The best Chinese restaurants in Brighton

Full House in the BN1 area serves a mix of familiar Chinese dishes and Hunan classics in a white-tablecloth dining room that works well for groups. The vibe is relaxed, and the menu pays homage to China, featuring dishes like chilli oil chicken and seabass with pickled vegetables. Portions are generous, and prices are fair, making it a great option if everyone wants to share. Most diners head straight for the spicier dishes, and eating in is generally the best way to get the full experience.

Danny's Restaurant is situated in central Hove and specialises in Cantonese cuisine, offering a buffet, set menus, and an à la carte menu. The open kitchen gives the place a lively feel, and the relaxed setup suits both quick midweek dinners and larger group outings. Vegetarian and vegan dishes are plentiful here, and the drinks list is simple. There is space for about fifty diners inside, plus a handful of outdoor tables in summer.

China Garden on Preston Street serves Cantonese dishes and daily dim sum in a traditional dining room with white tablecloths. The vibe is old-school rather than trendy, and the menu covers a wide range of Cantonese classics. Most people come for the dim sum service, which runs from lunchtime onwards, and weekends can be busy with people selecting options from the tasty à la carte menu. There is live piano on Friday and Saturday evenings, which gives the place a slightly nostalgic vibe.

Mr Wang Hot Pot is located right near Brighton station and specialises in Malatang, which is a build-your-own hot pot bowl where you choose your own ingredients and spice levels. The space is casual and works well for groups who want something shareable without committing to a fancy sit-down meal. Ingredients are laid out to pick from, and everything arrives in a broth cooked fresh at the table.

Lucky Star in central Brighton offers a lengthy menu that features fried plates, rice dishes, and a variety of noodle soups. The lunch deal is popular because it includes more than seventy options, all served with a drink of your choice. There is also an affordable all-you-can-eat hot pot with several broth choices and a self-serve sauce station if you fancy mixing up your dipping and dunking setup.

Beijing House on Queens Road is easy to miss during the day, although the pavement logo lights up at night, basically inviting you in. Inside, it's simple with a small upstairs dining room, and the menu goes well beyond the classic Cantonese dishes. There are many dishes on the menu that you may not have seen before, such as spicy crayfish and green beans with minced pork, as well as more unusual options like Beijing haggis soup and a catfish pancake. It suits anyone who wants something different from the city's usual Chinese spots.

Shaanxi on Preston Street focuses on street food from its namesake region and is one of the best spots in Brighton for proper hand-pulled biang biang noodles. The vibe is pretty chilled, with the added fun of watching chefs shape your noodle dough while you wait. The menu covers signature dishes like chewy noodles, handmade dumplings and Chinese burgers with options to adjust spice levels or go plant-based. It's a fab spot to try something with more regional character than the standard Cantonese options the city knows so well.

Aberdeen Seafood brings the spirit of Hong Kong's harbour kitchens to King's Road in Brighton. The name nods to the neighbourhood many Hongkongers grew up around, where late-night meals and seafood stalls were part of everyday life. Here that shows up in wok-fired plates, chilli-filled seafood and a relaxed room that suits a table covered in dishes. The focus is firmly on seafood cooked the way it's done in Hong Kong, including a huge wok-fried seabass with black bean sauce, and chilli served tableside.