The Best Chinese Restaurant in London, United Kingdom

Compared to a decade ago, the selection of the best Chinese restaurants in London has come a long way. From dim sum and roast duck to hotpot and stir fry (or perhaps the best dumplings in London), you’ll find flavors from every corner of China and beyond. With so many options though, it can be hard to know where to begin. So here are the best Chinese restaurants in London, whether you’re looking for cheap eats or Michelin-starred fine dining.

Canton Blue
Best for: intricate dim sum
Dish to order: Peking duck to share

Canton Blue feels more like a grand ship than a hotel restaurant in central London. With a waved print carpet mimicking the sea, an illuminated map of the ship’s route on display, and multiple opulent installations of Chinese porcelain tea cups and plates dressing the walls, diners are transported to the vessel of the infamous Keying junk trade ship, which traveled from Hong Kong all the way to London. The ship has influenced much of the menu’s flavors, as well as the delicious cocktail selection featuring drinks based on each of the docking ports – we recommend the New York Negroni. Sit in a private, dimly lit booth or by the blue decorative fireplace in the spacious dining room and enjoy delicate plates of dim sum or a huge serving of Peking duck for the table before moving on to your mains. Expect a huge fine dining menu full of all the best Cantonese flavors. We loved the Atlantic king prawns steamed with garlic, tofu, and soy, as well as the sweet and slightly spicy kung pao chicken topped with peanuts. Book in for a date night to remember.
Address: Canton Blue, The Peninsula, 1 Grosvenor Place, London SW1X 7HJ

Bao Soho
Best for: pillowy bao buns
Dish to order: fried chicken bao

So small in size that waiting for a spot is an inevitable feature of dining here, Bao offers a short and assured menu of pillowy bao buns and small eats from its Soho outpost on Lexington Street. A food stall turned bricks-and-mortar restaurant, the secret of Bao’s success is that it delivers on quality as well as style. Go for the trademark Taiwanese buns, packed with fried soft pork, fried chicken, or lamb shoulder, but also small dishes like crispy noodle chips and trotter nuggets. Round off with Horlicks ice cream in a fried bao – contemporary comfort food at its best.
Address: 53 Lexington Street, London W1F 9AS
Other locations: Shoreditch, Borough, Marylebone, Battersea Power Station, King’s Cross

Hakkasan Hanway Place
Best for: decadent fine dining
Dish to order: Peking duck with caviar

With its unlikely alleyway location and decadent, moody nightclub atmosphere, Hakkasan trail-blazed a glamorous Chinese restaurant experience that was new to the UK when savvy restaurateur Alan Yau launched it in 2001. And it continues to appeal. Start off with cocktails to get you in the mood. The elegant food lives up to the setting, with ingredients such as truffle, caviar, and wagyu beef peppered all over the menu. This is a restaurant designed to make its diners feel indulged.
Address: 8 Hanway Place, London W1T 1HD
Other locations: Mayfair

Hunan
Best for: small plate tasting menu
Dish to order: French chips

Offering a small plates concept since 1982, this Pimlico stalwart is known as the Chinese restaurant without a menu. Opened by chef Peng and now run by his son Michael, diners here are asked what they don’t eat, then, instead of ordering, are brought a series of dainty, well-executed dishes based on what’s in season. The French chips, fried French beans with garlic and chili, is always a favorite for regulars, as is the bamboo cup soup. Surrendering menu control in this way is surprisingly relaxing and makes for a meal to remember.
Address: 51 Pimlico Road, London SW1W 8NE

Royal China
Best for: classic dim sum
Dish to order: roast pork buns

The patient lunchtime queues trailing out of the restaurant on weekends say it all – this is dim sum worth waiting for. Come in a group so that you can order more dishes and, once inside and seated, choose from a tempting array of steamed and fried dim sum. This is the place to enjoy exemplary dishes of different textures, such as fluffy barbecued pork buns, slippery cheung fun rice noodle dishes, and delightfully crisp sesame prawn rolls. For pudding, try the made-to-order black sesame dumplings – a house specialty.
Address: 24-26 Baker Street, London W1U 3BZ
Other locations: Chinatown, Canary Riverside, Fulham, Harrow on the Hill

Xi’an Impression
Best for: Xi’an street food
Dish to order: biang biang noodles

Hidden in a north London side street near the Emirates football stadium, this modest restaurant has acquired something of a cult following. Born in the city of Xi’an (home to the famous terracotta warriors), chef Wei Guirong offers Londoners a rare chance to try her hometown’s hearty street food. Flavors are big and gutsy – chili and garlic abound – while the signature hand-pulled biang biang noodles are a must-try. Prices are reasonable and portions are generous, so come with a good appetite.
Address: 117 Benwell Road, London N7 7BW

A. Wong
Best for: innovative Michelin-starred food
Dish to order: Chengdu Street tofu

London-born chef Andrew Wong made his name with this intimate restaurant, which he and his wife Nathalie opened in 2012, having taken over the Victoria site from his restaurateur parents. His fresh approach to Chinese food – at once respectful of the past, creative and inventive – quickly gathered him fans, and in 2017 the restaurant gained a Michelin star; a second star soon followed. A particular highlight is the cleverly conceived, skillfully executed daytime dim sum menu – a delight for both the eyes and the palate.
Address: 70 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1DE

Cafe TPT
Best for: Hong Kong street food
Dish to order: beef ho fun with bean sprouts

A cozy split-level joint, Cafe TPT specializes in the type of unpretentious Hong Kong street food that you’d find in the city’s dai pai dongs (hawker stalls). The food might be simple but it’s far from unsophisticated. Take the aubergine and minced pork hot pot for example – it uses the sizzling hot bowl to meld together layers of flavor from thin slivers of chili and preserved vegetables. Or the soft shell crab, fragrant with butter and lemongrass with cornflakes adding crunch. And then there are the humble beef ho fun noodles – said to be the dish that shows off a chef’s skill – which is just the right amount of savory.
Address: 21 Wardour Street, London W1D 6PN

Murger Han
Best for: warming dishes
Dish to order: clay pot with rice noodles

Despite its sleek interior and Mayfair location just off Piccadilly, Murger Han is surprisingly relaxed and affordable (especially if you opt for a set menu). On the weekend, there are queues of families outside waiting to enjoy their hearty bowls of noodles and rice dishes. The clay pot with rice noodles is a standout dish, perfect for warming up on a chilly London day.
Address: 8a Sackville Street, London W1S 3DF