Lucky Londoners are spoilt for choice when it comes to Chinese food in the capital. From the delectable steamy bites of Cantonese dim sum to toothsome Xi’an hand-pulled noodles to the fiery delights of Sichuan cuisine and the aromatic dishes of Hunan, there’s something to satisfy every palate. Whether celebrating Lunar New Year with a succulent feast or simply craving Chinese flavours, these are the best Chinese restaurants in London for whatever the occasion.
The best Chinese restaurants in London:
Hunan
Since 1982, the Peng family has been wowing diners with an exceptional chef’s tasting menu. Expect an ever-changing dizzying array of 12 to 18 Hunanese small plates — from xiao long bao to black cod with a black vinegar reduction and venison in peppercorn sauce to garlic green beans in the lightest and crispiest batter that will make you question what kind of sorcery was used. Inside is white tablecloth, but without the stuffiness. Strictly laid-back, casual and fun night of exploration, surprises and delights as you make your way through the courses. You’ll be well looked after with exceptional friendly service where you don’t even notice that your drinks are continually topped up.
What to order: There’s no menu, but diners are asked if they have any likes, dislikes, special dietary requirements and spice levels – and with that, the meal begins. They currently have a special Lunar New Year menu running from 20 January until 1 February featuring over a whopping twenty dishes such as cha siu pork, radish cake, lotus leaf-wrapped pork and lots more.
51 Pimlico Rd, London SW1W 8NE
Canton Blue
Look up the word "opulent" in the dictionary, and you’ll find Canton Blue. As expected from a restaurant located in Hyde Park and part of The Peninsula Hotel, the luxurious decor is a true marvel, featuring displays of Cantonese porcelain and a magnificent backlit ceiling panel depicting a celestial navigation map. And the food? Expect high-end Cantonese fare with all the bells and whistles: carve-at-your-table Peking duck with barbecue sauce and black sesame, Cornish blue lobster with sautéed ginger and spring onion and braised whole abalone with oyster sauce. If you fancy an aperitif or digestif before or after your meal, head to the Little Blue bar – the perfect way to kick off or wind down a glamorous evening.
What to order: The finely executed dim sum is an absolute must here. Order the deliciously earthy siu mai chicken dumplings with black mushrooms and the fluffy barbecue pork buns. Don’t miss the Lunar New Year menu while it lasts, featuring dishes like gold-dusted goldfish dumplings, scrumptious lobster cloaked in salty duck egg sauce and a gloriously creamy chestnut cream mousse.
The Peninsula, 1 Grosvenor Pl, London SW1X 7HJ
Mandarin Kitchen
This legendary family-run Cantonese seafood spot has been thriving since 1978. It’s the kind of place where, from the moment you step inside, it feels both familiar and inviting — a place where new family dining traditions are born and you’ll find yourself vowing to return. Run by the Cheung family, it draws Asian foodies from around the world, as well as East and South East Asian royalty like Michelle Yeoh and Sandra Oh, all eager to sample their famous lobster with ginger and spring onion hand-pulled egg noodles. Seafood is the main draw here with standout dishes like an impressive fried Dover sole shaped like a wave to hold chilli and onions, melt-in-your-mouth steamed razor clams with garlic and massive salt-and-pepper prawns.
14-16 Queensway, London W2 3RX
What to order: The showstopping spring onion and ginger lobster egg noodles are so majestic and theatrical as it’s tossed in their juices, coated in a thick glossy sauce and served tableside or as a centrepiece on the lazy susan.
Dim Sum Duck
You're likely to spot the queue before the restaurant, but stepping into this bustling Cantonese dim sum spot is like entering a lively hub of activity. With only 20 seats indoors and a handful outside, expect to cosy up to fellow diners. The decor is modest, allowing the food to take centre stage and transport you to China. The extensive dim sum menu features juicy xiao long bao soup dumplings, chubby prawn and chive dumplings, silky prawn cheung fun, succulent sui mai and flavourful beef ho fun rice noodles with a subtle wok hei smoky kiss. It's the kind of place where finding space on the table for dishes becomes a delightful Tetris challenge, even after stacking up the dim sum baskets.
