Reading has always been a crossroads city—a place where old meets new and tradition dances with renewal.
Its Chinese restaurant scene is an echo of that, threading together the old-school warmth of long-established kitchens with new-wave spots seeking to keep classic flavors alive for future generations.
At every table, you’ll find family, laughter, and the kind of hospitality that has made Pennsylvania Dutch Country famous for centuries.
1. China Penn
In Reading, no Chinese food roundup starts anywhere but China Penn. With its red-carpet welcome, bright lanterns, and seasoned kitchen staff, China Penn is a mainstay for every kind of gathering.
Whether you’re on a first name basis with the whole staff or coming for takeout for the first time, you’ll be treated to plates of sesame chicken that crackle with freshness, rainbow lo mein swimming with perfect veggies, and hot crab rangoon.
Generations return for birthday dinners, homecoming feasts, or after-church Sunday meals, and everyone feels like family—even when it’s packed.
2. Hong Thanh
Reading’s best Vietnamese-Chinese fusion kitchen, Hong Thanh is cherished for hearty pho, homemade pork dumplings, and a Chinese menu where scallion chicken, lo mein, and simple stir fries are given the same depth of care.
The fresh spring rolls are the go-to appetizer, the hot tea flows endlessly, and the kitchen loves to surprise regulars with off-menu specials when local produce is in season.
The pace is brisk but never hurried, always leaving time for a few words with the familiar servers.
3. Asian Star Buffet
The city’s buffet culture is alive and well at Asian Star, where big families and sports teams gather to conquer trays of dumplings, honey chicken, sushi, and fried rice.
Dessert is just as popular as the mains—fountains of chocolate, plates of fruit, and ice cream machines keep kids grinning from ear to ear.
It’s the destination for celebrations, graduation lunches, and “we need a little bit of everything” nights.
4. King Chef
King Chef is Reading’s favorite for quick comfort food.
The kitchen turns out beef broccoli, thick pan-fried noodles, and hot and sour soup with punchy flavor and fast delivery.
It’s a lunch staple for workers, the default order for cold winter nights, and the sort of place where takeout portions rival even the heartiest home-cooked meal.
5. New York Chinese Restaurant
Downtown, New York Chinese Restaurant is Reading’s king of classic combo plates.
Chicken with garlic sauce, pork egg foo young, and fried wontons emerge from the kitchen crisp, steaming, and perfectly portioned for hungry crowds and solo eaters alike.
The prices are friendly, the smiles genuine, and the sense of being a valued guest never slips, even during the dinner rush.
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