Why it's here: Marin Magazine named it the best Chinese restaurant in the county in 2025.
Ming's is tucked into Board Walk Center and easy to miss from the street, but locals know where it is. This laid-back Tiburon mainstay won Marin Magazine's 2025 Best of the County for Chinese, and one meal shows you why. The spare décor keeps the focus on the food: Szechuan Spicy Garlic Chicken, Sweet and Sour Pork and crispy Garlic String Beans lead a long list of favorites. Dim sum is regularly available too, which is rare this side of the bridge.
At lunch, grab a bento box or the daily lunch special: beef, chicken or pork with chow mein or rice, in portions big enough to carry you to dinner. It's also a go-to for takeout and delivery.
Why it's here: Marin's newest dumpling house, where you can watch the chefs fold them and pair them with a real cocktail program.
Peter Wang and Jessica Li, the owners behind Oyama Sushi, have turned the former Patxi's space in Bon Air Center into Marin's go-to spot for soup dumplings. Ask for a table in the main dining room and you can watch through a glass wall as chefs fold Kurobuta Pork XLB, Beef & Onion Dumplings and Pork, Chive & Shrimp Boiled Dumplings. For bigger appetites there's Mapo Tofu, Chongqing Spicy Crispy Chicken and Mongolian Beef, plus gluten-free options.
Lead bartender Bella Alexander (formerly of Corner Bar) runs an Asian-inspired cocktail list. Try the Lychee Martini, or pair the whiskey-and-ginger Moon Gate with anything chile-forward. On a nice evening, grab a seat on the fenced patio around the firepit.
Why it's here: dim sum made fresh every day and served at both lunch and dinner.
At most places, dim sum is a weekend brunch thing. At Harmony in Strawberry Village, it's made fresh daily and served from lunch through dinner. Start with the BBQ Pork Buns, filled with house-roasted pork in a savory sauce, and the Shanghai Dumplings. Then move on to the Cantonese dishes coming out of the open kitchen, like the wok-seared Signature Beef made with certified Angus, wok-seared prawns with scallions, and oven-roasted local duck.
Pair it all with wine, beer or tea. If you're in a hurry, check out the weekday takeout lunch special.
Why it's here: a Larkspur institution loved for three things: the Mongolian Beef, the patio and the jelly bean jar.
Ask any Larkspur local about DJ's and you'll hear about the same three things: the Mongolian Beef, the sunny patio and the jelly bean jar. This downtown favorite has been a gathering place for generations of Marin families for decades, and the kitchen has wisely left its classic recipes alone.
The Luncheon Special still comes with fried wontons and hot and sour soup, plus your choice of 28 entrées. There's a similar special at dinner. Order Crab Rangoon and Snow Peas with Water Chestnuts alongside the famous beef, and when the sun is out, grab a table on the patio. Don't skip the stop at the jelly bean jar on your way out.
Why it's here: bold, modern flavors, including a West Lake Beef Soup you'll have trouble finding anywhere else in Marin.
Don't let the Francisco Boulevard West location or the minimalist grey dining room fool you. Emma's serves some of the most exciting Chinese food in the county. It's one of the few places in Marin serving West Lake Beef Soup, made with beef, egg and cilantro. The MaPo Tofu has just enough Sichuan pepper to make it sing.
We're especially fond of the Tomato Beef Chow Fun, and the Sweet and Sour Pork has plenty of fans too. Keep an eye on the daily menu for seasonal specials like spicy beef pot stickers and crispy whole duck.
Why it's here: the most gluten-free-friendly and veggie-forward Chinese menu in Marin, with no MSG.
At the northern edge of Sausalito, Tommy's Wok serves generous plates of Chinese food with a very Marin approach: no MSG, lots of fresh vegetables and gluten-free items clearly marked, including the entire lunch specials menu and the Mo-Shu Wraps.
Regulars come for the Curry Tofu with Vegetables, the Minced Chicken Lettuce Wraps and the Orange Duck, which is a childhood favorite for many. The Singapore Rice Noodles are thin strands tossed with just enough chile and curry powder to coat every prawn and vegetable. There's even a salad menu with your choice of protein on top.
