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Best Chinese Restaurants in Indianapolis We Can’t Get Enough Of

best-chinese-restaurant-indianapolis
We extensively test and research all services we review. Here's why you can trust us.
  • Menu Variety and Authenticity: We looked for establishments offering a rich selection of classic and traditional dishes. Kitchens with unique regional offerings or specialized dietary menus scored higher in our evaluation.
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  • Ingredient Quality and Freshness: A great meal heavily relies on the use of high-quality ingredients cooked to order. We prioritized dining spots that consistently serve hot food over pre-made alternatives.
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  • Value and Portion Sizes: Dining out should feel rewarding without breaking your personal budget. We weighed the average cost of standard entrees against the sheer volume of food provided.
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  • Customer Service and Atmosphere: Friendly staff and efficient order fulfillment can significantly improve a dining outing. We evaluated the overall welcoming vibe alongside the speed of the kitchen operations.
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  • Consistency and Reliability: The top kitchens deliver the same delicious flavors every single visit. We scrutinized local community feedback to weed out places suffering from frequent drops in culinary quality.

Craving a steaming plate of savory lo mein or some crispy egg rolls? Finding the best Chinese restaurants in Indianapolis can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack of carryout menus. 

Whether you’re a local food lover hunting for a new Friday night staple or a hungry tourist looking for the perfect bite before hitting the local cinemas, the city has some incredible options. 

Prepare your taste buds, as I’ll help you explore the top spots serving up unforgettable, flavor-packed Chinese dishes in this guide.

How Much Does Chinese Food Cost in Indianapolis?

Dining at a Chinese restaurant in Indianapolis typically ranges from $7 for a quick budget takeout meal to upwards of $40 for a premium dining experience.

Dining TypeTypical Price Per PersonBest For
Budget / Takeout$7 – $12Quick meals and budget dining
Mid-range (Dine-in)$12 – $25Casual dine-in or family nights
Buffets$10 – $18All-you-can-eat value
Higher-End / Chain$20 – $40+Premium dining experiences

1. Imperial Palace

imperial-palace

Website: https://www.imperialpalaceindy.com/

Address: 5510 Lafayette Rd #230 Indianapolis, IN 46254

Contact: (317) 299-3388

Hours: Monday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Tucked away in a cozy space, Imperial Palace dishes out authentic Chinese cuisine with a strong commitment to consistent quality. Their kitchen stands out by offering halal-friendly meat options, giving them a unique edge in the local takeout scene. 

You will immediately notice the care put into their made-to-order meals featuring high-quality ingredients.

I recently picked up a steaming carton of their beef lo mein, and the savory sauce was absolutely spot-on. They also allow you to customize your spice levels on a numbered scale, ensuring every bite hits the perfect heat threshold for your palate.

Affordability is another major draw here, making it a fantastic choice for regular weekday dinners. 

The only real downside is their incredibly small dining area, which severely limits seating capacity during peak lunch hours. Additionally, their menu is a bit smaller compared to larger establishments in the neighborhood.

Pros

  • Authentic traditional flavors
  • Halal chicken and beef options
  • Customizable spice levels
  • Affordable everyday pricing
  • Freshly made-to-order dishes

Cons

  • Very limited seating capacity
  • Smaller overall menu size

very kind and welcoming

We were very happy to find a halal chinese restaurant in Indianapolis. Although they serve pork, their chicken and beef are halal. The beef dishes are highly recommended, specially the beef fried rice. During lunch hour they also provide a very affordable set meal which contains rice, spring roll and some entree. The owner/host is also very kind and welcoming. Highly recommend anyone trying authentic Chinese food while also maintaining halal.

Nabil Ibtehaz, Google Review 

FAVORITE CHINESE PLACE.

