Have You Been to the Best Chinese Restaurant in Maine?

While Chinese cuisine may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Maine, our Pine Tree State certainly boasts some heavy hitters in the scene.

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It shouldn’t come as a surprise; there are many outstanding Chinese restaurants all across the country. According to IBIS World, there were over 24,000 Chinese restaurants in the United States in 2023, although this number is slightly smaller than the 46,700 reported by The Wall Street Journal in 2015.

But besides tasting incredible, why is Chinese food so popular, and why are there so many Chinese restaurants?

The answer to the latter question is actually quite sad. In many cases, such as the example given by CBC, the California Gold Rush brought tens of thousands of Chinese immigrants to the United States. However, following the rush, due to anti-Chinese sentiment in the 19th and 20th centuries, many Chinese immigrants were unable to find work in many businesses and were forced to create work for themselves.

This gave rise to restaurants just 'popping up.' If they wouldn’t give you a job, you'd create one. In many ways, that truly is the 'American Dream.'

So, what and where is the best Chinese restaurant in Maine?

Well, according to the publication Love Food, which recently published an article detailing 'The Best Chinese Restaurant in Every U.S. State and D.C.,' our Pine Tree State’s best Chinese restaurant is in our largest city.

Love Food’s pick for Maine is Empire Chinese Kitchen on Congress St. in Portland.

Love Food describes Empire as follows:

The stylish Empire Chinese Kitchen serves what many locals describe as the tastiest Chinese food around, with customers raving that the bao and other dishes are simply perfection. On the menu are small plates such as honey walnut shrimp and lobster rangoon, plus shu mai (pork, shrimp, and shiitake dumplings) and Shanghai soup dumplings.

What are your thoughts on Love Food’s selection of the best Chinese restaurant in Maine?