Brighton has a genuinely good range of Chinese restaurants, from a long-standing dim sum institution to noodle specialists pulling fresh biang biang by hand. Most of the city’s best-known spots cluster on Preston Street, just back from the seafront, but there are excellent options across the centre and along Kings Road too. This guide rounds up the standout Chinese restaurants in Brighton, what each is known for, and where to go for dim sum, hand-pulled noodles, regional cooking, seafood or a value hot pot.
Looking for a particular style, there is a Chinese restaurant in Brighton to match, so it is worth picking by what you fancy rather than just heading to the nearest one.
Restaurants Featured in This Guide
| Restaurant | Area | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| China Garden | Preston Street | Dim sum and Cantonese, since 1980 |
| Shaanxi | Preston Street | Hand-pulled biang biang noodles |
| Sea Spice | Preston Street | Spicy Sichuan and northern dishes |
| Lucky Star | Central | Value lunch deals and hot pot |
| Aberdeen Seafood | Kings Road | Hong Kong-style seafood |
| Beijing House | Queens Road | Adventurous regional dishes |
Table of Contents
China Garden
If you want one safe, reliable pick, China Garden on the corner of Preston Street is it. A genuine Brighton institution, it has been serving Chinese, Cantonese and dim sum since 1980, more than four decades, from a large room with sea views at the foot of the street. It is the kind of place that has built a loyal following over many years, which is always a good sign.
The dim sum is the standout, served daily from noon until around 4pm, and it is widely rated as some of the best in the area. Beyond that, the Cantonese menu runs to well over a hundred dishes, with favourites like crispy aromatic duck and the kung pao prawns. It is a big, well-run restaurant that suits everything from an intimate meal to a large family gathering, though it is worth booking, as it fills up.
Shaanxi
For something different from the usual Cantonese, Shaanxi on Preston Street is a real highlight. Named after the noodle-famous province in northwest China, it specialises in hand-pulled biang biang noodles, the wide, chewy belt-shaped noodles made fresh to order, and you can often watch the chefs pulling the dough at the counter while you wait.
The menu is wheat-based and hearty, with cumin, chilli and garlic to the fore. The biang biang noodles come with a range of toppings, and the braised short rib noodle soup is a signature, alongside handmade dumplings and rou jia mo, the Chinese burger. There are vegetarian options too, and prices are fair, which makes it a great spot for a quick, quality meal with proper regional character.
Sea Spice
Also on Preston Street, Sea Spice is the one to seek out if you like things spicy. It is a small, simple cafe-style restaurant focused on authentic Sichuan, Beijing and Shandong-style cooking, with the food as the main draw.
Expect properly fiery Sichuan dishes like spicy shredded pork and ma po tofu, with the heat levels often customisable, alongside comforting options like wonton soup for those who want less spice. Portions are generous and prices are very reasonable, which makes it a reliable, great-value choice for a flavour-packed meal.
Lucky Star
For value and a bit of fun, Lucky Star in central Brighton is hard to beat. It is a no-frills spot that locals love for flavour-packed dishes and generous portions, with a lengthy menu of fried plates, rice dishes and noodle soups. The lunch deal is the big draw, dozens of options each served with a drink, at a price that is tough to argue with.
It is also one of the better places in the city for an affordable all-you-can-eat hot pot, with a choice of broths and a self-serve station of sauces and condiments to mix your own dipping setup. It is a relaxed, sociable choice, especially for a group.
Aberdeen Seafood
Over on Kings Road on the seafront, Aberdeen Seafood brings Hong Kong harbour-style cooking to Brighton. Named after the harbour neighbourhood in Hong Kong rather than the Scottish city, it focuses on fresh seafood done in the wok-fired, sharing-plate style you would find in a Cantonese seafood kitchen.
Expect dishes like salt and pepper squid, soft shell crab, delicately steamed scallops with garlic vermicelli, and whole fish and lobster dishes that are surprisingly good value for what they are. It is a relaxed room that suits a table piled with shared plates, and a good choice when you want something a step up from the standard takeaway classics, or one of the city’s wider range of seafood restaurants with a Chinese twist.
Beijing House
For the more adventurous, Beijing House on Queens Road is worth seeking out. Easy to miss in daylight, it is unmistakable after dark thanks to its glowing pavement logo. Inside it is a simple, small restaurant with an upstairs dining room, and a menu that goes well beyond the familiar Cantonese standards.
This is the place to try dishes you will not see everywhere, like spicy crayfish, green beans with minced pork, and more unusual options such as Beijing haggis soup and a catfish pancake. If you have eaten your way through the city’s Cantonese menus and want something genuinely different, this is a great next stop.
Preston Street: Brighton’s Chinatown
If you cannot decide, the easiest approach is simply to head to Preston Street, the road running up from the seafront near the i360 tower that is the closest thing Brighton has to a Chinatown. Many of the best Chinese restaurants in Brighton are here, with China Garden, Shaanxi and Sea Spice within a short walk of each other, alongside other Asian restaurants, so you can take a look at a few and pick on the night. It is a great street for a relaxed dinner out, and an easy walk from the seafront and the Lanes.
How to Choose
It comes down to what you are after. The best Chinese restaurants in Brighton each have their own strength: for classic Cantonese and the best dim sum, China Garden is the safe bet. For something regional and different, Shaanxi’s hand-pulled noodles or Beijing House’s adventurous menu both deliver, and Sea Spice is the pick for fiery Sichuan cooking. Lucky Star wins on budget lunches and hot pot, while Aberdeen Seafood is the one for a seafood feast. Most of these are popular and can be busy, so booking ahead is wise, especially at weekends.
FAQs
Where is the best Chinese restaurant in Brighton?
It depends what you want. China Garden is the long-standing favourite for Cantonese food and dim sum, Shaanxi is the pick for hand-pulled regional noodles, Aberdeen Seafood is good for Hong Kong-style seafood, and Lucky Star is the value hot pot option.
Where is Brighton’s Chinatown?
Brighton does not have a formal Chinatown, but Preston Street, running up from the seafront, is the main hub, with China Garden, Shaanxi, Sea Spice and several other Asian restaurants close together.
Which Brighton Chinese restaurant is best for dim sum?
China Garden on Preston Street is the standout for dim sum, served daily from noon until around 4pm, and is widely considered some of the best in the area.
Are there good Chinese restaurants in Brighton for vegetarians?
Yes. Shaanxi says its handmade dishes include many vegetarian options, and several other Chinese restaurants in Brighton list vegetarian dishes too. Vegan diners should check directly before visiting.
Do I need to book a Chinese restaurant in Brighton?
For the busier and more popular spots, especially China Garden at weekends, booking is a good idea. Smaller places and quieter weeknights are usually fine for walk-ins, but it is always worth checking ahead.
Final Thoughts
The best Chinese restaurants in Brighton cover a lot of ground, from a four-decade dim sum institution to hand-pulled noodles, Hong Kong seafood and adventurous regional cooking. Preston Street is the natural place to start, but it is worth picking by what you fancy on the night. Book ahead for the popular ones, go with a group so you can share, and enjoy one of the city’s most rewarding corners of the wider Brighton restaurant scene.
