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The Spruce Eats / Chloe Jeong
Chopsticks are a mealtime staple on many tables in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam. They're one of the most ancient utensils, dating back to 1200 B.C. in China (and spreading across East Asia by A.D. 500). Today, chopsticks are used around the world in restaurants and at home and come in a variety of styles and materials, from fancy contemporary designs in stainless steel to basic silhouettes in disposable, eco-friendly bamboo. Beyond cooking, chopsticks can be used to reach into hot oil or water, allowing the user to pick up food as deftly as they can with their fingers.
"Chopsticks are probably the most used tool in our kitchen," says Eugene Lee, co-owner of Oakland-based Noodle Belly. From eating and cooking to adding delicate garnishes to a plate, a pair of chopsticks can function in a myriad of ways and are a must-have at home—not just for those who enjoy Asian cuisine.
To help you find the best chopsticks that can be used in a variety of dishes, we sent some top-rated chopsticks to our experienced product tester. Each one was used to grip different types of food and was carefully assessed during hours of home kitchen testing. Then, the chopsticks were all rated on design, quality, grip, and overall value.
If you're looking to add a pair (or several) to your flatware collection, we've gathered up our picks for the best chopsticks for every occasion.
Best Overall
Goldage Fiberglass Chopsticks
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Courtesy of Walmart
Sleek design
BPA-free
Dishwasher-safe
Slender silhouette may slip through dishwasher holder
These chopsticks by Goldage are a bestseller for a reason—they’re the perfect combination of stylish and sturdy at a great price point. Made of food-safe fiberglass, these are wonderfully durable; they won’t bend, melt, or crack. This material is heat-safe up to 356 degrees, making it suitable to pick up foods from a frying pan or deep fryer (though we would recommend getting dedicated cooking chopsticks if you want to cook with them regularly). The Chinese-style silhouette means they are rounded at the tips with a square body to prevent rolling on the table.
Our tester liked how substantial they feel in the hand, as the chopsticks have some weight to them without feeling bulky or clumsy. The textured tips helped to provide grip when picking up slippery chow fun noodles and steamed dumplings, and they also had no problem picking up stir-fried broccoli or pieces of pan-fried tofu.
When it comes to cleaning up, our tester found that they stood up to the dishwasher with no issues. The finish on these chopsticks showed no wear after several runs through a regular wash cycle, indicating that they'd look great for years to come.
Material: Fiberglass alloy | Length: 9.25 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Style: Chinese
"The grip tips make it easy to pick up noodles and sashimi, and even work well if your chopstick skills aren't expert-level."
Best Wooden
HuaLan Japanese Natural Wood Chopsticks
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Amazon
Delicate style
Available in a variety of finishes
Inexpensive
Hand-wash only
The HuaLan Natural Wood Chopstick Set comes with five pairs of Japanese-style chopsticks, each made from different types of wood (rosewood, ebony wood, boxwood, chestnut wood, and cherry wood). Crafted from natural wood and varnished with eco-friendly, food-grade lacquer, these delicately tapered chopsticks are beautiful additions to any dinner table setting.
Just shy of 9 inches long, with a textured surface, our tester found that they provided plenty of control for maneuvering sushi rolls, and the pointed tips were useful for slipping underneath foods to pick them up from a plate, like tuna-topped crispy rice. The delicate tips might be a little challenging for less-experienced users, but overall they are a solid choice that performed well across a variety of foods, from noodles to salad.
To maintain the wood, gentle hand-washing will be the best way to preserve the finish. "The more delicate [the material], the more you want to hand-wash them, as wood and heat don't like each other," says Lee. The manufacturer also cautions against letting them sit in water and advises that you air-dry them after washing.
Material: Wood with lacquer finish | Length: 9 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: No | Style: Japanese
"The natural wood still has a slight texture to it, so it helps in picking up noodles and dumplings, but those who aren't very skilled with chopsticks might find these harder to use."
Best Bamboo
Totally Bamboo Twist Chopsticks
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Courtesy of Amazon
Made from sustainable materials
Lightweight
Durable
Hand-wash only
For those who want an eco-friendly option, these chopsticks from Totally Bamboo are a perfect choice. Bamboo is a renewable resource that doesn’t require pesticides or clear-cutting; entire forests can regenerate within five years, so these chopsticks are not only gorgeous, but they're also better for the environment than many other options.
Our tester liked these because they're lightweight without being flimsy, but noted that the ultra-smooth finish makes them more slippery than some other models, so beginners might struggle to pick up slick pieces of stir-fried veggies or rice noodles. However, if you have excellent chopstick dexterity, you'll manage with these.
Made from hand-twisted bamboo, they are incredibly sturdy and easy to clean—simply wash by hand or wipe them down with a damp cloth. The twist detail adds a little bit of grip assistance, and their 9.75-inch length is great for digging into a deep bowl of ramen noodles or hot pot.
Material: Bamboo | Length: 9.75 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: No | Style: Chinese
"Casual in style without being boring, thanks to the twisted handle design, they're lightweight but without feeling flimsy."
