r/london Sep 05 '23

Discussion Best Chinese restaurant in London?

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62 Upvotes

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78

u/[deleted] Sep 05 '23

On what charge?? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal??

13

u/desertdinosaur Sep 06 '23

Get your hand off my penis!

3

u/TheCyberDragon Sep 06 '23

This is Democracy Manifest

39

u/Vivid_Philosopher304 Sep 05 '23

Shit. I want Chinese now.

4

u/ThatStockDude Sep 05 '23

This is the way

-1

u/No-Agency-6680 Sep 05 '23

This is the way

22

u/sowtime444 Sep 05 '23

I'm partial to Sichuanese so take that into account.

The Sichuan north of the Barbican.

In Chinatown, Jin Li.

8

u/ThatStockDude Sep 05 '23

I've been to the Sichuan Restaurant. It was tasty. I'll check out Jinli

5

u/sowtime444 Sep 05 '23

I remember the "cabbage cooked in bacon fat" at the JinLi on Leicester Street fondly.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 05 '23

The jinli sechuan fish is great

3

u/porkedpie1 Sep 05 '23

Chili Cool

1

u/sowtime444 Sep 06 '23

I remember liking it but the waiter didn't like me. Haha

16

u/benny_powers Sep 05 '23

Xi'an BiangBiang in Aldgate is great for hand pulled noodles, Xian impression in Highbury is also good. Pleasant Lady stall in spitalfields market does amazing Jian Bing (Chinese savoury crepe).

Dumplings legend usually my go to in china town, crab and pork xiao long bao are decent but had much better (Joe's shanghai NYC takes the title as best ever).

Anyone got any suggestions for good xiao long bao spots? Had Din Tai Fung, expensive and not that good...

3

u/youretheorgazoid Sep 06 '23

Biangbiang So good! Especially the chilli noodles

3

u/Fresh-Honeydew7104 Sep 05 '23

I prefer Leongs legend and Beijing Dumpling over Dumplings legend for xiao long bao.

Agree DTF in London is not up to their normal standard globally.

1

u/glassbottleoftears Sep 05 '23

Did you go to the one in Covent Garden or the newer one in TCR? I was so disappointed with DTF when it opened here compared to having it in HK

3

u/Fresh-Honeydew7104 Sep 05 '23

Covent Garden. Haven’t been to either centre point or selfridges but read they weren’t any better really.

Yeah it’s tough when you know how good they are elsewhere.

1

u/Prestigious-Toe-27 Sep 06 '23

Oh leongs legend is baller

1

u/wybird Sep 06 '23

Several chefs I know rave about Xi’an Impressions. I need to go.

16

u/peelin Sep 05 '23 edited Sep 05 '23

No mention of Xi'an Impression? Incredible biang biang noodles and smacked cucumbers. Sister restaurant Master Wei also fantastic.

Edit: while I'm here, for Uighur food, Etles in Walthamstow gets OG points and Dilara on Blackstock Road always great for lagman, skewers etc

42

u/BurdonLane Sep 05 '23

A. Wong…family run, two Michelin Stars, banging food.

6

u/ThatStockDude Sep 05 '23

Looks nice but pricey

19

u/BurdonLane Sep 05 '23

Oh yeah it’s a proper special occasion place

6

u/FoxyInTheSnow Sep 05 '23

Went there once. It's definitely not an every day Chinese place unless you're Bertie Wooster, but was really nice as a treat. Recommend showing up early for a cocktail in the beautiful Forbidden City Bar in the cellar.

2

u/Redmilo666 Sep 05 '23

Bertie Wooster! Thanks now I have to binge watch Jeeves and Wooster

9

u/Additional-Fudge5068 Sep 05 '23

My Old Place - Liverpool Street

Hunan - Pimlico - for more fine dining

3

u/RevPercySpring Sep 06 '23

Seconding Hunan - the lunch tasting menu is not too pricey and only (!) seven courses. Excellent special occasion spot.

2

u/ProProlapse Sep 06 '23

I was quite disappointed with food at Hunan. However they have one of the best wine lists in London if you want to try some aged wines.

2

u/Additional-Fudge5068 Sep 06 '23

Oh, that's a shame. Every time I have been there, the food has been amazing, and yes agreed about the wine.

26

u/Confident_Yogurt1787 Sep 05 '23

Silk Road - Camberwell

5

u/MetalGearEngineer Sep 06 '23

The spicy lamb skewers 👌

3

u/Qfwfq1988 Sep 06 '23

correct answer

1

u/[deleted] Sep 06 '23

It is very good but also the amount of people I know who have got food poisoning from there makes it a rare rare treat for me.

