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Best restaurants in Chinatown

If you are looking for an authentic taste of Chinese cuisine in London, Chinatown is the place to be. This historic part of central London is home to some of the oldest family-run Chinese restaurants in the city, and you can find regional delicacies from all over China here. To help you out, we've handpicked some of our favourites so you know where to go next time you find yourself in Soho, in need of some dim sum, hot pot or Peking duck.

Updated on 04 June 2024

Chinatown is a treasure trove of first-class restaurants, from cheap and cheerful walk-ins to special occasion eateries - and we’ve curated a list of all of our favourites to save you the trouble. Whether you’re on a mission to find the best dim sum in London, or an all-out Chinese banquet with Peking duck and pancakes, you’re certain to discover what you’re looking for next time you find yourself in the area.

Whilst it’s easy to assume that all restaurants here serve up traditional Chinese fare, you’ll also be able to choose from a variety of other cuisines like Taiwanese, Japanese and Korean, each showcasing their own traditional specialities, and some more modern alternatives. There’s fast food favourites like Korean fried chicken, comforting bowls of hot ramen, and pillowy soft bao buns, amongst a whole host of other lip-smackingly good meals. Although we often think of delicious Cantonese roast meats when we think of Chinatown, there are also some fantastic vegetarian restaurants in Chinatown these days - you can find more of those by clicking the link. 

We also understand that there’s a budget for every occasion, and throughout the list we’ve included options for everything from custard filled waffles to munch on as you’re passing through (which come in at a mere fiver), to restaurants destined for a more lavish affair (with a price tag to match). Whatever it is you’re after, our list of the best restaurants in Chinatown are the perfect place to start whittling down the options - so what are you waiting for?

JinLi Chinatown

JinLi Chinatown

16 Newport Place, London, London, WC2H 7PR

This is a resolutely traditional Chinatown experience, featuring the infamously brusque service and intruguing dishes like spicy pig’s foot or pork lung. If you’re not in the mood to experiment, stick with the kung po prawns and salt and pepper squid.  

Szechuan
Chinese
C&R Cafe

C&R Cafe

4-5 Rupert Court, Chinatown, London, W1D 6DY

C&R cafe is proof that good things come in small packages, with it’s compact restaurant tucked away down a side street in Chinatown. Whilst you can tuck into anything from chicken curry to prawn pad thai, it’s the laksa that people really come here for. There’s also a small shop with extra seating across the street!

Under £30
Malaysian
Tokyo Diner

Tokyo Diner

2 Newport Place, London, WC2H 7JJ

Not only is Tokyo Diner one of the best spots for a decent Japanese meal in Chinatown, but any tips that are left for staff aren’t accepted (as Japan doesn’t do ‘tipping’), and are instead sent to St. Martin-in-the-Fields’ unit for the Homeless.

Under £30
Sushi
Japanese
Viet Food

Viet Food

34-36 Wardour Street, London, W1D 6QT

This Vietnamese street food joint has won legions of fans and turns out a selection of casual dishes, such as hearty pho, buns filled with the likes of lemongrass pork, and egg fried rice topped with beef and spring onion.

£30 - £49
Vietnamese
Bun House Chinatown

Bun House Chinatown

26-27 Lisle Street, Westminster, London, WC2H 7BA

If you’re looking for some lip smackingly good buns in Chinatown, Bun House is a no brainer - and you’ll find them rustling up fresh batches throughout the day so you can pop in for lunch or dinner for some of these steaming hot delicacies.

Under £30
Chinese
Dim Sum
Chinatown Bakery

Chinatown Bakery

7-9 Newport Place, Chinatown, London, WC2H 7JR

Chinatown Bakery has long been one of the top choices when looking for baked goods in the area, and will often catch the eye of passers by with its fish-shaped waffles in the window. Inside they’re filled with a warm vanilla custard and they’re every bit as addictive as they seem.

Under £30
Chinese
Rasa Sayang

Rasa Sayang

5 Macclesfield Street, London, W1D 6AY

Split across two floors, diners can choose between the light-filled ground floor and moody basement level, while the menu here is a role call of popular pocket-friendly Malaysian dishes, including roti canai, satays, noodles and signature dishes such as nasi lemak. 

