Discover the 17 best Chinese restaurants in London you can easily visit by taxi. Enjoy authentic cuisine, top-rated spots, and convenient travel for a perfect dining experience.
Your complete guide to London's finest Chinese dining — from Chinatown street-level favourites to rooftop fine dining high above the Thames. Wherever you choose to eat tonight, Minicab Lane LTD will get you there and bring you home safely.
Few cities in the world rival London when it comes to the variety and quality of its Chinese food. Over the course of many decades, London has built a Chinese dining scene that stretches well beyond the famous red lanterns of Gerrard Street. Today, you can find Sichuan heat in Old Street, delicate Shanghainese soup dumplings near Holborn, Hong Kong-style roasted meats in Canary Wharf, and Michelin-starred Cantonese cuisine in Mayfair — all within one remarkable city.
This guide, brought to you by Minicab Lane LTD, rounds up 17 of the most worthwhile Chinese restaurants London has to offer. Whether you are planning a casual midweek meal, a celebratory group dinner, or a weekend treat with the family, you will find something to suit every occasion and every budget on this list.
At Minicab Lane LTD, we make it simple to reach any of these restaurants without the headache of parking or navigating public transport late at night. Book your minicab online in just a few taps, and let one of our professional drivers handle the journey while you focus on looking forward to the meal ahead.
Central London is home to the lion's share of the city's Chinese restaurants, with Chinatown and Soho forming the natural heart of the scene. These areas offer everything from no-frills noodle counters to polished Michelin-recognised dining rooms — often within just a few minutes' walk of each other.
📍 14 Lisle Street, London WC2H 7BE Lisle Street, WC2H 7BE | Pan-Asian | ⭐ 4.9 / 5
If you are looking for the single most talked-about Chinese restaurant in London right now, YiQi is it. Tucked away on Lisle Street at the edge of Chinatown, this lively spot has built a formidable reputation for bold, confident Pan-Asian cooking that consistently draws long queues of eager diners. The yuzu chilli crab is a dish that regulars keep coming back for — complex, aromatic, and generously portioned. The black pepper beef and charcoal chicken wings are equally well executed, and the sambal-fried rice has a smoky depth that lingers long after the meal is over. Service is warm and knowledgeable, with staff who are genuinely happy to walk newcomers through the menu and suggest their own favourites. Patience is required at busy times, but the food makes the wait entirely worthwhile.
Book YiQi — Chinatown Taxi
📍 3 Leicester Street, London WC2H 7BL Leicester Street, WC2H 7BL | Cantonese & Dim Sum | ⭐ 4.5 / 5
Joy King Lau has been a cornerstone of Chinatown life for many years, and it continues to draw loyal crowds who appreciate its honest, unfussy approach to Cantonese cooking. The restaurant spans several floors, and the atmosphere during a busy weekend lunch service has an energy all of its own. The dim sum selection is expansive and well-executed — the har gow are plump and thin-skinned, the cheung fun silky and flavoursome, and the roast duck comes lacquered and glistening. Set menus offer very good value for groups, and the staff manages to keep things moving even when the dining room is at full capacity. For anyone who wants to experience the classic Chinatown dining atmosphere without compromise, this is the place to go.
Book Joy King Lau — Chinatown Taxi
📍 27 Wardour Street, London W1D 6PR Wardour Street, W1D 6PR | Noodles & Asian Beer | ⭐ 4.5 / 5
Noodle & Beer does exactly what its name suggests, and it does both things very well. The menu centres on proper hand-pulled noodles served in richly layered broths, alongside a curated selection of craft and traditional East Asian beers that pair thoughtfully with the food. The intimate basement room has a relaxed, sociable atmosphere that suits long, unhurried evenings. For West End visitors, the extended late-night opening at weekends — running until the early hours of the morning — makes it a natural destination after a show or a night out. The combination of hearty portions, fair prices, and genuinely good beer is a winning formula that keeps diners returning again and again.
