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Best Chinese Restaurants in Nashville (2026)

Ten restaurants across Nashville. Compare neighborhoods, price tiers and what to order, then read the full reviews.

Mary Beth Tucker
By Mary Beth Tucker Guides Editor · Updated September 2026 · How the score is built
Best Chinese Restaurants in Nashville (2026)
THE NASHVILLE DINING GUIDES 10 restaurants
Compare all 10 restaurantsNeighborhood · price · score · first order
In the same order as the guide. Scores are out of 10; dollar symbols show the listed price tier.
RestaurantNeighborhoodPriceScoreWhat to order
01 SteamboysHermitage$$7.7General Tso's Chicken
02 China Cottage RestaurantMadison$$5.7General Tso's Chicken
03 Dumpling HouseNashville$$5.6Pork and Chive Dumplings
04 Corner Asian CafeBrentwood$$5.2Beef Noodle Soup
05 Happy Fast FoodSmyrna6.0Orange Chicken
06 Rice BoxGoodlettsville$$5.2General Tso's Chicken
07 Great Wall Of China RestaurantFranklin$5.6General Tso's Chicken
08 Chopstick HouseAntioch$4.9General Tso's Chicken
09 Ching Asian BistroFranklin$$5.1General Tso's Chicken
10 Steam BoysNashville5.4Pork and Chive Dumplings

10 restaurants · In guide order

1 Steamboys Tripadvisor

Steamboys

Chinese · Hermitage · $$
Insider Score7.7

Hermitage does not get enough credit for a solid bowl of soup noodles, and Steamboys is the reason to reconsider. The seafood noodles and pan-seared dumplings are the things to order; the kitchen handles both with care. Counter-service format, friendly staff, and prices that keep a family comfortable. A reliable neighborhood stop in a part of Davidson County that most Nashville guides skip entirely.

What to orderGeneral Tso's ChickenBeef and BroccoliSweet and Sour Pork Call Directions
Full review & visiting detailsRead the full review & visiting details

Steady Chinese comfort out in Hermitage

General Tso's Chicken

The General Tso's Chicken is the classic order here, a familiar American-Chinese standard that the room executes with the balance regulars return for.

Beef and Broccoli

Beef and Broccoli delivers the straightforward pairing the dish has always promised, a reliable anchor on the menu for those who know what they want.

Sweet and Sour Pork

The Sweet and Sour Pork rounds out the American-Chinese core of the menu, the kind of plate that holds its own against the soup-noodle side of the operation.

Steamboys works the American-Chinese comfort menu that families in Hermitage return to on a weeknight rotation, not the version chasing a Nolensville Pike crowd or a downtown trend piece. General Tso's chicken and beef and broccoli anchor the menu, the kind of plates that ask a kitchen for consistency over invention, and the record suggests this one delivers it meal after meal. Sweet and sour pork rounds out the trio, the fried-plus-sauce formula that built this format's following across the country and still does the job here. But the menu goes past the standard three: seafood noodles and pan-seared dumplings show up in the record too, suggesting a kitchen with more range than the steam-table Chinese-American shorthand implies, and a soup noodle order strong enough to pull someone in off a golf course on a cold day says something about how the broth is handled.

Hermitage sits east of the river, out past Donelson, the kind of Nashville neighborhood that does not get written up for its dining scene and mostly does not need to. This is a family-dinner room, not a destination anyone drives across town for, and the moderate pricing matches that job: an easy weeknight order, not an occasion. The service reads as a strength across the record, described as attentive and friendly rather than rushed, which matters more in a neighborhood spot than a plating flourish would. There's a returning-regular quality to how people talk about this place, the sense of a room that has become someone's default rather than their discovery.

Steamboys is not trying to be the East Side's next tasting counter or a Broadway stop. It is doing the thing a lot of Nashville's best neighborhood rooms do quietly: feeding the same families the same reliable plates, week after week, without needing to announce itself.

Map showing Steamboys© OpenStreetMap
HoursMon - Thu: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PMFri - Sat: 11:00 AM - 9:30 PMSun: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Address3907 Lebanon Pike
Insider tip

Order the seafood noodles at medium heat if a soup course is wanted alongside the fried classics, and expect the General Tso's chicken and beef and broccoli to be the safest bet for a first visit.

