Mentioned by SquareMeal
Chinese restaurants in Edinburgh: 12 spots to get oodles of noodles
"This noodle bar invites you to tailor your order based on a selection of ho fun, ramen, udon, egg or rice noodles, then add duck, vegetables, tofu, pork, chicken or beef. Throw in three bits of colour and roughage, customise things with options of chilli, spring onion or coriander, and finally pick from one of ten sauces. One of these paper Chinese takeaway boxes filled to the brim will set you back an overdraft-friendly £5.60."
"Red Box Noodle Bar is a lively diner and takeaway restaurant located a short walk from Edinburgh's historic Royal Mile. Known for its speedy service, consistent high quality and good value for money Red Box is popular with students, tourists, locals and Festival goers alike. They offer a wide range of snack boxes as starters, everything from spicy chicken wings to crispy won ton and succulent pork dumplings."
"Close to the University of Edinburgh is budget Chinese fast food restaurant Red Box. Here, you can grab a noodle or rice box with your choice of meat, 3 vegetables and sauce for just £6.90. For an extra 50p you can choose to have a mixed meat box if you just can't decide which to go for."
"If you're a big fan of really authentic dim sum dishes you'll find great quality food on offer here at great value prices. This small and unassuming restaurant is to be found just off Leith Walk and you're unlikely to think much of it looking at the outside, but don't be fooled, an irresistible range of Chinese cuisine awaits you within. There are only eight tables and it could be described as cozy, but the food is fresh and impossible to pass up."
"Why: Don’t be alarmed by the blue and purple neon lighting and heavy black velvet curtains at Karen’s Unicorn – the food is as fun and inviting as its name. The subtle Cantonese cooking is evident in house specialities such as salt and spice squid, and steamed seabass in a black bean sauce. Right in the centre of town, it’s also good for lunch when sightseeing or a hearty meal before painting the town red."
"If the name isn’t enough of a lure (it should be), then the food will do the job. Hypnotic and boldly brilliant – just like a unicorn – Karen’s Unicorn successfully stays true to real Cantonese cooking, with the ingredients serving as the star of the show. Perfectly seasoned and meticulously crafted, each dish is authentic and unashamedly traditional."
"You'll find traditional Cantonese cuisine on offer at the extremely popular Karen's Unicorn Chinese Restaurant in the heart of Edinburgh's New Town. It has been so successful that there are actually two restaurants now within a few streets of each other. They offer a huge menu packed with tempting house specialties and a number of set banquets."
"Why: B&D’s Kitchen has been serving up traditional Cantonese food to the hungry people of Edinburgh since 2012, and has since then climbed to the upper tiers of the best Chinese restaurants in town. Limited seating, phone-booking only and its no-corkage BYOB policy mean this is a popular spot. Turning out all the usual suspects from the Cantonese kitchen, dishes such as the Peking duck and lobster with ginger and spring onion should be on your hit-list."
"B&D's Kitchen is a real treat for lovers of Cantonese and Chinese food. Hiding behind an unassuming shop front on Dalry Road, the simple decor and unfussy approach is a refreshing change from the ornate and rather kitsch style adopted by many Chinese restaurants. Bare stone walls are adorned by a few well-chosen pictures and decorations."
"With the Royal Lyceum Theatre and the Usher Hall nearby, not to mention the busy Lothian Road area, Jasmine is a popular Chinese restaurant. Visitors enjoy dining here before or after shows and it caters for groups of all sizes. Menu selections include beautifully presented seafood dishes."
"There are a number of buffet style Chinese restaurants in Edinburgh, but China Red is arguably the best. With an absolutely massive range of dishes, even the pickiest diner will find something to their taste, and their high tech buffet tables ensure the hot dishes remain hot and the chilled dishes nice and cool. The range includes all of the classics you would expect with numerous seafood and vegetarian offerings as well."
"Why: Often, Chinese food is associated with buffets, and although buffets are – in our not so humble opinion – one of life’s little wonders, they sometime get a negative (and unfair) reputation. Not at China Red’s two Edinburgh sites, though. The buffets are loved by the locals and we can understand why with a regularly changing menu and neatly presented desserts."
