Last updated:
London's Chinese food reaches from the neon of Chinatown to some of the most refined kitchens in the country. Whether you want a raucous Cantonese banquet, delicate dim sum or fiery Sichuan, the city delivers. This guide covers where to eat the best across the styles and the price range.
Refined and modern Chinese
At the top, A. Wong near Victoria is widely regarded as the finest Chinese restaurant in Britain, reinventing regional dishes and dim sum with astonishing precision. Yauatcha in Soho set the template for stylish all-day dim sum, and its sibling Hakkasan brought glamour and a cocktail-bar buzz to Cantonese cooking. For a room with a view, Hutong high in the Shard serves northern Chinese dishes above the skyline.
Chinatown and the classics
For the full-throated classic experience, Chinatown around Gerrard Street is still the heart of it. Four Seasons is a pilgrimage for its glistening roast duck, and the area is thick with Cantonese cafes, hotpot and bubble tea. For dumplings, the Taiwanese specialist Din Tai Fung draws long queues for its xiao long bao. Our guide to the best dumplings in London goes deeper on this.
Where is the best roast duck in London?
Four Seasons in Chinatown is the most famous name for Cantonese roast duck, with a cult following for its crisp skin and rich meat. Several other Chinatown restaurants do an excellent version, so it is worth following the crowds and the hanging ducks in the window.
Is Chinatown the best place for Chinese food in London?
Chinatown is the most atmospheric and best for casual Cantonese, roast meats and late-night eating. For refined or regional Chinese, however, the standout kitchens such as A. Wong sit outside Chinatown, so it is worth venturing beyond Gerrard Street for the very best.
Where to go next
For soup dumplings and more, see the best dumplings in London, or explore the wider Chinatown guide and the best restaurants in London.
