5 Best Chinese Restaurants in San Leandro, California to Try

San Leandro’s Chinese restaurant ecosystem is a living tapestry of Bay Area heritage, new immigrant stories, and creative fusion.

Here, every block has a kitchen drawing regulars for dim sum, Cantonese seafood, northern noodle dishes, or late-night boba and snacks. Chinatown may be across the bay, but for families and commuters, San Leandro’s Chinese eateries are the new hub for both tradition and reinvention.

1. Tastee Steam Kitchen

An experience in itself, Tastee Steam is all about DIY hot pot—the dining room packed with tables studded with bubbling broth pots, steam baskets layered with thin-cut meat, shellfish, dumplings, and lotus root.

Young couples, groups of techies, and big families gear up to cook their own spreads, sharing sauces, drinks, and endless stories.

Staff expertly guide both newbies and hot pot pros, and the menu’s wide spread means every guest can design their perfect meal.

2. Man Wah Restaurant

For over forty years, Man Wah has served generations of San Leandro families and is especially beloved among grandparent-grandchild duos for traditional banquet fare.

The salt-and-pepper ribs, velvety egg drop soup, and ginger chicken are deeply comforting.

It’s the spot for graduation dinners and business lunches alike; often, you’ll overhear groups at the next table negotiating both contracts and wedding plans.

Loyal staff remember orders, kids’ birthdays, and always share a local tip on a new seasonal special.

3. New Hong Kong Restaurant

A busy, well-established dim sum and seafood destination, New Hong Kong pulls South Bay regulars for whole steamed fish, stir-fried clams with black bean, and crisp roast duck.

On weekends, an army of servers weave between tables with carts of piping hot dumplings, har gow, baked pork buns, and sweet custard tarts.

The energy in the room feels like Chinatown—lively, a little chaotic, and full of people gathering for joy.

4. Shan Dong Restaurant

Known for their hand-shaved noodles and thick-skinned dumplings, Shan Dong is the North China expert in San Leandro.

Try a bowl of beef noodle soup topped with cilantro and chili oil or indulge in pork-filled potstickers, every one pleated by hand.

The vibe is casual, servers quick and practical, and the customers as likely to be older solo diners as families with young kids.

House chili sauce is unforgettable and sold by the jar.

5. Panda Express

San Leandro’s many working parents and students know Panda for what it is: reliable, fast, always hot.

There’s a spirit of cheer behind the line, big portions, and classic entrees that win smiles whether after swim practice or on the way home from work.