With so many Chinese restaurants in Winnipeg, it can be difficult to decide where to go for a delicious meal, especially when everyone seems to have an opinion on where the best Chinese food is in Winnipeg! However, if you’re wondering where you can go for a delicious meal to satisfy your craving for Chinese cuisine, look no further.
Winnipeg’s Best Chinese Restaurants
- Morals Village Hot Pot 德庄火锅 – Newly opened restaurant serving authentic Sichuan hot pot
- Kum Koon Garden 金冠酒樓 – Winnipeg’s longest-running dim sum joint serving authentic Hong Kong-style dim sum and experience
- Sun Fortune Restaurant 新镛發 – Authentic Hong Kong-style dishes and Peking duck
- Golden Loong Restaurant 金龙餐厅 – Authentic Xi’an and Sichuan dishes founded in 2012
- Aroma Bistro 食堂 – Mindblowing Asian Fusion dishes featuring red chilli oil wontons and LaLa Chicken
Over the years, I’ve eaten my way across Asia and had my fair share of homemade Chinese meals (thanks mom!) so I know what’s good and what’s not. Before we delve into which restaurant has the best Chinese food, let’s talk about the different types of Chinese cuisine.
The 8 Major Chinese Cuisines and What You’ll Find in Winnipeg
When you think about Chinese food, you might be aware of the different dishes available – and maybe have a vague awareness of the different origins of the food. But not many know that there are eight major cuisines, each with its own flavour profiles and cooking methods that are specific to its culture, region and climate.
These eight major Chinese cuisines are Anhui (Hui Cai), Cantonese (Yue Cai), Fujian (Min Cai), Hunan (Xiang Cai), Jiangsu (Su Cai), Shandong (Lu Cai), Sichuan (Chuan Cai), and Zhejiang (Zhe Cai), which represent eight different regions in China. You can read more details about the differences in the cuisines here.
Most Chinese food in Winnipeg is Chinese-Canadian, which is largely adapted from Cantonese cuisine and made to suit the Western palate with the available ingredients found here. In recent years, there have also been a growing number of restaurants serving authentic Chinese food from other regions to cater to immigrants.
If you’re interested in learning more about Canadian Chinese cuisine and how it came about, check out this book, Chop Suey Nation (paid link). It’s written by Ann Hui, a Chinese Canadian reporter who drove across Canada and learned about the invention of classic dishes like “ginger beef” and “Newfoundland chow mein” and more. Worth a read!
Now let’s talk about the best Chinese restaurants worth visiting in Winnipeg!
Map of All the Restaurants Mentioned in This Post
1. Kum Koon Garden 金冠酒樓
Dim sum is the name of the game when you head to Kum Koon Garden, Winnipeg’s longest-running dim sum restaurant since 1977. With a diverse menu including popular classics such as their Pork Dumplings and Baked BBQ Pork Buns, you’re sure to find something that will be up your alley!
When you first arrive, you’ll realise that Kum Koon Garden is wide and spacious, with lots of room to accommodate hundreds of guests. The restaurant is capable of hosting banquets and private events, and you’ll likely come across walled-off sections of birthday parties in progress.
Depending on the day and time that you arrive, you’ll have different items to choose from. The best time to go is on weekends during prime time (11am-3pm) when you’ll see the servers pushing around little metal carts filled with dim sum dishes, while the local aunties and uncles chatter away around you. Be prepared for it to be slightly intense or overwhelming on your first visit with so much going on, but it’s the best way to experience true dim sum culture!
You can order your dim sum in advance, or just point to whatever catches your fancy when the cart rolls around. If you’re new to dim sum and not sure what to order, I recommend getting the crowd favourites such as their Baked BBQ Pork Buns (叉烧包, char siu bao), Shrimp Dumplings (虾饺, har gow), Sesame Balls and Pork & Ginger Dumplings.
It’s important to note that they have two types of pork buns, and you’ll want to try the baked version. The other version is steamed and a traditional favourite, but I prefer the Baked BBQ Pork bun because the bread is softer and I feel like you have a better meat-to-bun ratio.
