14 of the Best Chinese Restaurants in London

We've found the London restaurants that are serving divine dum sun and brilliant bao. Ready to scoff Sichuan plates and Xinjiang bowls? Let's eat

Chinese food sometimes gets the short end of the straw amid London's crowded international food scene. Look past the sticky sweet-and-sour chicken and soggy fried rice at your local takeaway joint, though, and you'll find a whole world of culinary delights just waiting to be explored. From fluffy dumplings to fiery Sichuan numbers, the venues in our best-of round-up prove why Chinese fare is still very much on the menu in London.

The best Chinese restaurants in London

restaurant

Lucky & Joy

Hackney

We challenge you to walk past Lucky & Joy’s popping neon-pink dining room without wanting to dive inside. The epitome of a good-time Chinese diner, this little Hackney joint was started by two friends with a shared love of the deliciously slippery noodle and soup dishes native to China’s Xinjiang province – with ex-Moro and Morito chef Ellen Parr on the food and drinks know-it-all Pete Kelly taking care of the grog. Pull up a pew, pick out your plates from a tick-list on a shiny pink slip and, whatever you do, don’t hold back – snacks start from just £3.50.

Address

95 Lower Clapton Rd, London E5 0NP

restaurant

Royal China Baker Street

Marylebone

This classic Cantonese restaurant is renowned for its dim sum. Don't be put off by the seemingly formal atmosphere - once the food arrives all pretension is thrown out the window as the room is filled with oohs and ahhs of content. Book ahead to avoid the queue that often snakes its way down Baker Street, and settle down to order plates of fried gyoza, soft dumplings, roast pork buns and crispy spring rolls.

Address

24-26 Baker Street W1U 3BZ

restaurant

My Old Place

Bishopsgate

It may not be considered the crème de la crème of London’s Sichuan eateries, but if you ask any Chinese expat in the city where they go to get their fill of Chinese food cooked just right, they’ll likely point you in the direction of My Old Place. Old-school and slightly hectic, the restaurant gets our nod of approval for the sheer breadth of its menu. Expect everything from dandan noodles to duck tongue, served up in typically sizeable – and always delicious – portions.

Address

88 Middlesex St, London E1 7EZ

Interiors at MiMi Mei Feir

restaurant

MiMi Mei Fair

Mayfair

If you haven't already seen this Mayfair outpost plastered across your socials at least twice this month, we'll assume you're living under a rock. Located on the handsome Curzon Street, MiMi Mei Fair is the sort of place you could easily walk past and not give a second glance, due to its unassuming turquoise facade. Yet inside a sexy and stylish set-up awaits. We're talking pink-blush banquette seating, ruby-red chandeliers, beautifully handcrafted screens and delicate Chinese ornaments. With the recent launch of the Baskets in Bloom menu, head chef Peter Ho is set to serve diners three different types of dim sum: Canadian scallop dumpling with bamboo shoot; prawn and seasonal asparagus, and a garlic-chive chicken dumpling. But, be warned, this is a traditional lunchtime affair, so make sure to reserve a table to avoid disappointment and a detour to the meal-deal aisle.

Address

55 Curzon St, London W1J 8PG

xian-impression

restaurant

Xi'an Impression

Highbury

Opposite Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, this no-frills restaurant serves Chinese food in unpretentious settings. Whitewashed interiors ensure that all focus is placed entirely on the food - and rightly so. Piled-up plates of sticky dumplings and thick udon noodles (the Xi'an Liang Pi Cold Noodles are a must-try) command all attention as they crowd the small tables, and disappear quicker than you can say bao bun.

Address

117 Bennell Road N7 7BW

restaurant

Duck and Rice

Soho

At face value, this stalwart pub in Soho seems an unlikely addition to this round-up. While drinks are served in the buzzy ground floor bar, head upstairs for the real deal. Chinese food is served in the intimate dining room - be sure to order the Cantonese-style roast duck, hand-reared at a local family-owned farm.

Address

90 Berwick Street W1F 0QB

Photo: David Cotsworth

restaurant

A Wong

Pimlico

Helmed by London-born chef Andrew Wong, this Chinese restaurant seamlessly switches between a delightful dim-sum menu during the day and heaped plates of authentic cuisine in the evening. Try the 10-course tasting menu, which showcases the best of Wong's culinary finesse.

Address

70 Wilton Road SW1V 1DE

restaurant

Park Chinois

Mayfair

This chinese restaurant brings Shanghai's 30s jazz lounges to London's Mayfair. Beyond its decadent red doors, the interiors pair rich velvets and fringed furnishings with sophisticated cocktails and raved-about food. Book into the Salon de Chine to sample the Asian menu in sophisticated surrounds, or slide into a booth downstairs at Club Chinois, where food is often served alongside curious entertainment.

Address

17 Berkeley Street W1J 8EA

Yauatcha

restaurant

Yauatcha

Soho

Fragrant noodle dishes, meat-filled wontons and lip-smacking curries are served at Yauatcha on Soho's Broadwick Street, where dimly lit interiors are adorned with sleek furnishings. Be sure to save room for dessert - try the "Winter Sun", an exotic fruit mousse served with black-sesame cream and a banana-toffee compote, or the praline brownie topped with salted yuzu caramel.

Address

15-17 Broadwick Street W1F 0DL

Photo: Random House, Paul Winch-Furness

restaurant

Hunan

Belgravia

If unnecessarily lengthy menus leave you sweaty-palmed and stressed, Hunan is the place for you. Leave the hard work to the experts at this menuless restaurant, which is tucked among Pimlico's galleries and antiques shops. Dine like an emperor on a series of small plates followed by heaps of hand-pulled noodles and fiery sauces.

Address

51 Pimlico Road SW1W 8NE

restaurant

Kym's

City of London

Another restaurant by Chinese master-of-all Andrew Wong, Kym's is one for the Instagrammers. Pink-hued interiors coupled with a cherry-blossom tree make a picture-perfect setting for your evening meal. Yet this isn't all style over substance - dishes such as Cantonese crispy pork belly or Iberico pork char siu steal the focus every time.

Address

19 Bloomberg Arcade EC4N 8AR

Mamalan

restaurant

Mamalan

Brixton

In bustling Brixton Village, Mamalan specialises in northern-Chinese street food inspired by the owner's experience of watching her mother run a market stall in Beijing - the restaurant is even named after her. Huddle into the crowded restaurant for beef and pork potstickers, veggie dumplings and hearty noodle soups.

Address

Unit 18, Brixton Village Coldharbour Lane SW9 8PR

Silk Road

restaurant

Silk Road

Camberwell

This cheerful restaurant in Camberwell serves food from China's Xinjiang province. Slide onto communal benches and peruse a refreshingly short menu before promptly deciding to order the lot. Hand-pulled noodles, fluffy dumplings and spicy stews prove that Chinese food is more than your typical sweet-and-sour chicken or beef in black bean sauce.

Address

49 Camberwell Church Street SE5 8TR

dumpling's-legened

restaurant

Dumpling's Legend

Chinatown

Dumplings' Legend offers dim sum with a twist. Try the fried turnip cake (luóbo gāo), stuffed rice noodles (cheung fun) and, of course, plenty of meat-filled dumplings. A glass-fronted kitchen allows diners to gawp at the chefs' magic while it happens.

Address

15-16 Gerrard Street W1D 6JE

This article was updated on 9 June 2022.

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