Mai Garden

Many locals in Munich remember Mai Garden from its original days as a tiny takeaway spot, or imbiss, at Mariahilfplatz. It has since moved and grown into a full-service restaurant on Buttermelcherstraße, but the focus on authentic, house-made Chinese food hasn't changed. The current space is much larger, a proper restaurant with physical menus and both indoor and outdoor tables that can accommodate around a hundred people. The menu is built around classic dishes, with a clear emphasis on Sichuan preparations. You’ll find hand-made Xiao Long Bao, or soup dumplings, alongside specialties like the Sichuan-style fried eggplant and gebratene Bohnen, which are green beans fried with a generous amount of numbing Sichuan pepper. For main dishes, the La Zi Ji – a plate of fried chicken buried in a pile of chilis – is a staple, as is the Ente im Trocken-Wok, or dry-wok duck. Other house recommendations include the Schweinbauch Spezial (pork belly) and the braised "Lion's Head" meatballs. The dining room has a straightforward, functional feel that puts the attention squarely on the food. The setup is ideal for a group of four to six people ordering a collection of plates to share, which is how most tables seem to operate. Because of its long-standing reputation, booking a table ahead is a good idea, especially for dinner. Just be sure to bring the right payment – the restaurant only accepts cash or a German EC card.