There’s much more to Chinese cuisine in London than luminous-orange sweet ‘n’ sour chicken and the tried-and-true egg-fried rice. You’ll find beautiful recommendations on our handpicked list, whether you want to keep things traditional in Chinatown (still full of great discoveries), pop down to a cherished local, or give your palate something more daring to explore. Read our top 10 list of Chinese restaurants in London & prepare your chopsticks!
Local Chinese Restaurants – Top 10 in London
1. Hunan (Fitzrovia)
Hunan in Pimlico offers a unique eating experience in London. Diners are asked just two questions upon arrival: 1. Do you have any particular dietary requirements? 2. Do you like your meal spicy?
And with that, the supper starts, shrouded in mystery. Expect a chef’s tasting menu with a surprise aspect, with endless, superb tapas-sized servings of cuisine great for sharing – or fighting over (you choose). The end outcome is exceptionally memorable.
2. A Wong
Forget gilded dragons, book-length menus, and stir-fry by numbers; Andrew Wong’s two-Michelin-starred Pimlico Chinese is a one-of-a-kind experience that serves premium food at everyday costs.
A classic dish includes preserved duck egg with marinated tofu, chill, and soy and poached razor clam with sea cucumber, vinegar tapioca, and wind-dried sausage. Take your time and enjoy.
3. Hakkasan Hanway Place
Hakkasan Hanway Place, another great candidate on our list of the top Chinese restaurants in London, is all about the environment, so if you’re looking for someplace high-end to bring a date, this is the place to go.
This well-known steak restaurant, which opened in 2001, was created to highlight Chinese food using ancient methods, the best ingredients, and a modern flare by its in-house chefs. It shows as if they grant a Michelin star. Wok-fried wild sea bass, black truffle roasted duck, and stir-fried baby broccoli with crispy seaweed, pine nuts, and preserved olives are among the dishes prepared here — don’t tell us you’re not drooling just thinking about it!
4. BaoziInn (Newport Court)
At this vibrant eatery in Newport Court, kitsch Communist Revolution décor meets northern Chinese street cuisine polished up for London.
True to Sichuanese tradition, red is the prominent colour, and chilli heat is the primary flavour sensation: dan dan noodles, slapped cucumber salad, and crescent dumplings are delicious. Yes, the cuisine is hot, but it’s also affordable and excellent.
5. Barshu
Barshu, the originator of a Sichuan gang that includes BaoziInn, is a welcome contrast from Chinatown’s predominantly Cantonese cuisine.
Come here for prairie tripe, aromatic and spicy pig’s trotters, stir-fried chicken gizzards with pickled chilli, and other scorching tongue-tinglers — make sure there’s enough calming tea on hand.
6. Yauatcha (Soho and The City)
This slickly built and actively operated contemporary Chinese restaurant is on Broadwick Street and Broadgate Circle near Liverpool city Street. It’s a terrific choice for all-day dim sum all Year and their ‘Year of the Tiger’ Lunar New Year.
The menu is exceptional, including Chilean sea bass dim sum and crab with pineapple rice and yam beans. There are also many vegetarian and vegan alternatives, and the golden fortune prawns are pretty much to die for if we do so ourselves. Plus, it’s not just about the food — drinks include gingerbread espresso martinis, mango mules, and golden spice warmers – a beautiful blend of Hennessy VSOP, Akashi-Tai sake, samurai black tea, afternoon tea, cinnamon, ginger, lemon, orange, and angostura bitters.
7. Café TPT
At first sight, Café TPT’s menu seems to be longer than Confucius’ whole thoughts, with selections from throughout mainland China and beyond.
Cantonese stalwarts like a luscious roast duck on rice or garlicky prawn-stuffed tofu in a hot stone pot are best picks, but Hong Kong-style dai pai dong hawker specialties like beef flank curry rice and Macau-style pork chop are also winners.
8. Bun House and Wun’s Tea Room and Bar (Chinatown and Soho)
This one is special since it combines two separate locations into one. The Bun House itself may be seen at its branch in Chinatown, with a counter full of wicker baskets slowly steaming away.
It is the location to go for a stroll after grabbing a pillowy soft bun loaded with the pig, lamb, beef, chicken, veggie, or custard (for those with a sweet taste). They’re a deal for £2.80 apiece or £10 for four. If you want a more formal setting, go to Wun’s Tea Room on Greek Street, a dark restaurant-come-cocktail bar. This ambient location, inspired by local Cantonese eateries in 1960s Hong Kong, serves meals such as hand-dived scallops with glass noodles, tiger herb salad with pink mizuna, and black bean stir-fry.
9. Din Tai Fung
Din Tai Fung, a world-renowned Taiwanese restaurant with a branch in Covent Garden, is noted for its street-food small plates and distinctive xiao long bao (soup dumplings).
These delicately steamed packages are served in bamboo baskets and loaded with spicy pork, chilli crab, and soft prawn. Order the crispy prawn pancakes and the wontons with black vinegar and chilli oil while you’re there.
10. Silk Road (Camberwell)
One of South East London’s best-kept secrets is this modest location. It’s humble and rustic, with long wooden tables, but the cuisine is out of this world.
The menu is refreshingly brief and features many dishes from Xinjiang, China’s vast northwestern border region initially crossed by the old Silk Road trading route. Consequently, the cuisine is a cultural melting pot, with Mongol, Muslim, and Central Asian elements intertwined with more typical Chinese dishes. Signature meals include boneless red snapper kebabs with chilli and cumin, sliced belly pork with chilli, Szechuan pepper oil, and garlic.
Conclusion
Gone are the days of catering to Western palates: we’re amidst a real culinary revolution, with Chinese restaurateurs unabashedly returning to the flavours and textures of the country’s many provinces. However, London is more than simply a metropolis with many options. It’s also a city full of stupid decisions. Above the top 10 list of the Chinese restaurants in London will help you find the best dining place.
