London’s Chinatown is a vibrant and bustling quarter of the city set between Soho and Covent Garden heralded by its iconic soaring decorative gates in the style of the Qing dynasty. While by definition Chinese cuisine is the main event, you can also find foods from around the world served in this buzzing area packed with some of London’s best restaurants. Many of the best restaurants in Chinatown London serve a myriad of different styles from around the globe, while others focus on crafting the very best Chinese-inspired cookery you could hope for.
In Charing Cross, there’s a Chinese fine dining establishment headed by a chef who has achieved no less than seven previous MICHELIN stars. In Soho, you can sample some of the best fiery Sichuan cooking or, if you prefer to keep the temperature down, stick to great seafood and dim sum recipes from northern China. Alternatively, head on over to Leicester Square, where you’ll find contemporary Chinese with a twist, plus some great European comfort food.
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The best restaurants in Chinatown London to know about
For high-end Chinese fine dining – book your table at Gouqi London in Charing Cross
Gouqi London was named for the goji berry, which is a Chinese symbol of vitality and good health. This ethos inspires the menu at the restaurant, where each ingredient is carefully selected, the service is of the highest quality and the interior has been carefully crafted to invoke a sense of harmony. Low lighting immediately sets the mood, while award-winning artwork adorns the walls, and the tables are set with flower arrangements from Botanique Workshop. Chef Tong Chee Hwee has no less than seven MICHELIN stars under his belt, and it’s easy to see why. House specialities such as the tasting menu or the legendary Peking duck need to be ordered 24 hours in advance, but they’re well worth getting organised for. If you prefer to choose on the day, perhaps try the goose parfait with black truffles and aromatic duck parcel, or the silver cod, chargrilled and served with passionfruit and a yellow bean sauce.
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For one of the best restaurants near Chinatown London – head to Chop Chop at the Hippodrome in Leicester Square
Nestled on the lower ground floor of the legendary Four Seasons, Chop Chop at the Hippodrome brings you the best of contemporary Chinese cooking in exquisite surroundings. The interiors were designed by Rachel O’Toole as a homage to old Hong Kong, with hints of modern elegance flashing through. You must be over 18 to dine here, and the restaurant is open from 6 pm until 4 am daily – perfect for those late-night cravings. The Cantonese-style roast duck is one of the signature dishes at Chop Chop – so good, the Financial Times named it the best in the world. The venue is also renowned for its premium dim sum platters, including prawn and chive dumplings and char sui BBQ pork buns. The combination orders are ideal if you struggle to choose – two or three signature meats on one platter. This 2024 Golden Chopsticks award winner is definitely a must-visit.
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For one of the best family-friendly restaurants in Chinatown London – check out Happy in Leicester Square
Just because you’re in Chinatown doesn’t mean you have to eat Chinese food. While in the heart of Chinatown, the menu at Happy is packed with European comfort foods alongside Asian specialties. This bright and beautiful flagship restaurant spearheads a chain of over 40 venues across Europe. This one is extra special – voted both Best Hospitality Team in the UK and Best Restaurant in London at the latest British Restaurant Awards. Family-friendly casual dining makes for a relaxed atmosphere ideal for any event or night out. The extensive menu ranges from a selection of salads, fries and crispy chicken to melt-in-the-mouth burgers, breaded seafood and signature meats. Showstoppers to try include the tender Argentinian rib-eye steak with signature red wine sauce and French butter, the spaghetti alfredo with giant prawns in garlic butter, and the houmous and homemade guacamole with tortilla chips for dipping.
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For the fiery and complex flavours of Sichuan – take a seat at Barshu in Soho
As one of the best restaurants in Chinatown London, Barshu takes inspiration from the fiery flavours of Sichuan, bringing you lip-tingling specialties that will blow your mind – and your tastebuds. Sichuan peppers and chillies feature heavily, although don’t be worried if you prefer things a bit milder – there are plenty of more fragrant, delicate dishes on offer. Take a seat at Barshu and prepare to be dazzled. For those who like things hot, start with the peppery pot soup with braised pork, tripe and chicken, or pork rolls, sliced thinly and served with spicy garlic sauce. Move on to the seabream, braised to perfection in the chef’s special sauce, or juicy lamb stir-fried with hot peppers. If your tastes are more delicate, perhaps try the Barshu special maocai, with either mixed meats and seafood or as a vegetarian option. For something a little different, go for the spicy and numbing frog legs in golden soup.
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For one of the best dim sum restaurants in Chinatown London – visit Orient London in Soho
As an independent Chinese restaurant in the heart of the Soho end of Chinatown, Orient London specialises in seafood and dim sum, influenced by recipes from northern China and from Szechuan and Cantonese culinary heritage. Honestly priced and effortlessly delicious, the menu at Orient London, one of the best restaurants in Chinatown, has been crafted to delight. Combine this with newly refurbished premises, comfortable yet elegant contemporary decor, and a waitstaff renowned for their friendliness and efficiency, and you’ve got the perfect night out. Ideal for a quick business lunch or break from shopping, the lunchtime dim sum menu lets you pick as few or as many small plates as you like – think baked mini pork buns, scallop dumplings and garlic prawn spring rolls to start you off. In the evenings, let the expert team guide you through the a la carte menu to find your new favourite dish.
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For an immersive Singapore-style dining experience – visit Singapulah in Soho
The specially curated menus at Singapulah showcase some of the most diverse and unique ingredients and recipes from Singapore, many of which you won’t find anywhere else in the UK. Working with no less than 13 beloved brands from the Singapore food industry including SiamCoco and Red Lips Food, Singapulah offers an immersive sensory experience from that “little red dot” on the Asian map. Embark upon an epicurean escapade through Singapore without ever leaving London. Menu highlights range from sambal fish skewers and wanton mee to start, right through to Singapore Laksa, a staple of the hawkers of the region featuring prawn, shrimp and fish balls in a complex coconut curry broth. Add a sharing plate of wok-fried garlic green beans for the table to your order, and finish with a refreshing dragon highball cocktail with whisky, tropical lychee and coconut water.
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For one of the best family-run restaurants in Chinatown London – try Plum Valley in Leicester Square
Sleek and minimalist with a smart slate, stone and wood interior, Plum Valley offers fine dining Chinese staples. The menu and location make this the ideal spot for pre-theatre meals, business lunches and something to restore your energy after a busy day sightseeing. Friendly towards larger group bookings, but with tables intimate enough for the most special dates, add a visit to Plum Valley to your calendar today. This family-run restaurant showcases some of the very best of Asian ingredients, cuisines and cooking styles – authentic cooking with an innovative twist. Dim sum are served alongside a Chinese, Thai and Japanese fusion menu. Appetiser highlights include the rainbow dim sum platter, grilled Shanghai dumplings and Thai-style soups. For the main course, try the braised lobster with ginger and spring onion, or the Canton-style braised pork belly. Wash it all down with a house cocktail, warm sake or cold Chinese beer – perfect.
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As one of the most bustling, colourful pockets of London, Chinatown makes for a great night out any day of the week. Some of the best restaurants in Chinatown London bring you fare from across the Orient and further afield – not only Chinese and Cantonese, but also international dishes from around the world await you in this vibrant pocket of London between Covent Garden and Soho.
Book your table at one of the best restaurants in Chinatown London right now on OpenTable.
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