Top 10 Best Chinese Restaurants in London

The Sichuan Restaurant near Old Street is a fiery pilgrimage site for heat-seekers and mapo tofu devotees. The Chongqing Chicken is a numbing, tingling, sweat-inducing masterpiece of Sichuan peppercorns and dried chillies that separates the spice tourists from the true believers. The setting is simple and bustling, the service swift, and the clientele a mix of homesick Chinese expats and adventurous Londoners. Come hungry, come brave, and don't forget to order extra rice.

Shanghai Family keeps it real with no-nonsense, home-style Shanghai cooking that's won over everyone from students to seasoned food writers. The Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) are delicate parcels of broth-filled bliss, requiring careful chopstick work and zero pretension. The dining room is functional rather than fancy, but the flavours are as authentic as they come. Perfect for solo diners, budget-conscious foodies, or anyone craving a taste of Shanghai without the airfare.

The Duck and Rice is where British pub culture meets refined Cantonese cooking, courtesy of a beautifully restored Victorian boozer in Soho. The eponymous Roast Duck with Jasmine Rice is comfort on a plate—succulent, aromatic, and paired with perfectly fluffy grains. Downstairs, the Opium cocktail bar adds a speakeasy twist to the experience. It's ideal for relaxed dinners, post-work drinks with a side of dumplings, or anyone who wants Chinese food in a quintessentially London setting.

The Berwick Street outpost of Fatt Pundit brings the same Indo-Chinese fireworks to Soho, with a slightly more intimate setting and equally raucous energy. The Schezwan Fried Chicken is a fiery, flavour-packed revelation that has spawned countless Instagram posts and copycat attempts. It's casual, convivial, and perfect for late-night cravings, pre-club fuel, or groups who like their spice levels turned up to eleven. The staff are friendly, the portions generous, and the vibe reliably electric.

Yú Gé Cantonese Cuisine is Nine Elms' best-kept secret, with a near-perfect 4.9 rating from those in the know. The Roast Duck here rivals anything in Hong Kong—mahogany-glazed skin shattering over tender, fragrant meat—and the seafood tanks guarantee the freshest catches. It's family-run, warmly unpretentious, and beloved by local Cantonese communities for its authenticity. If you're serious about Cantonese classics done right, this is your destination.

Yauatcha Soho is the Michelin-starred darling of London's dim sum scene, blending traditional Cantonese techniques with contemporary flair in a zen-like, blue-lit dining room. The Venison Puffs are delicate works of art, while the patisserie downstairs tempts with macarons that rival Paris. It's sophisticated yet approachable—perfect for business lunches, refined dates, or anyone who appreciates dim sum elevated to haute cuisine. Weekend brunch here is a rite of passage for serious food lovers.

Fatt Pundit on Maiden Lane is where Indian-Chinese street food fusion reaches dizzying, delicious heights. The Chilli Cheese Naan Bombs are the stuff of cult legend—gooey, spicy, and dangerously addictive—while the Hakka noodles and Manchurian dishes pack serious wok hei. The vibe is buzzy, loud, and unapologetically fun, making it ideal for groups, post-theatre dinners, or anyone who wants bold flavours without the stiff upper lip. With over 17,000 reviews and a 4.8 rating, this is clearly doing something very, very right.

Occupying the 33rd floor of The Shard, Hutong offers breathtaking panoramic views of London alongside bold Northern Chinese cuisine inspired by Sichuan and Shandong provinces. The Red Lantern soft-shell crab is an absolute showstopper—crispy, fragrant, and worth the splurge—while the floor-to-ceiling windows make every table feel VIP. This is power-lunch and special-occasion territory, where the setting rivals the food and the cocktails are as refined as the clientele. Arrive before sunset to catch the city bathed in golden light.

Tucked in the buzzing heart of Chinatown, YiQi Pan Asia boasts an almost-perfect rating that speaks volumes about its consistency and authenticity. The hand-pulled noodles here are legendary—silky, springy, and made fresh throughout the day in full view of diners. It's a no-frills, flavour-first spot ideal for solo lunches, casual catch-ups, or anyone craving proper Chinese comfort food without pretension. The queues can get intense during peak hours, but regulars swear it's worth every minute of the wait.

Perched atop the Now Building in the heart of the West End, Tattu delivers theatrical contemporary Chinese dining with a show-stopping interior of cherry blossoms and moody lighting. The restaurant's signature Wagyu Beef Tataki is a masterclass in umami-rich indulgence, while the cocktail program rivals the food for Instagram appeal. With its rooftop vibe and sleek atmosphere, it's perfect for date nights, special celebrations, or impressing out-of-town guests who want the full London experience. Book ahead—this place fills up faster than you can say 'dim sum'.