Book Noodle and Beer — Chinatown Taxi
📍 68–70 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 6LZ Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 6LZ | Hong Kong Café Style | ⭐ 4.3 / 5
The Eight offers one of the most authentic Hong Kong cha chaan teng (café) experiences you will find anywhere in Europe. The menu draws on the full breadth of classic Hong Kong diner cooking — the baked pineapple bun filled with cold salted butter is a textural revelation, the wonton soup comes in a clear, deeply savoury broth with expertly folded shrimp dumplings, and the Hainanese chicken rice is precisely seasoned and beautifully presented. The atmosphere inside is buzzing rather than hushed, the service is swift, and the pricing is refreshingly straightforward. This is food that is cooked with real consistency and genuine care, and it is the sort of place that quickly works its way into your regular rotation.
Book The Eight Restaurant — Chinatown Taxi
📍 15–17 Broadwick Street, London W1F 0DL Broadwick Street, W1F 0DL | Michelin-Starred Dim Sum | ⭐ 4.4 / 5
Yauatcha holds a Michelin star and, having been awarded it, shows no sign of resting on its laurels. The ground-floor dim sum restaurant is one of the most polished examples of this cooking style in the entire country. Every basket and plate that arrives at the table has been prepared with a level of care that is immediately evident — the har gow wrappers are paper-thin and yielding, the baked venison puffs are impeccably golden, and the scallop and prawn shumai are beautifully balanced. The basement room offers a more atmospheric setting for an evening visit, while the ground floor suits a bright and lively lunch. The patisserie section at the front of the restaurant is worth taking a moment to explore — the pastries and cakes are genuinely exceptional.
Book Yauatcha Soho — Soho Taxi
📍 90 Berwick Street, London W1F 0QB Berwick Street, W1F 0QB | Cantonese & British Pub | ⭐ 4.4 / 5
The Duck and Rice is one of those concepts that sounds odd on paper but works brilliantly in practice. The ground floor operates as a proper British pub — all dark wood, ales on tap, and a convivial hum — while the upper floors house a serious Cantonese dining room. The whole roast duck is the undisputed star of the menu, arriving with crisp bronzed skin and tender, flavoursome meat. The sweet and sour chicken is a far cry from the watered-down versions found elsewhere, and the dim sum selection at lunch is equally accomplished. It makes for a wonderfully flexible venue: arrive early for a pint downstairs, then head up to the dining room for a proper sit-down meal.
Book The Duck and Rice — Soho Taxi
📍 136 Long Acre, London WC2E 9AD Long Acre, WC2E 9AD | Contemporary Dim Sum | ⭐ 4.7 / 5
Situated on Long Acre just moments from Covent Garden, Dim Sum Library offers a contemporary spin on traditional dim sum that manages to feel fresh without straying far from what makes the food so appealing in the first place. The space is airy and well-designed, and the menu rewards diners who are willing to order widely. The wagyu beef puff is rich and satisfying, the char siu bao arrives beautifully golden from the oven, and the sweet and sour pork is textbook-perfect. Walk-in diners are welcome, and the laid-back atmosphere makes it ideal for a long, unhurried weekend lunch. Quite simply, one of the best places in central London for dim sum.
Book Dim Sum Library — Covent Garden Taxi
📍 6 Maiden Lane, WC2E 7NA & 77 Berwick Street, W1F 8TH Maiden Lane WC2E & Berwick Street W1F | Indo-Chinese Fusion | ⭐ 4.8 / 5
Fatt Pundit occupies a distinctive niche in London's dining landscape, specialising in Indo-Chinese cooking — a culinary tradition that grew out of the Chinese immigrant community in Kolkata and evolved its own flavour identity over generations. The result is cooking that is simultaneously familiar and surprising: recognisably Chinese in its techniques, but given a boldness and warmth from the influence of Indian spices. The momos are the must-order dish — hand-crafted dumplings served with a vivid house chilli sauce that has become something of a cult condiment. The crackling spinach is another highlight, arriving at the table with an irresistible crunch. A dedicated halal menu is available at both London locations, making this a particularly inclusive option for diverse groups.