Under £30
Malaysian
Singaporean
Good Friend

Good Friend

14 Little Newport Street, Chinatown, London, WC2H 7JJ

Moved over Korean fried chicken, because the Taiwanese alternative is where it’s at. So committed to tradition, the team actually imported their fryer from Taiwan, and have been making some of London’s best fried chicken ever since. Word to the wise - order the popcorn chicken.

Under £30
Taiwanese
Pochawa Grill Korean BBQ

Pochawa Grill Korean BBQ

29 Wardour Street, Soho, London, W1D 6PS

If you’re looking for somewhere to live out your Korean barbecue and soju dreams, Pochawa delivers on both fronts in a welcoming, retro-style Pocha bar. There are other classic Korean dishes on offer from savoury pancakes with kimchi and mozzarella, to pan-fried dumplings and pork with boiled tofu.

£30 - £49
Korean
Barbecue
YiQi

YiQi

14 Lisle Street, Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7BE

One of Chinatown’s more youthful, contemporary new inhabitants, YiQi mixes up a swathe of pan-Asian influences across a huge menu. Similar restaurants can often be disappointing but the food at YiQi is excellent - the cordyceps mushroom and chicken broth is a must order, but frankly, you can’t go wrong with the excellent menu.

£30 - £49
Pan Asian
South East Asian
Dumplings Legend

Dumplings Legend

15-16 Gerrard Street, Soho, London, W1D 6JE

This Chinatown café makes a big claim with its bold name, and reportedly makes 8,000 fresh dumplings each day. Find them on the menu in the form of pork dumplings with crab roe and xiao long bao, best enjoyed at lunchtime.

£30 - £49
Chinese
Dim Sum
Shu Xiang Ge

Shu Xiang Ge

10 Gerrard Street, Chinatown, London, W1D 5PW

Shu Xiang Ge is home of the hotpot; a DIY meal of bubbling broth and copious amounts of meats and vegetables to dip and cook in it. Expect eye wateringly spicy meat options, as well as more mild vegetarian options, and it’s a great space to head to with a group of friends.

Under £30
Chinese
Speedboat Bar

Speedboat Bar

30 Rupert Street, Soho, London, W1D 6DL

Speedboat Bar burst on London’s food scene in ???, and has been serving up some of the city’s best (and eye wateringly spicy) Thai food ever since. You can also enjoy cocktails from the equally exciting drinks menu and challenge friends to a game of pool or two whilst you’re there.

Under £30
Thai
Bars
Wong Kei

Wong Kei

41-43 Wardour Street, Chinatown, London, W1D 6PX

Wong Kei is a regular on London’s cheap eats lists, and is a go to when you want some serious bang for your buck. It may not be known for its warm hospitality, but we can look past that for the generous portions of food at such a modest price.

Under £30
Chinese
Four Seasons Soho

Four Seasons Soho

23 Wardour Street, Soho, London, W1D 5PR

Four Seasons has always been highly regarded as one of the best spots for a decent meal in Chinatown, and there’s one dish in particular that gets tongues wagging. The famed roast duck has previously been referred to as the ‘best roast duck in the world’ for good reason and if you don’t believe us, give it a go for yourself.

Under £30
Chinese
Plum Valley

Plum Valley

20 Gerrard Street, Soho, London, W1D 6JQ

Although Chinese cuisine is the name of the game here, Plum Valley is also inspired by Malaysia and Singapore. The à la carte features sweet and sour chicken and Vietnamese pork belly, but the dim sum offering is absolutely not to be missed.

£30 - £49
Chinese
Dim Sum
Orient London Chinatown

Orient London Chinatown

15 Wardour Street, Soho, London, W1D 6PH

Orient is owned by one of the oldest families in Chinatown - the Yeungs - and they’re sticklers for tradition. All the food served here mirrors how it has traditionally been made, and whilst the whole menu is pretty epic, it’s the seafood you really come here for.

£30 - £49
Chinese
Dim Sum

If you love this selection, we can guarantee that you'll fall head over heels for our list of the best Chinese restaurants in London. Of course, the scope of amazing Asian food in London is practically limitless, with new locations popping up left, right and centre. If you're after something zingy and spicy, check out our guide to London's best Thai restaurants, which offer some of the most vibrant and unique food in town.

Not a fan of spicy food? Head to one of London's best Japanese restaurants, where you'll find everything from buzzy izakaya joints to chef's counter sushi bars. 

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