A Chinese meal in London once meant Cantonese in Chinatown; now the cuisine of the world’s second most-populous country is not only reflected in the regional diversity on offer in the UK capital, but served in contemporary surroundings that would look straight out of a modern metropolis like Shanghai or Chongqing. Here we have selected eight of the best Chinese restaurants in London.
The best Chinese restaurants in London
A. Wong
The only Chinese restaurant outside Asia to hold two Michelin stars, Andrew Wong’s smart but relaxed Pimlico dining room applies the fine-dining format to regional Chinese cooking. Sit at the chef’s counter to fully experience the craftsmanship that goes into each tiny course that refashions the culinary traditions of China’s 22 provinces.
A. Wong is located at 70 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1DE
Gouqi
Tong Chee Hwee is the chef who won Hakkasan its Michelin star in the noughties; now he’s teamed up with former Hakkasan assistant manager Alan Tang in this stylish spot just off Trafalgar Square. Luxury ingredients are treated to a light touch, while groups of four should book one of the semi-private tables in the anteroom at the back.
Gouqi is located at 25-34 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5BN
Hakkasan
The restaurant that showed the capital (and the world) that Chinese restaurants could be every bit as alluring as Japanese remains an electrifying experience at its two London outposts. If the entrance to the Hanway Place original feels too grungy, Hakkasan Mayfair is glamour from the word go.
Hakkasan is located at 17 Bruton Street and 8 Hanway Place, London W1J 6QB
Hunan
An insider secret among London’s Chinese cuisine cognoscenti, serene Hunan removes the stress of choosing from a lengthy menu by doing away with the menu altogether. Simply tell the staff your favourite things to eat and how spicy you like it and 18 miniature dishes (mainly a mix of Cantonese and Taiwanese) will arrive from chef YS Peng, with service overseen by sommelier son Michael.
Hunan is located at 51 Pimlico Road, London SW1W 8NE
Hutong
One might assume that a restaurant on the 33rd floor of the Shard would be a tourist trap but ownership by the Hong Kong-based Aqua group means that Hutong is authentically at home in its skyscraping surrounds. The cooking is less spicy than the name suggests, and there are a couple of terrific Chinese wines, too.
Hutong is located at Level 33, The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, London SE1 9RY
Imperial Treasure
Singapore-based Imperial Treasure is a very big deal in Asia, where among 20 restaurants, the Guangzhou and Shanghai outposts have two Michelin stars. The Red Guide has yet to shine over this St James’s satellite, though the slick service, imposing surroundings and classic Cantonese cooking all merit star status.
Imperial Treasure is located at 9 Waterloo Place, London SW1Y 4BE
MiMi Mei Fair
The Chinese spoke in restaurateur Samyukta Nair’s ever-spinning Mayfair wheel (she also owns Indian Jamavar, French Socca and Japanese/Thai Koyn), MiMi Mei Feir is as pastel-coloured pretty as a box of sugared almonds. Don’t miss the apple-wood-fired roast Peking duck with pancakes, practically a meal in itself.
MiMi Mei Fair is located at 55 Curzon Street, London W1J 8PG
Min Jiang
This tenth-floor hotel dining room, seemingly floating above the treetops of Kensington Gardens, would be worth a visit for the view alone even if it didn’t have a showstopper of a signature dish. Beijing duck served in two courses – first with pancakes, then as a soup, stir-fry or a lettuce wrap – was introduced to London here and has yet to be bettered.
Min Jiang is located at the Royal Garden Hotel, 2-24 Kensington High Street, London W8 4PT
For more dining recommendations, see the new London restaurants to book now
-
Bali welcomes Tri Hita Karana Tower, a hybrid sound and vision centrepieceTri Hita Karana Tower is launching at Bali's Nuanu City; designed by Arthur Mamou-Mani, it’s a new hybrid art-AI architectural landmark for the island
-
Lego opens its first Superpower Studios at Paris’ La Gaîté LyriqueIn collaboration with Lego’s new Global Play Ambassadors, artists Aurélia Durand, Chen Fenwan and Ekow Nimako, and overseen by Colette co-founder Sarah Andelman, Paris is the site of the first Lego Superpower Studios
-
‘If kids grew up going to London Design Festival they would learn so much’: architect Shawn AdamsIn the first of our interviews with key figures lighting up the London Design Festival 2024, Shawn Adams, founder of POoR Collective, discusses the power of such events to encourage social change
-
Yauatcha’s bespoke mooncakes mark the start of delicious celebrations for Mid-Autumn FestivalYauatcha, London’s Chinese dim sum teahouse, celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival (17 September) with three flavours of limited-edition mooncakes
-
Why bread is back on the menuGone are the days of carb-avoidant diets dominating restaurant menus. Food Critic, Leonie Cooper, celebrates the return of pillowy, inventive bread as London's stand-out dish
-
Birley Chocolate hits the sweet ’n’ chic spot in London’s ChelseaThe new Birley Chocolate shop, a sibling to Birley Bakery, is a confection of colour as delicious as its finely crafted goods
-
The London tequila bars well worth a shotOur resident spirits writer Neil Ridley explores London’s best places to enjoy the finest agave-based spirits
-
Lavazza’s Wimbledon afternoon tea is a game, set and matchAhead of Wimbledon, starting 1 July, Lavazza’s London flagship delivers Centre Court atmosphere, offering sweet and savoury treats with a tennis-inspired menu
-
Tuck into Ruinart and Silo’s new zero-waste supper series in LondonThe Ruinart x Silo: Savoir (Re)Faire Supper Series sees the champagne house partner with the zero-waste restaurant, and centres on the new Ruinart Blanc Singulier cuvée
-
Enjoy rosé on the terrace at Villa Minuty, the Rosewood's new summer restaurantThis summer, rosé wine estate Minuty brings the French Riviera lifestyle to the heart of London at the Rosewood Hotel, whose terrace has been transformed into Villa Minuty restaurant
-
30 years of Nobu: chef Nobu Matsuhisa on the trials and tribulations of a culinary empireNobu celebrates 30 years of its revolutionary Japanese and Peruvian cuisine. We speak with co-founder and chef Nobuyuki ‘Nobu’ Matsuhisa on setbacks, special guests and his love for painting
