of Tang's stunning dishes, like the whole lobster hacked and reassembled with its carapace adorned in an alluring mix of chilies, peppercorns, garlic and cilantro like some sort of offering to Zao Jun, the Kitchen God.

SOURCE OR IF REVIEWED: Photo by Rob Bartlett

Taste of Chengdu

2030 W. Colonial Drive, 407-839-1983
Your senses will perk by the tongue-numbing, gut-burning pleasures of Tang's stunning dishes, like the whole lobster hacked and reassembled with its carapace adorned in an alluring mix of chilies, peppercorns, garlic and cilantro like some sort of offering to Zao Jun, the Kitchen God.

SOURCE OR IF REVIEWED: Photo by Rob Bartlett

Chuan Lu Garden

1101 E. Colonial Dr, 407-282-3388/ 407-282-3399
Colonialtown’s Chuan Lu Garden employs plenty of fiery stimulants in their authentic, real-deal Sichuan fare. Must-try dishes: cumin lamb, laced with aromatic and mouth-numbing Sichuan peppercorns, and Lanzhou-style beef soup with hand-pulled noodles.

www.chuanlugardenorlando.com

Chuan Lu Garden

1101 E. Colonial Dr, 407-282-3388/ 407-282-3399
Colonialtown’s Chuan Lu Garden employs plenty of fiery stimulants in their authentic, real-deal Sichuan fare. Must-try dishes: cumin lamb, laced with aromatic and mouth-numbing Sichuan peppercorns, and Lanzhou-style beef soup with hand-pulled noodles.

www.chuanlugardenorlando.com

China Hut

7615 S Orange Blossom Trail, 407-240-0467
China and Peru have enjoyed a long-standing diplomatic friendship; now diners can benefit from their culinary partnership. While the traditional Chinese fare is less than remarkable, the flavors of Peru shine

China Hut Facebook

China Hut

7615 S Orange Blossom Trail, 407-240-0467
China and Peru have enjoyed a long-standing diplomatic friendship; now diners can benefit from their culinary partnership. While the traditional Chinese fare is less than remarkable, the flavors of Peru shine

China Hut Facebook

HuNan Taste

5148 W. Colonial Drive, 407-930-3188
This is a relatively new restaurant that opened over the summer and serves authentic Hu-Nan style Chinese food. They have been known for serving huge portions that can easily feed a family for an affordable price.

HuNan Taste Facebook

HuNan Taste

5148 W. Colonial Drive, 407-930-3188
This is a relatively new restaurant that opened over the summer and serves authentic Hu-Nan style Chinese food. They have been known for serving huge portions that can easily feed a family for an affordable price.

HuNan Taste Facebook

Joyful Garden

5210 W. Colonial Drive, 407-270-8810
Newish eatery Joyful Garden Seafoods Restaurant, specializing in popular Hong Kong fare, as well as lesser-known Fuzhou cuisine. Aquariums in the back of the restaurant house a few live critters for the taking, and take we did. One glimpse of the crystal crab's ($25 per pound) ghostly white exoskeleton had us intrigued enough to drop $50 on a 2-pounder steamed in a simple garlic sauce.

Photo by Rob Bartlett