Best Metal
Devico Metal Chopsticks
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Amazon
Lightweight
Heat-resistant
Don't absorb odors
Might be difficult for beginners to use
Metal chopsticks are a stylish option that will appeal to those with contemporary tastes. Made of food-grade 18/10 stainless steel, this style from Devico has a simple design with tapered tips. They are eco-friendly, odorless, and more durable than wood versions, which makes them a great choice for households that use chopsticks often.
Our tester expected these to be slippery but was pleasantly surprised to see how effective the textured tips were in gripping ramen noodles and sashimi. The metal construction lends itself to use with hot dishes or while cooking, with no worry of melting or warping. The weight of the chopsticks is substantial enough to provide balance when picking up bigger pieces of food, but is not so heavy that it will fatigue your hand.
For dining in, Lee chose this style of chopsticks because of their durability and ability to withstand high-temperature sanitization. At home, you can clean these easily by simply hand-washing, but they will also hold up well to the dishwasher, as our tester found no signs of wear after several washes.
Material: Stainless steel | Length: 9 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Style: Chinese
"I thought these would be quite slippery, but the textured tips helped a lot. Picking up ramen noodles and sushi was quite easy. Even the slippery carrots and broccoli in stir-fry weren't difficult."
Best for Beginners/Kids
Edison Training/Helper Chopsticks
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Walmart
Designed for every ability level
Helps develop motor skills
Might feel short for some users
Loops relatively small for larger fingers
If your chopsticks skills could use some practice, try the Edison Training/Helper Chopsticks (also available in a left-handed version). Edison is known for its easy-to-use designs that keep your chopsticks aligned, allowing you to learn how to correctly hold and maneuver them. The patented loop design puts your fingers in the right places and trains your hand to get comfortable with holding the utensils at the right angle. Our home tester did note that the helper rings are on the small side, so if you have larger fingers or hands, this might not be the pair for you. They provided decent grip, thanks to the textured grooves on the tips, and they are shorter than typical chopsticks, to help newbies get used to maneuvering them.
Lee's thoughts on helper chopsticks? He says, "An entire continent of people that use them to train their kids can't be wrong." While many chopstick users didn't have this option growing up (including Lee), the use of training chopsticks helps kids learn quickly so they can graduate to regular chopsticks sooner, with less frustration along the way.
This style of chopsticks is also useful for anyone whose fine motor skills or grip aren’t what they used to be. Made of food-grade plastic, these are easy to clean and don’t absorb stains or smells—these aren't dishwasher-safe, but the plastic is easy to clean with a sponge and dish soap. While this particular model can be used by children, Edison also makes a variety of kid-specific designs (find on Amazon here and here).
Material: Food-grade plastic | Length: 7.2 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: No | Style: Japanese
"If you have thin fingers, [these chopsticks will] be great, but if you have a larger hand or fingers, they might not fit or [might] feel uncomfortable."
Best for Travel
Snow Peak Wabuki Carry-On Chopsticks
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Courtesy of Amazon
Smart, stowable design
Made from bamboo and stainless steel
Carrying case included
Expensive
Bamboo will wear more quickly than metal
These Japanese-designed chopsticks are an elegant and functional option for those who want to bring their own reusable chopsticks for workplace lunches or eating while on the road. Made of bamboo and stainless steel, the Wabuki Chopsticks by Snow Peak have an innovative nesting design that allows the wooden half to slide inside the steel section and collapse to a length of 4.5 inches.
Our tester found them pretty slippery because of how smooth the bamboo tips are, but the length and weight of the handles make them comfortable. If you have good chopstick skills, you'll find these easy to use, but beginners might find the fine tips and slick surface more challenging.
The chopsticks also come with a carrying case that you can wear around your neck when traveling, camping, or road-tripping. These aren't recommended for the dishwasher, but hand-washing with dish soap and a sponge will help preserve the bamboo tips. When hand-washing isn’t immediately available, just wipe them down well with a wet cloth.
Material: Stainless steel and bamboo | Length: 9 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: No | Style: Japanese
"The steel handles give the set weight so they feel more substantial than plastic or bamboo chopsticks."
Best for Families
HuaLan Fiberglass Alloy Chopsticks
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Courtesy of Amazon
Length provides extra reach
Heat-resistant to 400 degrees
Dishwasher-safe
Might be unwieldy for beginners
If you’re searching for Chinese restaurant-style chopsticks to use at family dinners, try HuaLan Fiberglass Chopsticks. At nearly 10 inches long, these chopsticks provide extra reach to grab that last dumpling or piece of roast pork from across the table. This length also lends itself well to cooking, and the fiberglass construction withstands heat up to 400 degrees—great for plucking wontons or tempura out of a deep fryer.
Our tester liked the weighty feel of these chopsticks and found that textured tips aided in picking up larger items like dim sum or pieces of bok choy without any slippage. The non-absorbent material helps prevent staining or retaining odors and makes them easy to clean—our tester ran them through the dishwasher a few times with no signs of damage or wear. There might be potential for the decorative design to wear away with time, but it's not necessarily a dealbreaker.
