Stockton’s Chinese food culture is deep—rooted in the city’s history as an early Californian hub for Chinese immigrants working in agriculture and the railroads, and now sustained by a diverse, ever-changing population seeking both classic and innovative flavors.
Stockton’s Chinese restaurants are community institutions, where entire extended families gather after church, where busy farm workers grab dinner on the way home, and where university students introduce friends to their favorite homestyle dishes.
No matter your flavor—seafood-rich Cantonese, fiery Szechuan, or crave-worthy American-Chinese—you’ll find it in Stockton’s most loved kitchens.
1. China Palace
China Palace has long been Stockton’s go-to for celebratory family banquets.
Its spacious dining room is filled with big round tables, always buzzing on weekends with multigenerational groups—babies being rocked, grandparents pouring tea, middle generations manning the lazy Susan.
The kitchen excels at vibrant stir-fried greens, honey walnut prawns, plump har gow dumplings, and an extensive seafood menu that highlights fresh Delta-caught fish.
Seasonal specials—like whole ginger-steamed crab or lobster Cantonese—draw regulars and newcomers alike.
Servers are patient, helpful, and multilingual, knowing how to balance big orders for adventurous palates and classic tastes.
2. Dave Wong’s Restaurant & Bar
A true Stockton institution, Dave Wong’s is refined yet approachable, with a well-appointed dining room, soft lighting, and a menu that blends Chinese regional specialties with American comfort.
Generations celebrate anniversaries and graduations here; others just drop in for favorites like the signature roast duck, twice-cooked pork, garlic string beans, and a bar that mixes up strong cocktails and specialty teas.
Dave Wong’s is also famed for its lunch menu—affordable combos that draw workers from downtown and hospital staff alike.
The staff has a reputation for warmth, efficiency, and an eagle eye for making sure every celebration goes off without a hitch.
3. Kim’s Chinese Restaurant
Kim’s feels like home—small, family-run, lively with regulars whose photos sometimes hang by the register.
Locals order the salt and pepper pork chops, tangy hot and sour soup, Mongolian beef, and the chef’s seafood tofu clay pot—as rich and memorable as anything in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
Kim’s also stands out for an extensive vegetarian menu and daily specials using local asparagus or produce from the Central Valley.
The owners are chatty and quick to offer off-menu options for those wanting something truly authentic or simply needing a “little less salt, a little more chili.”
4. Imperial Garden
Imperial Garden is Stockton’s answer to the all-in-one Chinese-American experience: massive portions, super-fast delivery, and a menu mixing the best of east and west—crispy egg rolls, orange chicken, Mongolian lamb, broccoli stir fries, and sweet, piping hot sesame balls on the side.
Their daily buffet, when running, is a magnet for big families and hungry crowds after games or shopping trips.
5. Panda Express
Stockton’s Pandas are more than just a quick takeout—they’re post-game rally points, weeknight dinner solutions, and comfort food havens for kids and grandparents alike.
Service tends to be extra friendly, dishes always refilled and fresh, and there’s enough variety on the menu to please every generation.
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