Chinese food in Mallorca isn’t what it used to be. And that’s a good thing.
A few years ago it meant set menus, prawn crackers and sweet and sour everything. Now you can eat hand-folded dim sum by the sea in Palmanova, slurp hand-pulled noodles in Palma’s Asian quarter and sing karaoke round a lazy Susan with your whole group.
We’ve spent a lot of evenings (and more than a few long lunches) working our way around the island’s Chinese restaurants. These are the ones we keep going back to, and the ones we send friends to when they ask where to eat.
1. Bambuu, Palmanova
If you only book one Chinese dinner in Mallorca, make it this one.
Bambuu is the best Chinese restaurant in Mallorca. It sits right on Passeig del Mar, looking out over the bay, with a Chinese garden and private rooms that feel as considered as the main dining room.
The kitchen borrows from all over China: the precision of Cantonese cooking, the depth of Sichuan and the comfort food of the north. What makes it work is the produce. Everything is built on ingredients from Mallorca and the Mediterranean, so it tastes like it belongs here.
This is food made for the middle of the table. Hand-folded dim sum, whole lacquered fish and slow braises arrive to share, and nobody leaves without fighting over the last dumpling.
Then there’s the bar. The cocktail menu is based on the Chinese legend of Hou Yi and Chang’e, with eight signatures inspired by the five elements. Start with the Elixir of the Red Thread, their signature serve, and you’ll see why we stay for one more.
It’s open from 1pm to 1am, so a long lunch can easily turn into dinner, then late drinks by the water.
Our tip: Book for sunset. Order dim sum for the table first, then a whole fish to share, and leave room for a second cocktail.
- Where: Passeig del Mar 2, Palmanova
- Best for: Date nights, birthdays, private dining, cocktails by the sea
- Book: Reserve online or message on WhatsApp
- Menu can be viewed online
2. Mr. Xiao, Santa Catalina, Palma
Santa Catalina is Palma’s favourite place to eat, and Mr. Xiao is one of the reasons why.
It’s modern Chinese on Carrer de la Fàbrica, the busiest food street in the neighbourhood. Inside, it’s warm lighting and masks on the walls. Out the back, there’s a garden terrace that’s worth asking for.
The plates are small and made for sharing, so order more than you think. We go back for the truffle siu mai with pork, prawn and black truffle, the sweet pork baozi filled with slow-cooked belly, and the shrimp donuts with yuzu sauce. Don’t skip dessert either. They take it seriously here.
Our tip: Come hungry and with friends. The more people at the table, the more of the menu you get through.
- Where: Carrer de la Fàbrica 22, Santa Catalina, Palma
- Best for: A stylish night out in the city
3. Shi Wei Xian, Pere Garau, Palma
This is where we take groups. Every time.
Shi Wei Xian cooks traditional Chinese food in Pere Garau, and it’s just as popular with Chinese locals as it is with everyone else. The portions are big and the prices are fair.
The real draw is the private karaoke rooms. Each one has LED lighting, a lyrics screen, proper speakers and a big rotating lazy Susan in the middle of the table, so the food keeps moving while the microphone does too. Birthdays and hen parties happen here all the time.
Our tip: Book the karaoke room well ahead, especially on weekends. You can also just eat in the restaurant if you’d rather not sing.
- Where: Carrer Gabriel Llabrés 19, Pere Garau, Palma
- Best for: Hen parties, birthdays, big groups
4. Lewei, Can Pastilla
A small family-run place on the seafront that punches well above its size.
Lewei is all about the duck. The Peking duck comes unbattered, so you actually taste the meat, and the duck in orange sauce is one of the best we’ve had on the island. The cumin chicken and the mapo tofu are both worth ordering if you like bold flavours.
If you want heat, ask for their homemade chilli sauce. It isn’t on the menu, but they’ll bring it.
Our tip: Can Pastilla is minutes from the airport, which makes Lewei a great first or last meal of your trip.
- Where: Avinguda de Bartomeu Riutort 31, Can Pastilla
- Best for: Duck lovers, relaxed dinners by the sea, great value
5. Shi Shan Xuan, Palma
Don’t come here for the decor. Come for the food.