Wow. WOW! Everything was PHENOMENAL at this clean cozy little restaurant. The Hot and Sour soup was SPOT ON. And I had the Butterfly Shrimp (pictured) heat level 10….SOOOO GOOD! The shrimp were HUGE and the coating was light and crunchy. What I loved the most about the dish was that the sauce was smokey and savory NOT SWEET and doused in sugar like many places do. The fried rice was light, fluffy, and flavorful as well. I HAVE A NEW FAVORITE CHINESE PLACE. My server was incredibly kind and his timing was spot on 5 stars EASILY.

KB, Google Review 

2. Egg Roll Number 1

egg-roll-number-1

Website: https://www.eggroll1.com/

Address: 4540 S Emerson Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203

Contact: 317-787-2225

Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM, 4:30 PM – 9:30 PM, Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM, 4:30 PM – 10:00 PM

When a single craving will not suffice, Egg Roll Number 1 steps up with a massive menu featuring Chinese and Vietnamese specialties. This fast-paced spot allows you to slurp a fragrant bowl of rare steak pho right alongside your sweet General Tso’s chicken. 

The sheer variety guarantees something satisfying for every member of your dining group.

Their focus on quick carryout service makes them a neighborhood favorite for busy weeknights. Portions are incredibly generous, and the affordable lunch deals pack serious value into a single takeout box. The counter-ordering system keeps the line moving swiftly.

While the enormous selection is a major plus, it can sometimes be a double-edged sword. Some local diners note that the quality of certain dishes can be slightly inconsistent depending on what you order. Sticking to their core popular items usually yields the best culinary results.

Pros

  • Massive multi-Asian menu
  • Dedicated Vietnamese pho section
  • Generous portion sizes
  • Fast takeout preparation
  • Highly budget-friendly prices

Cons

  • Inconsistent flavor on some items
  • Lacks traditional formal dining

can’t go wrong here!

This is the best non-buffet Chinese and pho around! The owner is always here and she’s the sweetest lady. I’ve never gotten anything I didn’t like either. I’ve eaten in and gotten take out. Both are amazing experiences. The restaurant is always clean and fast. Her lunch and dinner specials will fill you up for sure and only cost $5.99 and $6.99, respectively. You can’t go wrong here!

Katie Lawrence, Google Review 

impressive menu of typical Chinese food

This restaurant has my favorite pho in the whole city. It is the real deal. 👌 They also have an impressive menu of typical Chinese food, Thai and Vietnamese dishes. The Thai basil noodles is another favorite at our house. We have been going here for years. Thanks!

Florence Salamone, Google Review

3. Chang Fu Restaurant

chang-fu-restaurant

Website: https://www.changfuindy.com/

Address: 3905 West 96th Street #400 Indianapolis, IN 46268

Contact: (317) 471-9998

Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Finding reliable comfort food is easy with Chang Fu Restaurant, an establishment dedicated to authentic Chinese cuisine with dependable flavors. 

Their menu is built on fresh ingredients, resulting in vibrant dishes that satisfy those deep-seated cravings for traditional staples. You can expect massive plates of steaming chow mein and perfectly seasoned chef’s specialties.

Value hunters flock here for the incredibly affordable combo meals and budget-friendly lunch specials. Every order seems to overflow the takeout containers, ensuring you have plenty of tasty leftovers for the next day. 

We also appreciate that the staff always greets incoming patrons with a warm friendliness.

However, since they cater primarily to the carryout crowd, the limited seating makes it less ideal for a relaxed dinner date. A few patrons have also mentioned that the flavor intensity occasionally varies between different visits.

Pros

  • Authentic and reliable flavors
  • Huge combo meal portions
  • Budget-friendly lunch specials
  • Broad menu of classic staples
  • Hot and freshly prepared

Cons

  • Primarily focused on takeout
  • Occasional flavor inconsistencies

Definitely would come again

I really enjoy this restaurant’s egg rolls! They also have great drawings on the wall. The workers are also really nice too, their English is not the perfect but understandable. I enjoy going to this chinese restaurant since they are close at hand. Definitely would come again!

RandomTravelingPerson, Google Review 

ALWAYS delicious!!