Material: Fiberglass alloy | Length: 9.9 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Style: Chinese
"The thicker width and tips might make it hard to pick up noodles or slippery stir fry veggies for beginners, but the textured tips add some friction to aid in gripping foods."
Best Disposable
Royal Premium Disposable Bamboo Chopsticks
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Amazon
Made of sustainable bamboo
Arrives already separated
Completely biodegradable/compostable
Tapered tips might be slippery for beginners
These bamboo chopsticks by Royal Premium are a convenient option for parties, picnics, and packed lunches. You won’t need to worry about splintering when breaking them apart, as each pair comes already separated and wrapped in a paper sleeve that also has usage instructions (a fun feature for beginners).
"Disposable chopsticks are a sustainability nightmare. We wanted to make sure we do our part to protect our planet, so bamboo seemed to be a better choice over the standard wooden chopstick," says Lee. With sustainability in mind, he researched disposable chopstick options and settled on bamboo, since this fast-growing wood is an easily renewable resource compared to other disposable styles. Once you’re through with them, you can dispose of them with compostable items, since they’re completely biodegradable.
Our tester used them to easily pick up sushi rolls, sashimi, noodles, and handled stir-fried vegetables without trouble. The one drawback is that these chopsticks are very slim, so they aren't as comfortable as thicker wooden chopsticks, but since they're just for temporary use, they serve their purpose just fine.
Material: Bamboo | Length: 9 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: No | Style: Chinese
"They're light and slim, so they could cause some hand cramping if you're not used to holding chopsticks, but for light use—as you do with disposables—they're perfectly fine for the price."
For a high-quality set of chopsticks that won't break the bank, we recommend the Goldage Fiberglass Chopsticks. They're sturdy, stylish, and made of food-safe fiberglass that holds up against cracks, high heat, and more. But if you're in search of a wooden option, check out the HuaLan Japanese Natural Wood Chopstick Set. Made from natural wood and covered with a food-safe lacquer, these chopsticks are sturdy enough to use during meals and will look great on your table.
How We Tested
These selected chopsticks were tested for hours by our product tester for the most authentic results. We rated these chopsticks based on design, quality, grip, and overall value. Testing was conducted with different foods, such as noodles, rice, and cooked veggies, and we analyzed the level of difficulty to pick up these items with the chopsticks. We also assessed the ease of cleaning the chopsticks, recording how they held up after washing.
What to Look for When Buying Chopsticks
Material
Chopsticks come in various materials, ranging from disposable wood to more elegant lacquered wood or metal. The material will determine how you care for your chopsticks and their durability. Metal and fiberglass alloy versions will last the longest and are typically dishwasher-safe. Wood versions, both finished and unfinished, tend to wear sooner and are more susceptible to warping over time, but you can keep most chopsticks for years, as long as they are cared for properly.
Style
The three most common chopstick styles are from China, Korea, and Japan. Other countries have various shapes, but the general rundown looks like this:
Chinese-style chopsticks tend to be fairly long and have squared or rounded sides with blunt, flat tips. They are typically made from lacquered wood or melamine plastic.
Korean-style chopsticks are often made from brass, silver, or another metal and are a medium length with flat, rectangular tips.
Japanese-style chopsticks are typically made from bamboo or lacquered wood and are shorter with very tapered tips.
Picking a style might take some trial and error to see what feels most comfortable for you, so don't be afraid to try different lengths, tips, and materials.
FAQs
How do you use chopsticks?
Using chopsticks can be a bit tricky if you've never done it before, but anyone can learn. Find step-by-step visual instructions to using chopsticks in this helpful How to Use Chopsticks guide.
What can you eat with chopsticks?
From rice and noodles to stir-fried veggies and meats, you'll be able to pick up anything that doesn't require cutting—and you're not limited to Asian fare. You can use chopsticks to eat anything bite-sized, which is particularly useful if you don't want to get your fingers dirty. Chopsticks and fries, anyone?
Are fiberglass chopsticks safe?
As long as they are marked "food-safe," then yes. Fiberglass is durable, and it stands up to higher temperatures than melamine and other plastics. It can go in the dishwasher, but it is heavier than other materials.
Where did chopsticks originate?
Chopsticks originated in China as a cooking tool, dating as far back as 1200 B.C. As people from China moved around Asia, the popularity of chopsticks spread to other surrounding countries. Today, chopsticks are the primary utensil used in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan. There is some usage of chopsticks in other Asian countries, like the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, but it is not the main utensil used.
Can chopsticks be recycled?
It depends on the material of your chopsticks and whether or not your city accepts them for recycling. Wooden chopsticks typically can be composted, and they might be allowed in a green bin. Plastic chopsticks are biodegradable if made out of recyclable plastic (typically numbers 1 through 6).
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
The author of this piece, Bernadette Machard de Gramont, specializes in global food and wine content. As the granddaughter of immigrant restaurant owners, she grew up cooking her family’s Chinese and Filipino recipes and has been a proficient chopstick user since age four. She interviewed one expert for this piece, Eugene Lee, co-owner of Oakland-based eatery Noodle Belly. She also personally tested each set of chopsticks in this roundup and added her insights.
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