If you go in the evening, the dim sum selection is usually not available. You can always try asking the servers, but they’re usually all sold out of the day’s dim sum items. The dinner and banquet menu is fantastic as well though and not to be missed.
Try their beef fried noodles if you’re curious about what their most popular dish is. Kum Koon Garden makes their own noodles from scratch instead of buying pre-packaged noodles, which probably explains why it’s so good and has a QQ (chewy) texture. Other favourites of ours are the Singapore Fried Noodles, BBQ Duck, and Hot and Sour soup.
Location: 257 King St, Winnipeg, MB R3B 1J6
Tuesday to Sunday: 11am-10pm
2. Morals Village Hot Pot 德庄火锅
If you like hot pot, you are in for a treat here!
Hot pot is a Chinese cuisine that dates back thousands of years ago and was pretty popular amongst emperors. It’s basically a huge pot of flavourful broth simmering at the table, and you put in ingredients like sliced meat, seafood, vegetables, tofu and so on. The more you eat, the more flavourful the broth gets!
At Morals Village Hot Pot, they serve 13 different kinds of soup bases and an unlimited choice of ingredients you can eat during your 3-hour stay.
When you first arrive, you might get confused because there are basically two restaurants and a bubble tea shop within this one location. Their servers are helpful and friendly, so just let them know that you’re there for the hot pot and they’ll guide you to the right spot. (The other restaurant is a dim sum joint, and we’ll get to that another time.)
When it comes to soup bases, you have a choice of a personal hot pot (small pot) or a shared one (big pot). Growing up, we always had a shared pot because it was just family, but I understand that not everyone is comfortable sharing! Just be aware that there are price differences between the two.
We usually go for the Signature 10-Year Spicy for a good spicy kick in the mouth because we really like mala (麻辣, which directly translates to numbing and spicy). But if spicy’s not your thing, they also have non-spicy bases like the Signature Wild Mushroom, Golden Pork Bone, Slow Cooked Chicken and more.
They also have a dipping sauce bar, a self-serve drink station, and beer on tap, which is a recent addition to their restaurant.
If you’re not sure about what ingredients to get, here is a handy cheat list (including our favourites):
What to Order for Appetisers
- Deep-Fried Pork With Pepper Corn
- Fried Chicken Wings
- Deep-Fried Bun with Condensed Milk
- Sesame Balls
I wish I had more to say beyond the fact that all these four appetisers are so darn good and you have to try all of them at least once.
The sesame balls come out fresh and chewy for the perfect mouthful. The fried chicken wings and deep-fried pork are both crispy, flavourful and not overly breaded.
Lastly, the deep-fried bun (馒头, man tou) has a crisp skin while keeping the bread at the right amount of fluffiness for dipping into the condensed milk that comes on the side. This has been a childhood favourite of mine and I was so excited when I found it!
Ingredients to Order for the Hot Pot
- Pork sliced
- Beef sliced
- Lamb sliced
- Luncheon meat (also known as spam here)
- Shrimp (Note that it’s not shelled and still has the head on it)
- Angus beef balls
- Lotus root sliced (a root vegetable that’s a classic in Chinese cooking)
- Spinach
- Chinese cabbage
- Potato slices
- Bean vermicelli or konjac noodles (if you’re on a no-carb diet)
The list above is a good starting point that you can customise according to your dietary preferences, and a fun thing to note is that there’s a “secret” menu as well! When we first arrived, we were given an English menu to choose from, which is what most people would get as well.
If you’re able to read Chinese characters, you can ask for the Chinese menu which features a lot more items for the adventurous diner such as beef tripe, duck blood and sheep brain! Some of my add-ons to my English order include:
- Quail eggs
- Prawn paste
When you’re done with your meal and if you’re not already stuffed to the brim, check out their vanilla or strawberry ice cream. It’s surprisingly delicious and a great mouth cleanser after all that spiciness.
Location: 102-1855 Pembina Hwy, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2G6
Monday to Sunday: 11.30am-9pm
3. Sun Fortune Restaurant 新镛發
With so many restaurants in Winnipeg serving Cantonese/Hong Kong-style food, it can be hard to stand out amongst the competition. Sun Fortune Restaurant is an exception, serving mouthwatering authentic dishes at an incredible price.
