Article by Michal, a licensed Prague guide and passionate lover of Chinese comfort food.
Prague has no single Chinatown, but it does have a growing collection of excellent Chinese bistros and restaurants. They are scattered across the city and represent very different regional traditions, from Chongqing noodles and Sichuan spices to Lanzhou beef soup, Taiwanese comfort food and malatang.
These are some of the places I enjoy and recommend. This is not a ranking. Each one offers something different, so I have arranged them by neighbourhood to make the list easier to use while exploring Prague.
Old Town and the city centre
LAMI – hand-pulled noodles
LAMI specialises in Lanzhou noodles, which are pulled by hand in the open kitchen. You choose the width of your noodles before they are served in a clear beef broth with radish, herbs and chilli oil. It is a very convenient stop near the Vltava and Staroměstská.
Address: Veleslavínova 59/3, Prague 1. Google Maps
Yangguofu – malatang
At Yangguofu you build your own bowl from a large choice of vegetables, mushrooms, tofu, noodles, meat and other ingredients. Everything is weighed and cooked in the broth of your choice. It belongs to a well known Chinese malatang chain and is a good introduction to this spicy, warming style of eating.
Address: Perlová 365/10, Prague 1. Google Maps
Big Bowl – noodle bar
Big Bowl is a useful central address for substantial bowls of Chinese noodles. The menu includes Lanzhou style beef soup, knife cut noodles, zhajiang noodles and noodles dressed with hot oil. Portions are generous and the location on Na Příkopě is easy to reach while sightseeing.
Address: Na Příkopě 390/3, Prague 1. Google Maps
FuLaLa – noodles and dumplings
FuLaLa is a Chinese bistro specialising in fresh noodles, handmade dumplings, bao and wontons. Its varied menu includes Chongqing noodles, Sichuan-style chao shou and Taiwanese braised pork with rice. It is a good place to try several different styles of Chinese comfort food.
Address: Kostečná 121/3, Prague 1. Google Maps
New Town
Malatang No. 1 – malatang and hot pot
Malatang No. 1 follows the popular choose your own ingredients concept. Fill your bowl with noodles, vegetables, mushrooms, tofu, meat and seafood, then select the broth and level of spiciness. It is a casual and central option for anyone who wants to try malatang or create a different combination on every visit.
Address: Vodičkova 709/33, Prague 1. Google Maps
Siji Xiao Mian – Chongqing noodles
Siji Xiao Mian is another strong choice for homemade noodles and dumplings. Its menu draws on the bold flavours of Chongqing and Sichuan, with noodle soups, chao shou wontons and dishes combining chilli with sweet, sour and savoury notes. There are also several vegetarian options.
Address: Palackého 717, Prague 1. Google Maps
IN TOWN – Sichuan hot pot experience
IN TOWN combines a traditional Sichuan hot pot experience with one of Prague’s most distinctive Chinese restaurant interiors. Its elaborate décor and atmospheric dining room make the visit feel like more than an ordinary meal. At the table, guests cook their choice of meat, seafood, tofu, mushrooms and vegetables in bubbling broth. It is particularly enjoyable with a group, allowing everyone to share ingredients and experience the hot pot ritual together.
Address: Na Florenci 2116/15, Prague 1. Google Maps
Vinohrady
Lá Bù Lá: Noodles and Rice, My Favourite in Prague
Lá Bù Lá is our favourite Chinese bistro in Prague, thanks to its particularly distinctive Chongqing and Sichuan flavours. Expect homemade dumplings, noodles and rice dishes with generous amounts of chilli and Sichuan pepper. Their beef noodle soup delivers the real málà experience: intensely spicy, fragrant and numbing enough to leave your lips and tongue properly tingling.
Address: Korunní 819/93, Prague 3. Google Maps
Float
Float is another Chinese bistro with a varied menu made for sharing. You can choose from noodles, dumplings, seafood, meat dishes and regional specialities. Like Lá Bù Lá, it is a relaxed neighbourhood place where the focus is firmly on authentic Chinese flavours.
Address: Slavíkova 1555/27, Prague 2. Google Maps
Chi Xiao Mian
The name Chi Xiao Mian means “eat noodles”, which is an accurate summary of the idea. This compact bistro close to Jiřího z Poděbrad specialises in Chongqing style noodle soups, dumplings and wontons. Many dishes combine chilli heat with the characteristic numbing fragrance of Sichuan pepper.
Address: Laubova 1659/2, Prague 3. Google Maps
Vršovice
Chi Xiao Mian Košická
The second Chi Xiao Mian makes the same style of spicy Chinese comfort food available in Vršovice. It is convenient if you are exploring the cafés and bars around Krymská and the surrounding streets.
Address: Košická 368/31, Prague 10. Google Maps
Letná, Bubeneč and Dejvice
Chop Chop Chilli
Chop Chop Chilli is best known for wide, hand pulled biang biang noodles. They arrive with chilli oil and intense seasonings, and their pleasantly uneven texture is part of the appeal. The original bistro is in Letná, with another branch in Dejvice.
Addresses:
Milady Horákové 394/37, Prague 7. Google Maps
Na Hutích 690/4, Prague 6. Google Maps
Chang An
Chang An brings the flavours of Xi’an and Shaanxi cuisine to Bubeneč. Look here for handmade noodles, rice noodles and filling dishes with chilli and strongly seasoned sauces. It is a small, unpretentious restaurant close to Hradčanská.
Address: Korunovační 705/12, Prague 7. Google Maps
Which one should you choose?
For hand-pulled noodles, start with LAMI or Chop Chop Chilli. Choose Lá Bù Lá, Chi Xiao Mian or Siji Xiao Mian if you love the chilli and Sichuan pepper flavours of southwestern China. Yangguofu and Malatang No. 1 are ideal for creating your own malatang bowl, while IN TOWN offers a shared hot pot experience in a distinctive interior. For a varied selection of Chinese comfort food, try FuLaLa, while Float is another good choice for authentic Chinese dishes in a relaxed bistro setting.
Prague’s food scene is only one part of the city’s story. If you would also like to discover its history, architecture and less obvious details with a local guide, take a look at our free walking tours of Prague.
Restaurants sometimes change their opening hours, so it is worth checking the latest information before travelling across the city.