2 China Cottage Restaurant Yelp

China Cottage Restaurant

Chinese · Madison · $$
Insider Score5.7

China Cottage holds down the Gallatin and Rivergate Parkway plaza in Madison and has been the local default for families in that corridor for years. General Tso's Chicken and Pork Fried Rice are the workhorses; the portions are generous and the pricing is honest. It gets busy, especially around the holidays, so expect a wait on crowded nights. Classic neighborhood Chinese, no frills required.

What to orderGeneral Tso's ChickenBeef and BroccoliPork Fried Rice Call Directions Scored from the full review record 1795 Gallatin Pike N · (615) 865-6854
3 Dumpling House Yelp

Dumpling House

Chinese · Nashville · $$
Insider Score5.6

The pork and cabbage pan-seared dumplings at Dumpling House come out properly crispy and are the reason regulars keep coming back. The hot and sour soup holds up alongside them. The room has a homey, casual feel that works for groups. Hand-pulled noodle soup rounds out the short menu for anyone who wants something warming. Nashville proper, approachable prices, and a kitchen that executes its focused menu consistently.

What to orderPork and Chive DumplingsHand-Pulled Noodle SoupGeneral Tso's Chicken Call Directions Scored from the full review record 2117 Belcourt Ave · (615) 891-4728
4 Corner Asian Cafe Tripadvisor

Corner Asian Cafe

Chinese · Brentwood · $$
Insider Score5.2

Corner Asian Cafe sits in Brentwood (Williamson County) and draws regulars who know the beef noodle soup and hand-pulled noodles are the main event. The room is well-lit and quiet, with quick service on most visits. Service times have varied on busier nights, so it rewards off-peak timing. For Sunday comfort food or a family dinner that does not feel rushed on a calm evening, it earns its following.

What to orderBeef Noodle SoupHand-Pulled NoodlesPopcorn Chicken Call Directions Scored from the full review record 10656 Concord Rd · (615) 941-7204
5 Happy Fast Food Yelp

Happy Fast Food

Chinese · Smyrna
Insider Score6.0

Happy Fast Food in Smyrna (Rutherford County) is the kind of spot that earns repeat business on price and consistency. The bourbon chicken is the standout call, and the family pack for two is the practical order. Quick service, straightforward Chinese-American menu, and staff that keeps things moving. For a no-fuss pickup on the way home, it handles the job reliably.

What to orderOrange ChickenBeef Lo MeinSweet and Sour Pork Call Directions Scored from the full review record 575 Almaville Rd · (615) 788-8882
6 Rice Box Tripadvisor

Rice Box

Chinese · Goodlettsville · $$
Insider Score5.2

Rice Box in Goodlettsville runs a menu wider than most neighborhood Chinese spots, pulling in General Tso's Chicken alongside Pad Thai and hibachi options. The soups get consistent praise, and the entrees hold up across multiple visits. Staff is attentive and the room seats tables without a long wait. For families in the Sumner County edge of the metro who want options that cover different preferences at the table, this one is the move.

What to orderGeneral Tso's ChickenPad ThaiHibachi Teriyaki Chicken Call Directions Scored from the full review record 119 Northcreek Blvd · (615) 851-1168
7 Great Wall Of China Restaurant Yelp

Great Wall Of China Restaurant

Chinese · Franklin · $
Insider Score5.6

Great Wall of China Restaurant in Franklin (Williamson County) is the neighborhood carry-out option that Williamson County families return to when comfort food is the call. General Tso's Chicken and Beef Lo Mein are the reliable orders. The staff is welcoming and the kitchen stays busy, especially in the run-up to the holidays. Prices sit at the budget end of the guide, making it a practical answer for takeout night.

What to orderGeneral Tso's ChickenBeef Lo MeinSweet and Sour Pork Call Directions Scored from the full review record 2176 Hillsboro Rd · (615) 591-2223
8 Chopstick House Yelp

Chopstick House

Chinese · Antioch · $
Insider Score4.9

Chopstick House in Antioch is locally owned and counter-service in format, with a simple dining room that gets the job done. The Mongolian beef, cashew chicken, and egg rolls are the orders worth knowing. Pricing is among the lowest in the guide. Service quality has been uneven across visits, but regulars who know the owner report a genuinely warm experience. A budget-first option for the Antioch side of Davidson County.