Book Fatt Pundit — Covent Garden and Soho Taxi
📍 53 Lexington Street, London W1F 9AS Lexington Street, W1F 9AS | Taiwanese Bao Buns (Michelin Bib Gourmand) | ⭐ 4.8 / 5
BAO has earned its Michelin Bib Gourmand through the kind of quiet, consistent excellence that is harder to maintain than most people realise. The restaurant focuses on Taiwanese-style steamed bao buns — soft, cloud-like pillows of dough filled with imaginatively composed ingredients. The classic braised pork version, enriched with fermented black garlic and peanut powder, is a masterclass in balancing contrasting flavours and textures. The fried chicken is among the finest in the city, and the house-made peanut milk is a drink you will not find offered quite like this anywhere else. The restaurant operates a split-service pattern with a break between lunch and dinner, so it is worth checking opening times before making the journey.
Book BAO Soho — Soho Taxi
📍 16A D'Arblay Street, London W1F 8EA D'Arblay Street, W1F 8EA | Hong Kong Claypot Specialist | ⭐ 4.6 / 5
Claypot rice is a Hong Kong comfort food that has long been underrepresented in London's dining scene, which makes Pot and Rice something of a small miracle. Each pot arrives at the table still sizzling, filled with fragrant rice that has developed a gorgeous caramelised crust at the base — the most prized element of the dish, prized precisely because it cannot be rushed. The combination of foie gras and Chinese sausage in one claypot might sound outlandish, but the richness of the foie gras melts into the smoky, lacquered rice in a way that feels entirely natural. The Taiwanese-style fried chicken served alongside makes for an excellent accompaniment, and the Hong Kong milk tea brewed with a blend of black tea and condensed milk is a nostalgic pleasure.
Book Pot and Rice — Soho Taxi
📍 The Now Building Rooftop, Denmark Street, London WC2H 0LA Denmark Street, WC2H 0LA | Contemporary Cantonese | ⭐ 4.7 / 5
Tattu occupies a rooftop position above the Outernet development near Tottenham Court Road, and from the moment you step inside, it announces itself as a restaurant that takes its ambience seriously. The interior design is lavish — cherry blossom installations, dramatic ceiling features, and lighting that shifts with the mood of the evening. The food, thankfully, keeps pace with the surroundings. The Cantonese menu showcases quality ingredients prepared with confidence: the char siu is glazed to a deep mahogany finish, the dim sum selection is refined and carefully presented, and the cocktail programme is inventive without being gimmicky. This is a venue built for celebrations, milestone dinners, and occasions that deserve to be remembered.
Book Tattu London — West End Taxi
Minicab Lane LTD offers fast, affordable online minicab booking across every corner of London. Whether you are heading to Chinatown for a late-night bowl of noodles or treating yourself to a Michelin-starred dinner in Mayfair, we will get you there — and safely back home afterwards. No cash required. No surprises on the fare. Just a comfortable, reliable ride whenever you need one.
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Some of the most rewarding Chinese dining experiences in London require a short journey away from the centre — and those journeys are invariably worth making. From a sleek Canary Wharf restaurant run by a Hong Kong-trained chef to a serene neighbourhood gem in Nine Elms, the outer reaches of London hold several genuine treasures. Minicab Lane LTD makes reaching any of them straightforward, whatever time of day or night you choose to go.
📍 65 South Audley Street, London W1K 2QU South Audley Street, W1K 2QU | Chinese Fine Dining | ⭐ 4.4 / 5
Kai Mayfair is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished Chinese restaurants in the whole of London, and a visit confirms why that reputation has endured for so long. The setting — low-lit, elegant, filled with original artwork — creates an immediate sense of occasion, and the cooking that follows lives up to the atmosphere entirely. The Chilean sea bass, braised in a delicate soy and ginger glaze, melts on arrival; the Peking duck is carved at the table in a display of quiet theatre; and the dim sum is crafted with a precision that speaks to the kitchen's considerable skill. The afternoon tea is also highly regarded and offers one of the more accessible entry points into Kai's cooking for first-time visitors. Booking well ahead is essential.