124 King's Cross Road, King’s Cross, London, WC1X 9DS
What to order: Prawn and chive dumplings with crystal glass skin that are so plump and squidgy it will make you happy dance when eating.
Master Wei
Hot off being featured on Netflix’s Chef’s Table, a documentary series showcasing chefs from around the globe, chef-owner Guirong Wei is an unstoppable force. A decade ago, Guirong first made her mark in London with the now-cult favourite Xi’an Impression, tucked in the shadow of the Emirates Stadium. In the past four years, she has expanded her Xi’an noodle empire across her adopted city, now overseeing four restaurants: two branches of Master Wei in Holborn and Hammersmith, and her newest venture, Dream Xi’an, near Tower Bridge. The menu features the beloved biang biang hand-pulled belt wheat noodles drenched in chilli oil alongside Xi’an street food favourites such as spicy cumin beef bun, pan-fried chicken and mushroom pot sticker dumplings, as well as Liangpi cold noodles with sesame sauce, chilli and cucumber. It’s best to visit with a group to divide and conquer the extensive menu to try a wider variety of dishes.
What to order: The bouncy, fragrant and savoury beef biang biang noodles are exactly what the doctor prescribed. It’s a staple for a reason and they’re essentially a hug in a bowl.
13 Cosmo Pl, London WC1N 3AP / Hammersmith London, Hammersmith Rd, W6 8PW / Unit 2A, Tower Place, London, United Kingdom EC3R 5BU
Royal China Club
Known for its daily classic Cantonese dim sum and extensive menu, but be prepared to join the long patient lunchtime queues on weekends. Some advice: go with a group to sample more dishes. Here, you can savour exemplary dishes with high-quality ingredients and tick off all the different textures, such as fluffy barbecued char siu pork buns, silky cheung fun rice noodle dishes, gelatinous black bean pork ribs and crispy sesame prawn rolls. Don't miss the made-to-order black sesame dumplings for dessert, a house speciality. Aside from playing steamed basket Jenga for brunch, there are plenty of private dining rooms available for evening dining. From a hot and sour soup with a healthy spicy chilli vinegar kick to a glossy, crunchy gai lan choi with garlic, this is a special occasion type of place that runs a slick and luxurious operation.
What to order: Roast pork char siu buns so light and fluffy guaranteed you’ll hear angels singing.
24-26 Baker Street, London W1U 3BZ
Other locations: Chinatown, Canary Riverside, Fulham, Harrow on the Hill
Noodle and Beer
This Chongqing and Sichuan noodle house is a firm favourite among young Chinese students and hypebeast fashion types. Situated on a quiet street near Spitalfields Market, the location offers an ideal setting for a laid-back solo lunch or casual weeknight dinner. Whether you're craving a simple bowl of noodle soup or fancy tackling the entire menu with the troops, this spot caters to all appetites. The overwhelming amount of red interiors is a running theme here, with crimson banquette seating, a red-tiled kitchen, and red decor and menus — a fiery sign of what’s to come. The menu is shared between small eats, rice, dry noodles, soup noodles, and rice noodles. The signature Chongqing xiaomian wheat-pulled noodles have a good amount of bite and contain ten different seasonings, including chilies, minced garlic, and preserved Sichuan pickles—ideal if you’re looking for an adrenaline spice rush.
What to order: The wan-za mian wheat noodles with minced pork, peas, cabbage, spring onions, pickled greens, chilli sauce and peanuts is a tingling warm bowl that will jolt you back to your senses.
31 Bell Ln, London E1 7LA
MiMi Mei Fair
This opulent restaurant on Mayfair's Curzon Street imagines itself as the residence of the fictional Empress MiMi, who serves food inspired by her travels across China. It's the brainchild of restaurateur Samyukta Nair, who also set up nearby Indian restaurants Bombay Bustle and Jamavar, as well as the more recent opening Socca with Claude Bosi. The interiors of the Georgian townhouse are a joy, all chinoiserie wallpaper, rich upholstery and extravagant flowers. If you come around Lunar New Year, as we did, a giant wishing tree takes up residence by the fireplace, decked out in ribbons.
