5 Best Chinese Restaurants in Bloomington, Indiana to Try

Bloomington’s food scene is a true melting pot, powered by IU students, professors, and a cosmopolitan college-town vibe.

Chinese food, as you’d expect, has gone far beyond greasy fried rice and fortune cookies—these days, Bloomington’s best spots dish up everything from regional Sichuan scorchers to soup dumplings that would feel at home in Shanghai.

Here’s where to eat when you want to taste the town’s best.

1. Lucky Express

Just steps from the Indiana University campus, Lucky Express is Bloomington’s answer to late-night cravings, hangover brunches, and everything in-between.

Their specialty? Dumplings—especially potstickers that are crisp on the bottom and pillowy everywhere else, and xiao long bao (soup dumplings) that explode with rich broth.

House-made hand-pulled noodles (often a rarity in Indiana) star in spicy beef soup or as chewy zhajiang noodles with pork.

2. Chow Bar

A modern mainstay just north of campus, Chow Bar has upped Bloomington’s spicy cuisine game with legit Sichuan and Hunan specialties.

Mapo tofu is numbing, rich, and deeply satisfying, while the cumin lamb delivers big, bold flavors.

They’re also known for their photo-worthy dim sum brunches—think shrimp har gow, char siu bao, and fluffy egg custard buns, all in a lively room with local art and friendly, knowledgeable staff.

3. Dragon Express

If you ask locals where to get great sweet and sour chicken, extra-crispy spring rolls, and steaming hot fried rice at 11 pm, they’ll point to Dragon Express.

This counter-service joint is reliable, quick, and tailored perfectly to busy students (and tired professors) needing their food to-go.

Their Honey Chicken is a perennial favorite—crispy chunks coated in sweet sauce that never feels heavy.

4. Taste of China

Taste of China wins hearts local and visiting with budget-friendly, flavor-packed lunches and dinners. It’s famous for loaded lunch combos and consistently satisfying Mongolian beef.

Portions are huge—even the “small” takes effort to finish—and the kitchen knows how to dial spice up or down depending on your tastes.

The place is homey, and service is so friendly that out-of-towners leave vowing to recommend it.

5. Asia Market & Restaurant

Part Asian grocery, part Chinese restaurant, all heart—Asia Market & Restaurant is where diehards go for the real deal.

Locals pop in for groceries, but stay for hearty pork buns, shatteringly crisp scallion pancakes, and lovingly hand-rolled dumplings.

The kitchen will whip up regional specialties off-menu if you know to ask (don’t miss the shredded potato salad or cold noodle bowls in summertime).