Book Kai Mayfair — Mayfair Taxi
📍 17 Berkeley Street, London W1J 8EA Berkeley Street, W1J 8EA | Cantonese with Live Entertainment | ⭐ 4.0 / 5
Park Chinois is unlike any other Chinese restaurant in London — or, for that matter, any other city. The lavishly decorated dining room, draped in silk and lit by soft candlelight, evokes the atmosphere of a Shanghai supper club from a century ago, and live cabaret and jazz performances take place throughout the evening, adding a theatrical dimension that transforms dinner into a full night's entertainment. The Cantonese cooking stands on its own merits: the handmade dim sum is prepared with real care, the cheong fun is silky and generously filled, and the main courses are elegant and well-considered. The kitchen stays open late, making it an ideal destination for those who prefer to dine after a show or later in the evening.
Book Park Chinois — Mayfair Taxi
📍 Level 33, The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, London SE1 9RY 31 St Thomas Street, SE1 9RY | Northern Chinese Fine Dining | ⭐ 4.2 / 5
Occupying the 33rd floor of The Shard, Hutong offers something that no other Chinese restaurant in London can quite match — a panoramic view of the capital that stretches from the City to the Docklands on a clear evening. The menu draws on the bold, unapologetic cooking traditions of northern China, with dishes designed to stand up to the drama of the setting. The signature soft-shell crab is a refined and striking plate, the Wagyu beef dishes are rich and deeply satisfying, and the cocktail list is imaginative and well-crafted. Those who visit on a clear evening and manage to secure a window seat will have an experience that goes well beyond the purely culinary. It is, by some margin, London's most spectacular Chinese restaurant setting.
Book Hutong at The Shard — London Bridge Taxi
📍 14 City Road, London EC1Y 2AA City Road, EC1Y 2AA | Authentic Sichuan Cooking | ⭐ 4.7 / 5
The Sichuan Restaurant near Old Street does not attempt to soften or dilute the cooking of China's most assertive regional cuisine. The mapo tofu arrives properly numbing, the Mao Xue Wang — a richly spiced hot pot of offal, blood curd, and vegetables — is hearty and unapologetically bold, and the spiced pork trotters are braised to a silky tenderness that rewards patient eating. Service here is genuinely friendly and refreshingly unpretentious — the staff is well-versed in the menu and happy to help diners navigate unfamiliar dishes or adjust the heat level to their preference. For food lovers who want to experience Sichuan cooking as it is actually eaten in China, rather than a tamed interpretation of it, this restaurant delivers exactly that.
Book The Sichuan Restaurant — Old Street Taxi
📍 Unit CR32, 1 Crossrail Place, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AR Crossrail Place, E14 5AR | Taiwanese Dumplings (World-Renowned) | ⭐ 4.8 / 5
Din Tai Fung is a Taiwanese restaurant group with branches in cities across the globe, each held to exacting standards that have earned the brand Michelin recognition in multiple countries. The London outpost in Canary Wharf is no exception. The kitchen's open-plan layout allows diners to watch chefs at work, folding and weighing each xiao long bao to precise gram specifications — eighteen folds per dumpling, every time. The resulting soup dumplings are remarkable: the wrapper is almost translucent, the filling is intensely flavoured, and the burst of savoury broth inside is one of the great small pleasures of Chinese cuisine. The chocolate xiao long bao filled with salted cream is an unexpected seasonal dessert option that has won considerable admiration from visitors. A must-visit for dumpling enthusiasts of any experience level.
Book Din Tai Fung, Canary Wharf — Canary Wharf Taxi
📍 7 Nine Elms Lane, London SW8 5PH Nine Elms Lane, SW8 5PH | Cantonese Fine Dining | ⭐ 4.9 / 5
Yú Gé sits quietly in Nine Elms near Battersea, and is the kind of restaurant that loyal regulars prefer to keep to themselves. The dining room is understated and elegant — calm lighting, thoughtful table spacing, and a sense of ease that allows the food to take centre stage. The Peking duck here is widely considered one of the finest versions available anywhere in London: the skin shatters with a satisfying crunch, the pancakes are rolled paper-thin, and the accompanying condiments are impeccably balanced. The lobster cheung fun is a standout dish — silky rice noodles folded around fresh lobster and finished with a glossy sauce that manages to be simultaneously rich and delicate. Private dining rooms are available, making this an exceptional venue for milestone celebrations, family gatherings, or business dinners that require real privacy and quiet.
