International Eats

The 6 must-try Austin restaurants for classic Chinese cuisine

February marks the start of the Year of the Monkey, and there's no better way to celebrate than with some real-deal Chinese food. From dim sum service to Cantonese classics, here are our top picks for Chinese cuisine in Austin.

Din Ho Chinese BBQ
Din Ho upholds Austin's reputation as one of the best barbecue towns around. Talk about meat on meat on meat — go for the combination plate, and get a taste of everything that makes this place delicious, specifically the roast duck and marinated pork. The namesake barbecue is a must-try on the menu, but diners will delight in a wide variety of authentic dishes.

Wu Chow
This upscale Chinese concept made a huge splash in Austin when it finally opened (after a two-year wait) last fall. Wu Chow succeeds in honoring influences from various styles of Chinese cuisine in the form of elevated Sichuan, Shanghainese, and Cantonese classics. We suggest pairing your meal with one of the interesting Tiki-style cocktails featuring Chinese spirits. And don't forget the dim sum.

A+A Sichuan China
Do you like spice? You'll find plenty of it at this culinary gem hidden in the Galleria Oaks Plaza in North Austin. The flavor is authentic, the portions hefty, and the patrons absolutely satisfied. The variety of noodle dishes are scrumptious, but daring diners should go for the Chongqing stir-fried chicken with dry-fried with chilies. Whatever you end up choosing, top it off with a refreshing tapioca bubble drink.

Sichuan River
If North Austin is too long a haul, don't worry: The owners of A+A are also behind Sichuan River in Westgate. The two restaurants are worth mentioning as separate destinations due to their varying menus. Crunchy sautéed green beans and spicy mala fish filets are both winners, and adventurous Austinites will be drawn to options like pig elbow, pork intestines, and pickled fish.

Chinatown
Restaurateur Ronald Cheng's dynasty includes three locations specializing in a variety of Chinese cuisines — from Peking, Mandarian, Hunan, Szechuan, Canton, and Shanghai origins— with a few fusion dishes peppered in. The downtown locale is great place for post-work eats, drinks, and karaoke; North Austin and Westlake offer delicious dim sum brunch service on the weekends.

Julie's Handmade Noodles
An unassuming food truck off the Drag has some of the most legit noodles around. Julie is serving up authentic and hearty Chinese noodle dishes with superb broth and tender meat. The truck offers dinner service only, and is open until 10:30 pm.

Indulge in dim sum brunch service at Chinatown.

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Games on the Go

This outdoorsy mountain trolley is now a vintage arcade in Austin

Photo courtesy of the Austin Arcade Trolley

The trolley still bears most of the markings from its past life in Tennessee.

Some classic arcade games are now on the go in Austin with the launch of the Austin Arcade Trolley. Housed in a renovated trolley car, this new mobile arcade shows off eight vintage 80s and 90s games, while keeping some of the transportation nostalgia intact, too.

Austin Arcade Trolley owner and ex-corporate salesman Trey Tschoepe said in a press release that the idea came about after attending birthday parties with his 6-year-old daughter. The parties inspired a desire to "keep Austinites young at heart." It wasn't intended as a business, but Austinites can now book it for their own events.

The vintage games include:

NBA Jam
Golden Tee
Ms. Pacman
Atari
The Simpsons
NFL Blitz
Mortal Kombat
Street Fighter II

Austin Arcade Trolley interior Even though the aesthetics are different, both halves of this bus are very retro.Photo courtesy of the Austin Arcade Trolley

It's not just limited to those classics, though; a 55-inch screen will let guests play more than 30,000 other games. Minecraft, Roblox, and Tetris are a few of those offerings.

“Not only are we delivering nostalgic fun that accessible to all ages, but we’re also doing it in style with a vintage trolley car converted into a mobile arcade," said Tschoepe. "There’s truly nothing else like this in Texas or anywhere else.”

There certainly are other mobile arcades, but the trolley is unique not just for its vintage selection but a delightfully outdoorsy look. The back of the vehicle looks like an arcade, but the front and exterior sidestep the expected design elements — neon colors, envisionings of cyberspace — by keeping everything as-is.

Austin Arcade Trolley interior This part of the trolley basically looks like any other mobile arcade.Photo courtesy of the Austin Arcade Trolley

The wooden interior still has some passenger benches, and the outside even displays its original affiliation: the Tennessee town of Pigeon Forge, where it was designated a "Fun Time Trolley."

Tschoepe did put some work in, even though he kept the aesthetic intact. He purchased the decommissioned car in May 2024 and spent six months implementing custom woodwork and other design updates.

Now it can fit 15 guests in the arcade section, with space for 7 more in the seating section. There's also wifi and air-conditioning, and guests are encouraged to bring their own snacks and drinks onboard.

Austin Arcade Trolley interior This part of the trolley brings light to an airier side of gaming.Photo courtesy of the Austin Arcade Trolley

The trolley is available for hourly booking every day. The case price is $375 including delivery, setup, and unlimited play within the booking time, which happens in two-hour increments. It can travel around Austin as well as to Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Leander, Dripping Springs, Bee Cave, Buda, Kyle, and Lakeway.

Tschoepe welcomes kids and adults for birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, weddings, corporate and team-building events, and anywhere else it's needed.

“We’re excited to spread the fun throughout Central Texas," he said.

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