There are restaurants you visit because they're fashionable, and then there are restaurants you discover because you simply want a really satisfying Chinese meal.

Golden Tree Restaurant in Los Angeles Chinatown belongs firmly in the second category.

Yelp's Los Angeles search for the best Chinese restaurants currently lists Golden Tree at 4.5 stars with nearly 300 reviews, putting it near the top of the results.

A CHINATOWN RESTAURANT BUILT FOR SHARING

Golden Tree's menu is designed around the kind of dishes that make Chinese dining a social experience.

Instead of ordering one entrée per person, the better approach is to order several dishes and let the entire table share.

That opens the door to everything from noodles and fried rice to seafood, beef, chicken, vegetables and traditional Chinese-American favorites.

THE SLIPPERY SHRIMP CONNECTION

One of the dishes that has helped define the restaurant's reputation is its shrimp selection.

Golden Tree's menu includes preparations that combine seafood with sweet, savory and aromatic sauces, along with familiar favorites such as beef and broccoli and other wok-fired dishes.

The portions also make the restaurant particularly appealing for families and groups.

OLD-SCHOOL CHINATOWN APPEAL

Golden Tree doesn't try to turn Chinese food into a theatrical fine-dining production.

That is part of its charm.

It feels like the kind of restaurant where the food remains the center of attention, the menu is broad enough to accommodate different tastes, and a table full of dishes is exactly how the meal is supposed to be enjoyed.

Its Chinatown location also makes it a natural stop for anyone exploring the historic district.

A GOOD STARTING POINT FOR CHINATOWN

For visitors who aren't sure where to begin when exploring Chinese restaurants around Chinatown, Golden Tree provides an approachable introduction.

There are recognizable dishes for less adventurous diners, while the larger menu gives experienced Chinese-food fans plenty of options to explore.

And because the restaurant also handles takeout, it can work just as well for a quick meal as it does for a sit-down family dinner.

THE SOCALEAT TAKE

Golden Tree is a reminder that great Chinese food doesn't always need to be complicated.

For anyone looking for Chinese food in Los Angeles Chinatown, this is a restaurant built around generous portions, familiar flavors and the communal style of dining that makes Chinese cuisine so enjoyable.

VISIT GOLDEN TREE RESTAURANT

Golden Tree Restaurant
640 N Broadway, Suite 1
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 878-9818

Yelp: 4.5 stars, 290+ reviews at the time of research.

Golden Tree Restaurant official website

DISCOVER MORE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOOD WITH SOCALEAT.COM

SocalEat.com is a Southern California online food magazine created for people who love discovering great places to eat, visit, and experience throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego.

From neighborhood restaurants and hidden local favorites to food brands, destinations, and things to do, SocalEat brings together the people and places that make Southern California's food scene so diverse.

Looking for your next place to eat? Discover it on SocalEat.com.

SocalEat.com — Discover. Eat. Explore Southern California.