What to orderGeneral Tso's ChickenBeef Lo MeinSweet and Sour Pork Call Directions Scored from the full review record 3538 Murfreesboro Pike · (615) 501-8881
9 Ching Asian Bistro Yelp

Ching Asian Bistro

Chinese · Franklin · $$
Insider Score5.1

Ching Asian Bistro in Franklin carries an upscale vibe tag for Williamson County and handles lunch specials efficiently: the General Tso's lunch combination with fried rice and an egg roll is ready fast and portions run large enough for two meals. Regulars treat it as a reliable back-pocket option for both weekday lunch and weekend dinner. The menu skews Chinese-American with some Japanese crossover. Consistent enough to count on.

What to orderGeneral Tso's ChickenRainbow RollMongolian Beef Call Directions Scored from the full review record 188 Front St · (615) 595-9780
10 Steam Boys Yelp

Steam Boys

Chinese · Nashville
Insider Score5.4

Steam Boys keeps a short, focused menu built around dumplings and rice bowls, and the pan-seared pork and shrimp dumplings are the reason to come. Spicy dumplings and pork soup dumplings round out the order for a group. The room is clean, the drink options run deeper than expected, and the staff keeps things moving. For Nashville proper, it is a low-key neighborhood option that rewards regulars who order the whole dumpling spread.

What to orderPork and Chive DumplingsGeneral Tso's ChickenBeef Lo Mein Call Directions Scored from the full review record 412 Harding Pl · (615) 679-9144
What to know before choosing a restaurant

Authentic Chinese flavors at Steamboys and China Cottage Restaurant prove Nashville's Asian food scene runs deeper than you think. Taste the truth.

The best Chinese food in Nashville right now is at Steamboys, and the list below covers the metro's strongest kitchens. Chinese food in the Nashville metro runs from dumpling shops and hand-pulled noodle counters to the kind of neighborhood carry-out that feeds families on a Tuesday night without breaking twenty dollars. This guide covers Davidson County and the collar counties: Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, and Sumner. Skip the Broadway corridor entirely and go where the regulars go.

Tours in Nashville Food tours

Frequently asked

What is the best Chinese restaurant near me in the Nashville metro?
It depends on which part of the metro you are in. For Davidson County proper, Dumpling House and Steam Boys focus on hand-made dumplings and noodles. Steamboys covers the Hermitage side of the county. In Williamson County (Franklin and Brentwood), Great Wall of China Restaurant and Corner Asian Cafe are the go-to neighborhood spots. Rice Box handles Goodlettsville and the Sumner County edge. China Moon serves Mount Juliet in Wilson County, and Happy Fast Food covers Smyrna in Rutherford County. Every restaurant on this list is ranked by Insider Score; no restaurant pays to be included.
Are these Chinese restaurants good for families on a budget?
Several entries on this list are built for exactly that. Chopstick House in Antioch and Great Wall of China Restaurant in Franklin both carry the lowest price tier in the guide. China Panda in Nashville runs dinner plates for two around twenty-five dollars. Happy Fast Food in Smyrna offers a family pack for two at a low price point. All Insider Scores reflect customer experience, not advertising relationships.
Which Nashville-area Chinese restaurants have dumplings?
Dumpling House in Nashville and Steam Boys (also Nashville) are the two spots where dumplings are the main event. Dumpling House does pan-seared pork and cabbage dumplings alongside hand-pulled noodle soup. Steam Boys runs pan-seared pork and shrimp dumplings, spicy dumplings, and pork soup dumplings. Steamboys in Hermitage also carries dumplings as part of a broader Chinese-American menu.
Do any of these Chinese restaurants take reservations or are they walk-in only?
Most restaurants on this list are casual neighborhood spots that operate walk-in or counter-service, with no reservations required. Ching Asian Bistro in Franklin and Corner Asian Cafe in Brentwood handle phone and in-person orders and can get busy on weekends, so earlier timing helps. Insider Scores on this guide are based on customer experience only; no restaurant on the list pays for placement or ranking.
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The data first, then the verdict

We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →

About the writer
Mary Beth Tucker
Guides Editor

Mary Beth runs the dish-by-dish beat across Nashville, building best-of lists neighborhood by neighborhood that point you somewhere specific. Her rankings start with the reviews and end with a recommendation you can use tonight.

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