The best Chinese restaurants in London for dim sum, Peking duck, noodles, and vegan stir-fry
Cuisine from Dongbei to Guangdong.
Even though Lunar New Year has come and gone, the feast need not end. London’s woks are hopping all over town. Traditionally, Chinese families (like mine) gather around turntables in beloved local and Chinatown restaurants, where steaming parcels and plates circle. But now, Chinese fine dining is big on the scene thanks to swanky hotel restaurants and Mayfair’s Michelin-starred chefs. We also never saw casino dining as a contender, but then we went to Chop Chop, and that all changed. Here are the best Chinese restaurants in London no matter what your price point, occasion, or dietary requirements.
The best Chinese restaurants in London
The best upscale Chinese restaurants in London
1. Hutong | London Bridge
With the Shangri-La and Hutong in residence, The Shard certainly has a slice of Asian haute living. Level 33’s the stage for Northern Chinese cuisine. Hutong’s Sichuan beef and deep-fried lobster have just the fire, while the brothy halibut fillet and sweet pork ribs perfectly offset the spice. Dim sum is decadent and the roast duck is served in a traditional two-stage fashion. Stay a while to admire the view from another vantage point following your meal: the Shanghai Bar around the corner is open till the early hours.
Find out more about Hutong
2. Gouqi | Trafalgar Square
The debut stand-alone venture from Chef Tong Chee Hwee deserves every star. He, after all, spent almost two decades at the Hakkansan Group during its awarded heyday. Gouqi (pronounced ‘goji’) is an evolution of Tong’s work, levelling up Chinese fine dining served on the most beautiful custom-made chinaware. Guests glide their chopsticks into crab meat xiao long baos, wagyu beef rolls, and decadent red shrimp with Singapore chilli sauce served with mantou (steamed buns) to soak up the sauce.
Find out more about Gouqi
3. MiMi Mei Fair | Mayfair
Shanghai shikumen or Mayfair restaurant? MiMi’s a scrumptious combo of both. An intricately decored Georgian townhouse with three floors of intrigue and designed as Empress MiMi’s secret residence. But aesthetics aside, this is the real deal when it comes to authentic Chinese cuisine, honouring regions such as Sichuan, Fujian, and Hunan. As for our extreme wows, we have three; the roasted Cantonese char siu Iberico pork—oh-so succulent and sweet; the clear prawn & coriander soup that feels tenderly homemade; and, on the other end of the spectrum, the Peking Duck is extra and like dining out in another dynasty. All of these are royally exquisite in their own way.
Find out more about MiMi Mei Fair
The best family-style Chinese restaurants in London
4. Golden Phoenix | Chinatown
When you think of big family gatherings, Golden Phoenix is your quintessential Lunar location. It’s one of Chinatown’s largest restaurants, so expect many a wedding reception here within the lucky red and gold rooms (there are seven party rooms spread over three floors and a huge banquet space). Authentic dim sum and a la carte Cantonese options include lobster with ginger and spring onions, pork chop with red bean curd paste, and prawns with cashew nuts. Set menus are also available to sample the greats.
Find out more about Golden Phoenix
5. Lido | Chinatown
Fact: this is one of London’s oldest Chinese restaurants, established in 1969. 55 years later, it’s still going strong. Dim sum is always a treat, especially if you save room for their creamy custard buns. The a la carte and set menus feature items such as sizzling chicken with chilli and black bean sauce, and a range of dumpling soups that feel like they were lovingly made by Chinese granny. Lido also has an extensive wine list.
Find out more about Lido
6. Lotus Garden | Chinatown
A Chinatown staple, Lotus Garden’s menu features over 200 dishes, spanning Cantonese and Pekinese cuisine. Whatever the family’s in the mood for it’s here: hot pot, roast pork, barbecued octopus, and veggie options. The restaurant also has a solid selection of wines including Shao Hsing Chinese wine.