"Always fresh, delicious food with a variety so much bigger than any other Chinese buffet I've been to. Polite staff, funky entrance and good availability of seating space." 30 Grindlay Street, EH3 9AP"
"I asked for 50% sweetness and I could tell there was less sugar, although still sweet. There was a good tea taste from the milk tea. You can also order a whole meal from there which is really nice."
"This cafe and shop offer everything a chocolate lover could want from dairy-free hot chocolate, delicious vegan chocolate cake, tarts, vegan chocolate sorbet and vegan choc ice cream. The shop also runs guided chocolate tasting tours if you fancy being a connoisseur for the afternoon. 123 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh, EH10 4EQ, +44 (0)131 228 3144"
"Blue Bear Cafe is the ultimate destination for brunch in Edinburgh, they really do pride themselves on cooking up mouth-watering breakfast and brunch dishes to make most palates tingle!. They offer a wide variety of food on their brunch menu with all your usual suspects, but a true favourite is their ‘Build Your Own Bear’ where you get your standard two eggs and toast, and you can add whatever breakfast food you want on top for £1 each!. With an amazing selection of weekend specials and a wide range of gluten-free and vegan options available – this one has to be top of your list for when lockdown is over!"
"What: Accessible to both kids and well-behaved dogs, Blue Bear Cafe is a great shout for breakfast with the whole family. The breakfast menu is a catch-all affair which ranges from savoury croissants filled with ham and cheese, to a breakfast burrito stuffed with scrambled eggs, peppers and onions. To pair with your food, you can indulge in a Bloody Mary or Breakfast Martini, while those looking to be sensible can opt for coffee and fresh juices.Where: 9 Brandon Terrace, EH3 5EA"
"A traditional Edinburgh cafe offering first class food and service. Diners at The Blue Bear can eat as much or as little as they want with the “Build your own Scottish breakfast” menu, and dishes are created using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and top quality Scottish meats. The waffles are also a popular choice that can be mixed with as many sides as your fancy."
"Since opening Fhior in summer 2018, chef Scott Smith has been busy wowing food critics and putting his stamp on restaurant-centric Broughton Street. His previous project, Norn, down in Leith, was good—maybe excellent—but Fhior is even better, slicker, and more focused. Smith has a lightness of touch and just the right amount of everything: inventiveness, wit, and skill."
"In this Old Town cafe, you will find everything you need for a good brunch without spending too much. Do not expect to find a place with hyper-sophisticated decoration, but very good quality products and great staff. In addition, they have excellent options both vegan and vegetarian, as well as gluten-free."
"It was instantly clear that we’d found the hipster heart of Edinburgh, with several million boutique coffee shops, an analog still photography studio, and enough beards to braid an organic collar for your cockapoo. As we strolled down the steep cobbles, Southern Cross caught our eye, and ushered us inside. Immediately upon walking in there was a totally different vibe to Fortuna."
"Not just a pretty cocktail bar, The Refinery offers great brunches for a reasonable price in the heart of the city. The bar is chilled and laid back, providing you with a great opportunity to take a break from the busyness of the city with some good food and drink. They offer a range of coffees, teas and hot chocolate and their waffles come highly recommended by reviewers online."
"Whether you're in the mood for a banging breakfast or plush dinner, you can be sure that The Refinery will bring a touch of glamour to your date. Seats are covered in lavish faux-fur and the walls are decked out with floor-to-ceiling windows. Dine al fresco or head upstairs for pretty views over St Andrew Square."
"Offering simple healthy food that is full of flavour, Loudons Cafe & Bakery offers delicious home made treats made in their on-site bakery. Using high quality ingredients, and organic produce, breakfasts at Loudon’s are utterly delicious. Diners can tuck in to a variety of “Benny’s” – slang for eggs Benedict – complete with smoked salmon, cajun spices or haggis, or choose from french toast, smoothie bowls or super food pancakes and much much more."
"A mixture of fresh onsite baking and locally sourced produce makes Loudons Cafe a great place to stop for breakfast. Comfy couches and a bright airy interior combine with outdoor seating for those rare sunny Edinburgh days. The menu caters for health conscious diners and hung over patrons seeking a fried treat."
"Loudons represents the perfect place to take your parents, with garden centre vibes (in the best way), it is the ideal backdrop for lying to your folks that the reason you’re tired is from an all nighter in the library, not because of the eight vodka cranberries you had at the club last night."