Book YU Gé — Nine Elms Taxi
🥢 Arrive early for dim sum: The best dim sum restaurants in London draw large crowds at weekend lunchtimes. Arriving when the doors open — usually around 11 am — gives you the best choice of dishes and the shortest wait for a table. By 1 pm, queues at popular spots can stretch outside.
📅 Reserve ahead for dinner: Many of the restaurants on this list, particularly at the fine dining end of the spectrum, are booked up several days in advance at weekends. Calling or booking online a few days before your visit is the simplest way to guarantee a table at the time you want.
🍜 Eat communally and order widely: Chinese food is designed to be shared across the table. Ordering a broad range of dishes — rather than one per person — allows everyone to try more flavours and creates a more enjoyable and sociable meal. Aim for roughly one dish per person, plus one or two extra to share.
🌶️ Ask about heat levels: Sichuan and some Hunan-style dishes can be very spicy indeed. If you are sensitive to chilli heat, let your server know when ordering — most kitchens can adjust the level of spice in a dish, and staff are generally happy to recommend milder alternatives.
🚖 Pre-book your minicab before you leave home: One of the most overlooked elements of a great evening out is the journey home. Minicab Lane LTD recommends booking your return ride before you head out, so there is nothing to organise at the end of the evening when you are full, content, and ready to relax.
🗺️ Do not limit yourself to Chinatown: Chinatown is wonderful, but some of London's most outstanding Chinese restaurants are in Mayfair, Nine Elms, Canary Wharf, and Old Street. A minicab makes reaching any neighbourhood in the city straightforward, regardless of the time.
💷 Know what to expect on price: London's Chinese restaurants span a very wide range of budgets. Casual spots like Noodle & Beer, The Eight, and Joy King Lau offer excellent food for under £20 per person. Mid-range restaurants typically run from £30 to £60 per head. Fine dining at Kai Mayfair, Hutong, or Park Chinois will often exceed £80 per person, but those prices reflect cooking and settings of genuine quality.
Minicab Lane LTD connects passengers across London with professional, vetted minicab drivers, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether you are travelling from home to a restaurant in Chinatown, crossing the city to reach Yú Gé in Nine Elms, or heading back from a late supper at Park Chinois in Mayfair, we offer fixed, transparent fares with real-time driver tracking and no hidden charges. Group bookings are available for parties of up to eight or more. Book instantly at minicablane.com.
Book your ride now at minicablane.com
Q: Which part of London has the most Chinese restaurants?
A: Chinatown, centred on Gerrard Street in the West End, remains the most concentrated area for Chinese dining in the capital. However, the quality of Chinese food available across London has improved enormously in recent years, and some of the city's very finest restaurants are located in Mayfair, Nine Elms, Canary Wharf, and Old Street. Minicab Lane LTD can take you to any of these areas quickly and comfortably.
Q: Are there Chinese restaurants in London that cater to vegetarians and vegans?
A: Yes, and more so than you might expect. Fatt Pundit produces a dedicated plant-based menu that goes well beyond token dishes, Yauatcha has an excellent selection of vegetarian dim sum, and most Cantonese restaurants are willing to adapt dishes on request. It is always advisable to mention dietary requirements at the time of booking so that the kitchen can prepare accordingly.
Q: Where can I find halal Chinese food in London?
A: Fatt Pundit operates a completely separate halal menu at both their Covent Garden and Soho locations, and the restaurant is very popular amongst Muslim diners. A small number of other Chinese restaurants in London also offer halal-certified dishes — contacting the restaurant directly before your visit is the most reliable way to confirm what is available.
Q: How far in advance should I book a table?