Our favorite Chinese restaurant in town! They always have everything we want, they prepare it fresh (which should be obvious but some places have their items premade, think Panda Express but not) and they are quick, if I call in an order for my family of 4 it will be ready by the time I drive there in 10-15 minutes!! We have never, not once had a problem or mistake with our food and it is ALWAYS delicious!!

Christi Wilson, Google Review 

4. Foon Ying

foon-ying

Website: https://www.foonyingrestaurant.com/rs/index_home.action?pageType=D

Address: 3770 Shadeland Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46226

Contact: (317) 547-2285

Hours: Tuesday – Thursday: 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Friday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM, Saturday: 2:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Sunday: 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Long known as a legendary local secret, Foon Ying earns its stellar reputation through massive signature egg rolls and incredibly savory fried rice. This hidden gem specializes in traditional American-Chinese comfort food, drawing in fiercely loyal customers for decades. 

Their unique preparation style, especially the luscious yellow gravy poured over their egg foo young, creates a deeply nostalgic flavor profile.

I can personally confirm that cracking into one of their giant egg rolls is a beautifully crunchy experience. The combo meals are heavily loaded and exceptionally priced, making it easy to feed a hungry crowd. 

Their dedicated carryout service turns out fresh food rapidly.

On the downside, because everything is cooked fresh, high demand often leads to noticeably longer wait times during the evening dinner rush. Furthermore, some visitors have experienced slight variations in the quality of certain secondary menu items.

Pros

  • Famous oversized crispy egg rolls
  • Unique signature yellow gravy
  • Affordable combo plate options
  • Strong local hidden gem status
  • Food cooked fresh to order

Cons

  • Long wait times during peak hours
  • Uneven quality on secondary items

egg rolls are so amazing

The best chinese carryout place i been to i always order from them, there fried rice is the best not mentioning the portions. Huge teriyaki chicken sticks and the egg rolls are so amazing, orange chicken, broccoli chicken, this is by far my favorite Chinese restaurant to go to instead of a buffet!

Alonso Torres, Google Review

so worth it

SO good. They are a very busy restaurant so they really don’t have a lot of time to be super friendly and waiting on you like you’re the only person in the world that matters, but the food is so worth it that when I feel the need for Chinese this is really the only place I go to.

Michael Alvear, Google Review

5. Hong Kong Restaurant

hong-kong-restaurant

Website: https://www.hongkong6918.com/

Address: 1345 W Southport Rd., #8, Indianapolis, IN 46217

Contact: (317) 887-6918

Hours: Tuesday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM, Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Sunday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Rooted deeply in the community, Hong Kong Restaurant is a beloved family-owned kitchen boasting over two decades of local history. They deliver a robust menu of authentic Chinese cuisine characterized by fresh ingredients and bold flavors. 

Their sizzling stir-fries and deeply savory noodle dishes arrive hot and visibly crafted with care.

Diners consistently appreciate the welcoming atmosphere created by the friendly owners and staff. The turnaround time for orders is surprisingly fast, making it a highly convenient stop for a quick lunch break or an easy family dinner. 

Generous portion sizes guarantee that your wallet stays happy while your appetite gets fully conquered.

However, there are occasional mix-ups when customers request specific dietary modifications or custom order changes. Additionally, a few diners report that certain dishes lack the punchy seasoning found in their most popular entrees.

Pros

  • Long-standing family-owned kitchen
  • Authentic and wide flavor variety
  • Fast and efficient service
  • Very generous portion sizes
  • Fresh and hot ingredients

Cons

  • Occasional order customization errors
  • Some dishes lack strong seasoning

DELICIOUS

Found this place a couple of years ago when my wife had to go to a meeting so since I like Chinese food I thought I would give it a try. DELICIOUS

Not your normal place my wife is a picky eater and Chinese is at the bottom of her place to however see wanted to try it since I raved about it. Now she makes the suggestion now Hong Kong Restaurant

Richard Neal, Google Review 

very clean

So good! Restaurant is very clean. I’m not sure why other reviews say the customer service is not good. They stay extremely busy but organized. Our new Chinese place!

Amelia Pitcock, Google Review