Shi Shan Xuan is about as no-frills as it gets, but the cooking is homestyle, fresh and full of real Chinese flavour.
Look around and you’ll see plenty of Chinese families eating here, which tells you everything. The noodles are the thing to order.
Our tip: It gets busy on weekends, so book ahead.
- Where: Carrer Uetam, Palma
- Best for: Authentic, homestyle Chinese cooking
6. La Casa del Ramen, Pere Garau, Palma
The name is misleading, and that’s half the fun.
This isn’t Japanese ramen. It’s Chinese lamian, noodles pulled by hand rather than cut, and it’s the whole point of the place. They go into a rich broth or straight into the wok, and the beef noodle soup is the one we keep coming back to.
The room is small and plain. The bowls are huge and the bill is small.
Our tip: Pere Garau is Palma’s Asian quarter. Make a night of it and explore the streets around the market.
- Where: Carrer de Pere Llobera, Pere Garau, Palma
- Best for: Noodle lovers, a cheap and filling lunch
7. De China a Mallorca, Palma Old Town
The easiest stop after a day exploring Palma’s old town.
Dim sum is the focus here. The gyoza come with pork or vegetables, the spring rolls are made in-house and properly crispy, and the wonton soup is a good way to start. The Peking duck is a favourite too.
There’s a terrace, plenty of vegetarian options, and takeaway if you’d rather eat back at your hotel.
- Where: Plaça de la Porta Pintada 6, Palma
- Best for: Dim sum in the city centre
8. JinSun, Platja d’Alcúdia
Staying in the north? This is the one.
JinSun has been run by the same family since 1996, and it shows. The restaurant is on the first floor, looking down over the street, which gives it the feel of eating outside. The menu includes Shanghai-style dishes, and the crispy chilli beef and black pepper beef are the ones people talk about.
Gluten-free dishes are marked on the menu, and they’ll bring gluten-free soy sauce if you ask.
- Where: Avinguda Pere Mas i Reus 8, Platja d’Alcúdia
- Best for: Families, a night off from hotel food in the north
Our tips for eating Chinese in Mallorca
- Book ahead in summer. The good places fill up fast, especially Friday and Saturday nights.
- Order to share. Chinese food is made for the table. Pick a few dishes each and pass them round.
- Go to Pere Garau hungry. It’s Palma’s Asian quarter, with Chinese, Japanese and Indian restaurants within a few streets of the market.
- Ask for the spicy stuff. Many kitchens tone down the heat for tourists. If you want the real thing, just ask.
- Eat late. Dinner in Mallorca starts around 9pm. Arrive at 7 and you’ll have the place to yourself.
FAQs
What is the best Chinese restaurant in Mallorca?
For us, it’s Bambuu in Palmanova. Waterfront tables, dim sum made by hand, whole fish to share and a cocktail menu you won’t find anywhere else on the island.
Where can I find authentic Chinese food in Palma?
Head to Pere Garau. Shi Wei Xian, La Casa del Ramen and the streets around the market are where Palma’s Chinese community eats. Shi Shan Xuan is another favourite.
Which Chinese restaurant in Mallorca is best for groups?
Shi Wei Xian has private karaoke rooms with a rotating table, perfect for birthdays and hen parties. For something more upmarket, Bambuu has private dining rooms with bespoke menus. Bambuu has private dinning rooms overlooking Palmanova which are perfect for group bookings.
Is there good Chinese food in the north of Mallorca?
Yes. JinSun in Platja d’Alcúdia has been family-run since 1996 and is our pick for the north.
Are there vegetarian options?
Most places on this list have them. Mr. Xiao, De China a Mallorca and JinSun all have good vegetarian choices, and JinSun marks gluten-free dishes too.
So, where are you eating first?
Mallorca’s Chinese food scene has never been better. Whether you want cheap noodles in Pere Garau or a long night of dim sum and cocktails by the sea, there’s a table on this list for you.
If you’re staying in the south west, start with Bambuu. Take your seat on the Palmanova waterfront and see what the fuss is about.