The restaurant may not be able to hold large banquets, but their set-up is authentic and reminds me very much of Hong Kong! Their staff are also very friendly and hospitable, and you’ll be sure to have a great dining experience here.
If you’re looking for something to blow your mind, get the Peking Duck and order a few side dishes to be shared with friends or family. A few other dishes you’ll want to try are the Spicy Beef Ho Fan With Black Pepper in Mini Wok and the Pan Fried Shrimp with Spicy Minced Pork.
Location: 2077 Pembina Hwy #15, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5L1
Tuesday to Sunday: 12-4pm (pick up only), 4-9pm (dine-in only)
4. Golden Loong Restaurant 金龙餐厅
Golden Loong was a completely random find that I attribute to the wondrous nature of Google recommendations, and for that, I will always be grateful – because the food here is amazing!
Golden Loong is different because it serves up authentic Xi’an and Sichuan (romanised as Szechuan) style dishes, unlike other Winnipeg Chinese restaurants that focus on Hong Kong/Cantonese-style cuisines. This is rare because you normally have to go to the west coast (BC) to find central Chinese cuisines.
Sichuan meals are more on the spicy side, with an emphasis on the spicy chillies and numbing Sichuan peppercorns. The cuisine is all about bold flavours – that means spicy, tongue-melting numbness that makes you wonder why you decided to torture yourself with this level of spice, as you uncontrollably continue to gobble up your meal while drinking copious amounts of iced water!
Xi’an meals, on the other hand, are better known for their noodles, lamb/mutton dishes and a strong cumin preference, which is why you’ll find that their popular dishes here are their #2 Cold Noodles (Xi’an style) and #9 Noodle of Stir-Fried Lamb with Cumin.
My absolute favourites are the #43 Deep Fried Green Bean and #49 Sautéed Chicken in Iron Wok, and I’m sure this will change as I continue to make my way through their menu! They also serve authentic Chinese-style tofu pudding (豆腐花, dou hua), which I have been craving for over two years.
I highly recommend checking them out with an empty stomach. Their portions are generous and we often leave with takeout boxes to store our unfinished portions for a second lunch. They are worth making the trip out to Pembina Highway for!
Location: 2237 Pembina Hwy, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2H1
Wednesday to Monday: 12-9pm
5. Aroma Bistro 食堂
Aroma Bistro is a bit of an anomaly when it comes to Chinese food. It’s not quite Canadian-Chinese, nor does it quite belong to any of the major Chinese cuisines. Instead, they have taken the best of all worlds and created deliciously unique Asian Fusion meals that will blow your mind.
You can’t talk about Aroma Bistro without mentioning their Red Chili Oil Wontons. It is so good that we often order their frozen kit to take home and make seconds as a late-night snack at home. There’s just something about their Signature Red Chili Oil Sauce and how they’ve blended the sweet, spicy, tangy and sour flavours so well that I would try to lick the bowl clean.
I would also highly recommend getting the Aroma LaLa Chicken, which is seasoned to perfection and is one of the best-tasting fried chicken bites I’ve had in Winnipeg. The rest of their menu features rice bowls, stir-fried noodles and noodles in soup, which are also just as delicious.
Another point of note that can’t be missed is just how friendly Owner/Chef Louie and his team are. Chef Louie will regularly pop out to chat with diners and sometimes offer complimentary new specials he’s whipping up in the kitchen. It’s a very cosy and homely environment, and you feel like you’re part of the family.
Lastly, you’re used to walking into a restaurant and expecting to be seated shortly, you might not want to do that here. When I first visited Aroma Bistro years ago, I was surprised at how tiny they were. There was really only space for two tables of diners, but earlier in 2022, they expanded their dining section to accommodate more patrons!
While they are bigger now, I would still recommend calling ahead to make reservations if you are set on going at a certain time. If you find yourself in the area, make sure to check them out!
Location: 741 St Mary’s Rd, Winnipeg, MB R2M 3N5
Tuesday to Sunday: 11am-9.30pm
