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Tian Yuen Asian Cuisine: Billing itself as serving “modern Asian cuisine,” these twin restaurants (in Windsor and Cloverdale) offer clay-pot dishes, an extensive menu of soups (including pho and udon), usual suspects like walnut shrimp and sour chicken, chow mein and chow fun. 610 McClelland Drive, Windsor, 707-892-2968 and 421 S. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale, 707-894-5697, tianyuen.squarespace.com (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
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Royal China: This northwest Santa Rosa restaurant always makes the locals’ list of top Chinese spots. The fun here is dining in. A recently updated interior includes funky purple and blue lighting, with a nice bar and cozy banquettes. The menu ranges from the traditional egg foo young and Kung Pao chicken to more modern takes like lettuce wraps and martini prawns. Remember the always-awesome flaming po-po platter from years gone by? They have one! 3080 Marlow Road, Suite 4, Santa Rosa, 707-545-2911, royalchinasantarosa.com (Crista Jeremiason/The Press Democrat)
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Garlic Lamb at Royal China Restaurant in Santa Rosa. (Crista Jeremiason / The Press Democrat)
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Mandarin Kitchen: We’ve written extensively about this new pan-Asian restaurant in Santa Rosa’s Montgomery Village. While it’s not exclusively Chinese cuisine, chef Tony Ounpamornchai taps into his family recipes for hot-and-sour soup, dim sum and sauteed eggplant with soy and hoisin sauce. 722 Village Court, Santa Rosa, 707-303-7007, mandarinkitchensr.com (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
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China Village: This Friday-night delivery hot spot serves hearty portions of General’s chicken and mu shu pork, but we really love the generously stuffed crab puffs and crispy egg rolls. Singapore rice noodles have become a staple on our order, with thin noodles, shrimp, barbecue pork and curry powder. Pot stickers are stuffed with pork and come with a nice crispy sear and ginger soy sauce. Overall, a best bet. 138 Calistoga Road, Santa Rosa, 707-666-0888, chinavillage138.com (Courtesy of China Village)
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Goji Kitchen: Owners Ben and Jennifer Chang have created a pan-Asian menu that includes Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai dishes, all made fresh, with non-GMO rice oil, organic tofu and fresh ingredients. Favorites are walnut pineapple prawns ($16.50), a whole fish with ginger and scallions ($36) and spicy Szechuan green beans ($14.50). The goat cheese spring rolls with tamarind sauce are a California take on this finger-food classic. 1965 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-523-3888, gojikitchen.com (Leah S./Yelp)
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Hang Ah Dim Sum: Focused on dim sum, this Santa Rosa restaurant is about as authentically Chinese as Sonoma County gets. You’ll find dozens of steamed, fried and barbecued bites ranging from chicken claws in black bean sauce to shumai dumplings, crispy shrimp balls, steamed barbecue pork buns, rice wrapped in lotus leaves and my personal favorite, bean curd skin rolls in broth. The menu also includes Chinese entrees if you’re looking for something heartier. 2130 Armory Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-576-7873. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
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City Chopsticks: This Petaluma restaurant comes highly recommended by locals. The Princess chicken (spicy fried pieces of chicken breast with honey garlic sauce, $10.75) is a favorite, along with Hong Kong-style crispy noodles with stir-fried veggies ($9.95). 127 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, 707-763-3083, citychopstickspetaluma.com (Courtesy of City Chopsticks)
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Kirin: Like many places in Bennett Valley, Kirin is a family go-to spot. Try the hot-and-sour soup (especially good if you’re not feeling well), crab meat and cheese puffs, lemon chicken and broccoli beef. Some say the spot isn’t the same after an ownership change, but we’re still fans. 2700 Yulupa Ave., Suite 3, Santa Rosa, 707-525-1957, kirinsr.com (Ray D./Yelp)
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Fantasy Hong Kong Style BBQ: This spot isn’t for everyone, but it is for anyone desperate to find authentic Chinese roasted duck, roasted pork belly, honey pork and spare ribs cut to order. This is true Chinese barbecue. 1520 E. Washington St., Petaluma, 707-658-1866. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
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Lily Kai: A perennial Petaluma favorite. We love the mo shu ($7.50 to $10.75): thin crepes filled with pork, chopped cabbage, carrots, onion, plum sauce and other goodies. Another menu fave is kung pao tofu in a hot, spicy sauce ($8.75), along with a small selection of dim sum. Adobe Creek Center, 3100 Lakeville Highway, Petaluma, 707-782-1132, lilykaipetaluma.com (Calvin N./Yelp)
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Golden Spring Mandarin Cuisine: Sonoma has limited options for Chinese cuisine, but locals say Golden Springs is a favorite, with popular dishes like ginger beef, prawns in lobster sauce and lemon chicken. 18995 Sonoma Highway, Suite 105, Sonoma, 707-938-1275, goldenspring.weebly.com (Shutterstock)
