Tucked into a nondescript Plano strip mall, Sichuan Folk serves up steaming hot pots and classic entrees. Hot pot with spicy pork intestine or shrimp is always a good option, and at $7, the restaurant’s spicy cold noodle appetizer is massive enough for a budget-friendly, mouth-numbing meal. Need something more substantial? Go for the kung pao beef or cumin lamb.

This Plano restaurant is a bit of a hidden gem, but it’s definitely worth the drive to the ‘burbs. Enjoy unique dishes like summer rolls stuffed with spicy ahi tuna and Asian pear, pot stickers, and panko-crusted duck.

Serving Chinese and Taiwanese food, Wu Wei Din Chinese is beloved for its fresh noodles, soup dumplings, noodle soup and more.

A favorite of multiple Dallas chefs, Jeng Chi serves a lengthy menu of Chinese favorites, plus custom cakes and even a full bar. Start with marinated eggs, salty duck, or marinated tripe, then move on to heartier plates like dan dan noodles or a big plate of steaming soup dumplings.

Another unassuming gem in Richardson’s “Chinatown,” First Emperor offers traditional favorites like salt and pepper fried pork and lightly fried mapo tofu. Pro tip: call ahead to order a sesame cake, which requires at least a 30-minute lead time.

Open in Richardson since 1982, First Chinese BBQ shows the goods on offer right as diners walk inside. Enjoy barbecued proteins, including Peking duck, chicken, and marinated pig intestine, or dig into noodles stir-fried Cantonese style.

For xiao long bao, pan fried pork buns and dumplings for days, Irving’s Fortune House is arguably the metroplex’s finest option.

Tucked into the massive shopping center at Preston & Royal, this North Dallas institution has a devoted crowd of regulars. Hand-pulled noodles (the chilled dan dan noodles are particularly great) and xiao long bao (soup dumplings) are made in sight of diners, while Chinese-American favorites like kung pao and sesame chicken get a seriously upscale upgrade.

Head to the second story at Jia on Preston Road for a loungey date night spent sipping cocktails with your choice of sushi and/or Chinese bites.

Handmade noodles and a sizable selection of dumplings are the main offerings of this small, family-owned spot on Peavy Road in East Dallas. Wash yours down with milk teas served with or without boba, and end with sweet fruit-filled dumplings.

Monkey King Noodle Company serves some of the city’s finest soup dumplings, hand-pulled noodles, and vegetarian fare. The spicy beef soup is also a solid cure for terrible hangovers and lingering colds alike.