On our visit we tried this year's Lunar New Year menu, put together in collaboration with Courvoisier, which kicked off with some decadent starters, including oysters with garlic sauce, deliciously crunchy steamed okra with a salty enoki mushroom crumble, and a ‘basket of wealth’ filled with jewel-like dim sum. Glorious tiger prawns were the highlight of the mains, along with a classic dish of sweet and sour crispy pork, and a delicate dish of cod and egg white. MiMi Mei Fair's indulgent flourless chocolate bar was paired with Courvoisier XO. The regular à la carte menu is similar in character - just make sure to order the Peking duck 24 hours in advance if you want to explore that highlight. – Virginia Clark
What to order: People come far and wide for the Peking duck.
55 Curzon Street, Mayfair, London W1J 8PG
Silk Road
Once a local’s secret and now a south London staple, Silk Road remains a go-to for aromatic Xinjiang flavours at an unbeatable value. The short menu sticks to its roots, offering the kind of northern Chinese fare that keeps regulars coming back. Skip the Sichuan-style dishes and head straight for the Xinjiang specialities. The grilled cumin lamb skewers are a must: juicy, fatty chunks of lamb crusted in ground cumin, chilli and salt. The real star, though, is the legendary big plate chicken — a rich, aromatic stew made up of bone-in chicken, potatoes and thick ribbon noodles swimming in a fragrant star anise and chilli broth bath. Whether you’re here for a midweek dinner or a skewer-fuelled birthday bash, Silk Road delivers.
What to order: The vinegar cabbage or a generous bowl of lamb noodles drenched in chilli oil will make you see why this spot has earned its cult status.
47 Camberwell Church St, London SE5 8TR
Saikei
Tucked beneath a Holiday Inn Express in North Greenwich might be the last place you’d expect to find some of the city’s best dim sum, but this Cantonese gem has been blessing diners with heavenly morsels since 2010. With over 400 seats, it’s one of London’s largest wedding banquet halls, serving dim sum until 4.30pm every day. The extensive menu features favourites like satisfyingly squidgy prawn cheung fun and honey-roasted char siu pork buns. And if you feel like working off your feast, there are two private karaoke rooms ready for some high-energy singing.
What to order: Make a beeline for the special dim sum items you won’t get elsewhere, such as Thai-style chicken claws (served cold), prawn balls in bird’s nest, beancurd rolls with duck claws and sweet mango pudding.
85 Bugsby's Way, London SE10 0GD
Yi-Ban
Looking for dinner and a show? Yi-Ban is the place to be. This Cantonese banquet hall-style restaurant sits right across from London City Airport, offering diners front-row seats to the runway action. Like most Cantonese spots, Yi-Ban’s dim sum menu is a daytime-only affair. Expect delicate mixed meat steamed dumplings, shatteringly crisp taro croquettes and plenty more to fill your table. The food is satisfying, if not groundbreaking, but with every dish under £5 and the added novelty of dining in a vast, conference-ready hall with planes taking off in the background, it’s hard to leave Yi-Ban feeling anything but completely and blissfully content.
What to order: The ethereally light and flaky crispy roast pork puff pastry and the oh-so-cute fluffy custard buns shaped like a pig
London Regatta Centre, 1010 Dockside Rd, London E16 2QT
Etles
Chef-owner Mukaddes Yadikar’s restaurant near Walthamstow Central station is London’s first Uyghur neighbourhood restaurant. Etles pays homage to the diverse blend of cultures that define the distinctive Uyghur Muslim cuisine, originating from the Xinjiang region in northwest China – it’s famous for its thick belt wheat noodles and cumin-laced barbecue meat skewers. Bring friends as eating reinforcements to tackle the beast of a menu, but a word of warning: vegeterians might struggle as things are on the meatier side. Start with Chaomian, a remarkably deep, savoury and flavourful dish of stir-fried beef noodles with spring onion and tomato. Then, move on to the signature da pan ji ‘big plate chicken’ sharing platter flecked with tender chicken pieces, potato and peppers alongside a tangle of hand-pulled noodles and wash it all down with a plate of refreshing vinegary paprika salad and marinated beef tripe.
What to order: The da pan ji ‘Big Plate Chicken’ is a must. True to its name, it’s essentially a rich and aromatic big plate made up of chicken pieces that’s slowly stewed for hours with potatoes, peppers, cinnamon and star anise.
235 Hoe St, London E17 9PP
