Chinese Restaurants in Moscow

Russians generally donÕt like spicy food and MoscowÕs Chinese restaurants usually adapt their cooking to suit local tastes. As a result it can be difficult to find the kind of Chinese cuisine you may be used to back home. But spiciness aside, there is a good number of restaurants serving quality Chinese food around the city. 

Drevny Kitai.
Drevny Kitai benefits mainly from its great location on Kamergersky Pereulok. It also has a nice interior, which has obviously taken some effort to create, even if it does look a bit cheesy. The food can be a little bland but is good value in terms of serving size for price. The business lunch is especially a bargain with the choice of any main course for just 165 rubles ($5.90). The portions are a little smaller than if you ordered off the regular menu (on which a main course averages about $16) but for that money you can afford to get two different dishes. Drevny Kitai also benefits from a relaxing atmosphere and efficient service, although the wait staff can be a little too eager to clear away your plates and glasses. The restaurant has Chinese and Thai cultural shows Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Address: Kamergersky Pereulok, #5/6 View on Map, Bldg. 4, metro Teatralnaya. Tel: 692-2900. Open 12:00-0:00.

Druzhba.
Druzhba has a reputation as the most authentic of MoscowÕs Chinese restaurants. That is to say that the meals arenÕt Europeanized or de-flavored to make them more attractive to Russian tastes. While that might be true, it doesnÕt make this a good restaurant. The meals manage to be bland by their simplicity if not by their spice level. Combined with the restaurantÕs average service, the fuss about Druzhba is difficult to understand. The decor is the simple but reassuring sort you might find in a Chinatown district worldwide. An average main course costs 500 rubles ($18) and an average bill per person is about 800 rubles ($28). Vegetarians beware: the dishes on the ÒMeals from VegetablesÓ page strangely enough contain meat, even though itÕs not listed as one of the ingredients. And management will expect you to pay for the meal because itÕs your duty to enquire whether they contain meat before you order.
Address: Novoslobodskaya Ulitsa, #4, metro Novoslobodskaya. Tel: 973-1234. Open 11:00-23:00.

Pekinskaya Utka.
A surprisingly good chain of restaurants that serve Japanese, Thai and European food but specialize in Chinese. The restaurants are nicely decorated but not over the top. The Tverskaya location has five different halls which are each decorated differently and have their own charm. The food is tasty if not earth-shattering. The Szechuan duck, one of their specialties, is a good choice at 390 rubles ($14). In fact all of their meals are reasonably priced and wonÕt disappoint. An average bill per person is about 800 rubles ($28). Pekinskaya Utka also does home delivery which can be ordered from their website or by calling 755-8401. Delivery is free for orders over 1500 rubles.
Address: Tverskaya Ulitsa, #24 View on Map, metro: Pushkinskaya. Tel: 755-8401. Open 11:00-0:00.
Novy Arbat, #22, metro: Arbatskaya. Tel: 291-2623. Open 12:00-23:30.

Tan.
A little further up the price scale but still good value is Tan. The restaurant boasts Chinese chefs and less Europeanized cuisine than youÕll find elsewhere. The restaurant has a classy, modern interior which may not look particularly Chinese but is pleasant. It provides for a mix of the traditional white table cloth dining experience with great Chinese food. Staff are professional and efficient. Tan serves brilliant business lunches from 12pm-5pm on weekdays. There are ten on offer themed around different regions of both China and Japan, ranging in price from 140-280 rubles ($5-$10). The rest of the time an average bill per person is about 1000 rubles ($36). One of the best Chinese options in town.
Address: Oruzheiny Pereulok, #13 View on Map, metro Mayakovskaya. Tel: 251-0877. Open 12:00-last customer.

Tao.
Tao is a thoroughly impressive Chinese restaurant. Housed in the same building as an Italian and Russian restaurant, you will immediately be struck by the impressive interior upon entry. The seating is very private and the wait staff are unobtrusive. This is a great place to take guests, visitors or a date without spending a fortune, or just a fine restaurant to choose when you have a craving for Chinese food. Main courses average around 450 rubles ($16) but drinks are a bit pricey which will drive the average bill up around 1000 rubles per person ($36). But the price is well worth it. There is a good selection of dishes on the menu including all the classics and, although they may be a little more bland than what youÕd find back home, they taste great. Tao does some Japanese food as well. Highly recommended.
Address: 2nd Brestskaya Ulitsa, #37 View on Map, Bldg. 1, metro Belorusskaya. Tel:250-0336. Open 12:00-23:00.

 
China Club.
One of MoscowÕs elite restaurants, in its original Club T incarnation this was the second project of famous restaurateur Arkady Novikov. Not strictly Chinese food, the meals are a fusion of Chinese, Asian and French cuisine which works quite well. Good service and a nice interior fitted with antiques and plush furniture. Average bill per person is $80-$100.
Address: Krasina Ulitsa, #21 View on Map, metro Mayakovskaya. Tel: 232-2778. Open 12:00-0:00.

 
IST Buffet.
As the name suggests this is a Chinese buffet restaurant. Depending on the time of day the prices are 450 rubles and 550 rubles ($16-$19) for all you can eat or 199 rubles and 299 rubles ($7-$10) for one trip. Has a good selection of dishes to choose from but the taste isnÕt great.
Address: Novoslobodskaya Ulitsa, #16, metro Novoslobodskaya. Tel: 973-1350. Open 11:00-0:00.

 
Khram Drakhona.
Worth checking out for the interior alone with tables scattered among bridges over rock pools replete with fish. An average bill per person is about $40. Also does Japanese food and has karaoke.
Address: Leninsky Propekt, #37, metro Leninsky Prospekt. Tel: 958-0707. Open 12:00-0:00.

 
Shatush.
It somehow seems wrong to spend a fortune on Chinese food but if you want to go all out then this is probably the place for it. Has a dazzling interior and renowned food. Expect to pay a good $80 per person.
Address: Gogolevsky Bulvar, #17 View on Map, metro Kropotkinskaya. Tel: 201-4071. Open 24 hours.

 
Vertinsky.
A swank and beautifully decorated restaurant, Vertinsky serves modern, authored Chinese cuisine and some Russian food as well. An average bill is around $60 per person.
Address: Ostozhenka Ulitsa, #3/14 View on Map, metro Kropotkinskaya. Tel: 202-0570. Open 12:00-0:00.