A: For casual Chinatown restaurants such as Joy King Lau and Noodle & Beer, walk-ins are generally feasible during the week, though weekend visits benefit from a reservation. For well-regarded restaurants like Yauatcha, Fatt Pundit, and Din Tai Fung, booking two to four days ahead is sensible at weekends. Kai Mayfair and Hutong at The Shard are best reserved at least one to two weeks in advance, particularly for Friday and Saturday evenings.
Q: What is dim sum, and when should I eat it?
A: Dim sum is a Cantonese dining tradition consisting of a wide variety of small, individual dishes — including steamed dumplings, baked buns, pan-fried items, rice noodle rolls, and a range of desserts — that are typically served alongside Chinese tea. In London, dim sum is most commonly offered at lunchtime, running from around 11 am until 3 pm. Joy King Lau, Yauatcha, Dim Sum Library, and Royal China in Canary Wharf are all excellent choices for a dim sum lunch.
Q: What is the difference between Cantonese, Sichuan, and Shanghainese food?
A: Cantonese cuisine originates from Guangdong province in southern China and is characterised by fresh, subtle flavours, delicate sauces, and a strong tradition of dim sum and roasted meats. Sichuan cuisine comes from the southwestern Sichuan province and is known for its use of dried chillies and Sichuan peppercorns, which create a distinctive numbing heat known as ma la. Shanghainese cuisine is richer and sweeter than either of the above, with braised pork belly, red-cooked meats, and xiao long bao dumplings among its best-known dishes. The Sichuan Restaurant (Old Street), Yauatcha (Soho), and Shanghai Family (Holborn) each represent one of these three traditions, respectively.
Q: How much does it typically cost to eat at a Chinese restaurant in London?
A: Costs vary significantly depending on the type of restaurant. At the casual end, you can enjoy a satisfying and well-cooked meal at places like Noodle & Beer, Pot and Rice, or The Eight for roughly £15 to £25 per person. Mid-range restaurants, including Fatt Pundit, BAO, and The Duck and Rice, typically come to between £30 and £55 per head with drinks. At fine dining establishments such as Kai Mayfair, Hutong at The Shard, or Park Chinois, expect to spend upwards of £80 to £100 per person.
Q: How does Minicab Lane LTD help with restaurant trips in London?
A: Minicab Lane LTD is an online minicab booking platform that operates across all of London, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can book your outward and return journeys in advance from our website at minicablane.com, choosing the vehicle size that suits your group. All fares are fixed and displayed at the time of booking, so there are no surprises. Our drivers are professional, vetted, and familiar with London's roads at all hours — making us an ideal companion for any evening out.
Q: Can I book a minicab for a large group going to a restaurant?
A: Absolutely. Minicab Lane LTD offers vehicles suitable for small groups of four to six passengers as well as larger vehicles for parties of seven or more. Simply select the appropriate vehicle type when booking online, and we will match you with a driver who can accommodate your whole party comfortably. We recommend booking in advance for group outings to ensure the right vehicle is available at your preferred time.
Q: Is it safe to take a minicab home late at night after dinner?
A: Yes. All Minicab Lane LTD drivers are fully licensed by Transport for London, DBS-checked, and operate within the regulatory framework that governs private hire vehicles in the capital. We operate around the clock, so whether your dinner ends at 9 pm or midnight, there will always be a vehicle available to take you home safely. You can track your driver in real time through our platform from the moment they are assigned to your booking.
London's Chinese restaurant scene has never been in better shape. From the long-established Chinatown institutions that continue to serve generations of loyal diners, to exciting newer openings pushing the boundaries of what Chinese cooking can be in a British context, the capital offers a depth and breadth of choice that is genuinely world-class.
Whether you are a seasoned lover of Sichuan heat or someone trying claypot rice for the very first time, the restaurants in this guide offer something worth travelling for. And wherever your evening takes you, Minicab Lane LTD is ready to make the journey easy. Book your minicab online at minicablane.com — fixed fares, professional drivers, and a comfortable ride to and from any restaurant in London, any time you choose.