Find out more about Lotus Garden
7. Dream Xi’An | Tower Hill
Dream Xi’An is the best place to taste the cuisine of Xi’an, Northern China, specifically the physically demanding ‘Biang Biang’ noodles. These hand-pulled bowls are full of silky bounce and jam-packed with flavour, whether you go down the veggie, beef, pork, or combination route. Guirong handpicks the very best chillies herself for that linger-on-your-tongue finish. And noodles aside, you’ll want to save room for street food plates such as the spicy cumin beef bun, and the pan-fried chicken and mushroom pot sticker dumplings. If you love a kick with your Asian food, this is your number one Spice Girl.
Find out more about Dream Xi’An
The best dumpling and bun restaurants in London
8. Xi Home Dumplings | Shoreditch
For authentic Northeastern Chinese dumplings, head to Xi Home, helmed by Dalian native Wenjun Xiang. This dumpling mecca folds around 20 different handmade parcels for the table, including classics like the spicy pork and the king prawn, to the ultra-luxurious Jade Lobster dumpling, a Xi Home signature; and all generously portioned. The menu also features buns, rolls, pancakes and soups (we recommend ordering a big wonton soup so you can dip your other dumplings in, plus the tableside sauce), and Dalian speciality desserts include crispy milk curd and steamed sticky pumpkin cake. It’ll be hard to resist ordering everything from their magazine-style menu—expect to carry home leftovers.
Find out more about Xi Home Dumplings
9. Bun House | Chinatown
How do you like your buns? If warm, pillowy, and darn right delicious is your answer, there’s only one place for them: Bun House in Chinatown. The Cantonese steamed bun specialists make them from scratch on-site, including both sweet and savoury options spanning ‘Lamb Bun’ to burst-open-runny ‘Custard Bun’, plus the odd limited edition holiday treat on CNY or Halloween. These buns aren’t just to go either. Guests who park upstairs can side with fresh dim sum, HK curry chicken wings, and HK teas for the complete experience.
Find out more about Bun House
10. Tao Tao Ju | Chinatown
Dumpling feast in Chinatown? It’s steaming over at Tao Tao on Lisle Street. The Cantonese & Sichuanese eaterie serves it with finesse, with standouts including the crystal prawn dumplings and the steamed rice roll with prawn. It’s also a top spot if you like things spicy: the curry prawns and pork in Sichuan spices have all the fire. The restaurant also has an extensive wine list.
Find out more about Tao Tao Ju
The best Chinese restaurants in London in casinos
11. Chop Chop | Leicester Square
The Chinese community in Soho spends a lot of time in casinos, so it’s only natural the biggies of Leicester Square are serving them right. Chop Chop was a delightful surprise for us; from the folks behind Four Seasons Chinese restaurants, it’s best known for Hong Kong-style roast duck. Don’t miss the other Cantonese delights like the Ma Po tofu, Braised tofu with pork belly (the tofu’s all really good!), and the soya chicken. A casual yet funky dining den tucked underneath The Hippodrome.
Find out more about Chop Chop
The best Chinese restaurants in London for vegan and vegetarian options
12. Tofu Vegan | Multiple Locations
With three outposts across the city, it’s hard to believe that everything on Tofu Vegan’s menu is made from plants, that even the carnivores in the party might find themselves converted. The chefs hail from Sichuan, the Cantonese south, and Dongbei, bringing with them regional influences on goodies made from tofu, mushrooms, bean proteins, and other meat-free alternatives. Our favourites are the Gong Bao King Oyster Mushrooms laden with cashew nuts, and the Housemade Silken Tofu in Spicy Sauce.
Find out more about Tofu Vegan
13. Loving Hut | Multiple Locations
IYKYK. If you don’t, you should. Loving Hut is a chain of over 200 vegan restaurants across the globe that dishes up a blend of Asian delights. In London, the Archway spot serves up a hearty Aromatic Veggie Duck and a damn good Braised Aubergine. The team is friendly and the ethos behind the brand is Be Vegan; Make Peace, so expect good vibes only.
Find out more about Loving Hut
But wait, there’s more…
- Check out the complete list of our favourite restaurants in London
- We review the London Stock in Mayfair and discover the best bread basket in town
- Getting your roast duck in Hong Kong? Consider staying at the St. Regis with our review
