Deep down, we all secretly want to eat well without the hassle of cooking at the holidays, right? We’ve gathered a list of our favorite Chinese restaurants throughout the region that’s so vast, it might just be fit for an incline of its own.  Whether you’re going on Christmas Day, plot ting a weeknight meal ahead of travel or in search of a good place to sit down with some out-of-towners, here are some of the best Chinese restaurants in the ‘Burgh organized by their neighborhood or municipality. Cranberry House of Chen (101 Brandt Drive) is open Mondays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Chief Reporter Roman Hladio says, “If big portions and unmatched ambience are what you crave, look no further. I, personally, love sitting next to the wall-length fish tanks, but some friends think it’s off-putting — especially while enjoying seafood. House of Chen doesn’t have a particularly unique menu compared to other Chinese restaurants in the region, but it’s proof that a simple meal done right can often prove better than the exotic.” Jimmy Wan’s Crispy Chicken with Broccoli. Photo courtesy of Jimmy Wan’s. Jimmy Wan’s (1686 Route 228) is open Mondays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Food writer Aakanksha Agarwal says, “I like that you can order dumplings, American Chinese and sushi at the same table without overthinking it. And the wine list is genuinely good. I love a good off-dry Riesling with some spicy Chinese and maybe a nice earthy Pinot with a dark soy-based dish, and there are not too many Chinese spots in the city that have a solid wine program. “It’s also an intergenerational spot, and the OG Jimmy Wan now plays a semi-retired, supervisory role. The Cranberry location is handled by his son, Jimmy Wan 2. His daughter, Kristin, and son-in-law, Todd, came back from their high-powered jobs in Dallas to take over the reins at the Fox Chapel location. They’ve made the place buzzier, host events and infuse more energy into what was once an old-school spot.” Downtown A dinner spread, complete with a jumbo egg roll (far left) at Chinatown Inn. Photo by Aakanksha Agarwal. Chinatown Inn (520 Third Ave.) is open Mondays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Saturdays from noon to 10:30 p.m.; and Sundays from 2 to 9:30 p.m. Emsworth House of Lee (8145 Ohio River Blvd.) is open Wednesdays through Mondays from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. Fox Chapel Jimmy Wan’s (1337 Old Freeport Road) is open Mondays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Taipei Chinese Restaurant (1124 Freeport Road) is open Mondays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Delivery service stops 15 minutes before closing nightly. Gibsonia Lin’s Garden (5560 William Flinn Highway) is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sundays from noon to 10 p.m. It is usually closed on Tuesdays, but will be open Tuesday, Dec. 23, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Lawrenceville Zen Asian Diner (5100 Butler St.) is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:45 a.m. to 9:10 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 10:45 a.m. to 10:10 p.m.; and Sundays from 11:45 a.m. to 9:10 p.m. Editor Crissy Holtzer loves the Dinner Bento Box if you want to mix and match entrees without ordering for an army. They’ve got all the classic Chinese American dishes plus sushi rolls, poke and noodle dishes like Pad Thai.  Mt. Lebanon Sushi from Jade Grill. Photo courtesy of Jade Grill. Jade Grill (670 Washington Road) is open Mondays through Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sundays from noon to 9:30 p.m. Sesame Inn (704 Washington Road) is open Mondays through Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sundays from noon to 9 p.m. North Hills Sesame Inn (The Block Northway, 6242 Northway Drive) is open Mondays through Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sundays from noon to 9 p.m. Account Executive Morry Feldman says, “Our family’s favorite Sesame Inn is the one in the North Hills, where it’s always consistently excellent: the food, the service, the ambience.” Shadyside Photo courtesy of Szechuan Spice. Szechuan Spice (5700 Centre Ave.) is open Sundays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. To Engagement Manager Emma Honcharski, Szechuan Spice is a standout because of the building’s imposing footprint — it’s “like weirdly really so big” inside. Sharpsburg Dragon Palace (1714 Main St.) is open Sundays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Editor Crissy Holtzer says, “It is truly a one-stop shop with a pickup counter and a drive-thru window. They’ve got all the specialties you expect, plus a separate ‘authentic Chinese’ menu, various bubble teas and desserts. The staff/ownership is so friendly you’ll want to go back just to say ‘hi.’” Squirrel Hill Rainbow Vegetable Dumplings at Amazing Dumplings. Photo by Aakanksha Agarwal. Amazing Dumplings (5882 Forbes Ave.) is open Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. Food writer Aakanksha Agarwal says, “The dumplings arrive looking almost too beautiful to touch, the vibrant, vegetable-dyed wrappers, the precise pleating and the many designs (they have one inspired by Van Gogh from what I remember) that feel playful without being gimmicky. But the visuals aren’t doing the heavy lifting alone. The flavors are genuinely thoughtful and well balanced. “They have one-of-a-kind flavors too. The Kung Pao chicken dumplings are a standout. Savory, gently spicy, with that familiar nutty-chili warmth translated surprisingly well into dumpling form. And the noodles deserve way more attention than they get. They’re springy, deeply seasoned and just very slurpable, for lack of a better word.” A Chengdu Gourmet menu spread. Photo by Sher Yip. Chengdu Gourmet (5840 Forward Ave.) is open daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch service and 4 to 9 p.m. for dinner service. How Lee (5888 Forbes Ave.) is open Mondays through Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 to 9:30 p.m.; and Sundays from noon to 8:30 p.m. Engagement Manager Emma Honcharski says, “How Lee is just a neighborhood classic — great to-go or to cozy up in a booth.” New Dumpling Sushi House (2138 Murray Ave.) is open Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The post The best Chinese restaurants around Pittsburgh for takeout appeared first on NEXTpittsburgh. ...read more read less