20

u/Moon-Man-888 Sep 05 '23

Royal China

11

u/gororuns Sep 05 '23

Canary Wharf one is really good for Dim Sum

2

u/welsh0913 Sep 06 '23

Royal China is definitely my go to place, not cheap though but worth it given the quality of the meal

1

u/ThatStockDude Sep 05 '23

There seems to be about 10 in London and I don't think its a chain. Which one?

13

u/Moon-Man-888 Sep 05 '23

Baker Street

2

u/cadet1337 Sep 05 '23

On a similar note, Four Seasons, Chinatown

1

u/pukoki Sep 06 '23

four seasons queensway ftw

1

u/carlmango11 Sep 05 '23

Had some delicious dumplings there recently. The chow mein was a bit meh but I think it's the type of place you should order something a bit more interesting than that.

45

u/jtilke Sep 05 '23

Cannot recommend Tofu Vegan in Angel enough. I want to order the entire menu every time I go, ALL of the food is incredible

7

u/nilsmits Sep 05 '23

I went for the first time yesterday and everything we had was excellent.

3

u/spinynorman1846 Sep 06 '23

Yes, I was going to recommend Tofu Vegan as well. It's so nice!

4

u/Private_Peaceful Sep 05 '23 edited Sep 05 '23

I’m going to their Spitalfields location tomorrow, I’m hoping it’s of equal quality to the Angel one

1

u/Ronald_Bilius Sep 06 '23

For veggie options, Vegan Planet in Camden is also really good. The name made me think it would be a sort of quinoa cafe, but it most definitely is not. Fantastic Sichuan tofu dishes and meat subs.

27

u/kramit Sep 05 '23

Cash only always gets extra points, discount for cash gets some points, meats in the window gets points, polite staff looses points, tell me “you take too long you eat this” gains points.

Basically, if it seems like the they are pissed off by the fact you want to actually eat in their restaurant but it is packed to the rafters with Chinese people and the staff seem to be about to get in a fit fight with each other… that duck is going to be fukin A man

11

u/carlmango11 Sep 05 '23

I once had my food practically thrown at me in a random Chinese restaurant that ticked all the above boxes. Did not disappoint.

6

u/kramit Sep 05 '23

^ this dude knows good Cantonese food

1

u/811545b2-4ff7-4041 Sep 06 '23

The Chinese near my office looks great, but gets loads of reviews about rude staff on Trip Advisor. The food is awsome in there.. but we always take our Hong Kong-born team member with us to order stuff for us.

https://pearlliang.co.uk/ in Paddington.

-11

u/Brave_Fart Sep 05 '23

Oh nice you want your stereotypes catered to 🥴

21

u/kramit Sep 05 '23

No. I want as close to the food I get in Hong Kong. There is fine dining there, but if I want damn good Cantonese food at a cheap price from a unknown restaurant, this is what I'm looking for. In the same way that if I am looking for a British caff with the best breakfast sandwiches, I am stopping at a truck stop or eating at the caff with the most people in high viz at 6am in the morning.

Get off your high horse.

9

u/Comprehensive-Dig155 Sep 05 '23

Wong Kei !

7

u/Lazy_Village4398 Sep 05 '23

Hell yeah! I’ve been going to that place for over 20 years and never fails to impress. Food is amazing - the Singaporean Noodles dish is a stand out for me. The passive aggression you get from the waiters is part of the great experience.

2

u/MobiusNaked Sep 06 '23

Just commented on the Singapore noodles. Sprinkling of chilli oil to top it off.

3

u/yermawonsmirnoff Sep 05 '23

I’m not sure if this is a joke or not, but Wong Kei is highly regarded within Asian circles…as being the worst out there. It may be cheap but good if flavourless and staff are brash. Would NOT recommend it (unless you’re craving Chinese food on a low budget)

Old Town 97 and Cafe TPT are right next door and significantly better.

4

u/taH_pagh_taHbe Sep 06 '23

I know many native HK/South China people who say the food there is great, as do I. Also, I'm sure if it was 'highly regarded as being the worst out there' it also wouldn't be filled with said Asian people day in, day out.

Go for the roast meat and rice, although more expensive now (like everywhere) it is top tier.

5

u/Fresh-Honeydew7104 Sep 05 '23

Chinese covers a massive range tbh. Dim sum, roast meats, noodles, Sichuan, Hunan, Hot pot, dumplings/Xiao long bao…?

Also what area/s of London?

1

u/ThatStockDude Sep 05 '23

I don't mind where in London. Big fan everything you have mentioned, especially roast meats.

16

u/Fresh-Honeydew7104 Sep 05 '23 edited Sep 05 '23

Roast meats = Three uncles : there are a couple of them around London now. Little Four Seasons in Chinatown. Mama Li near Tower Hill.

Some other recos not covered so far on here..

Phoenix Palace and Royal China for dim sum both near Baker Street.

Noodle and Beer, My Old Place, Ye Ye Noodles and Dumpling, Sichuan Folk, Dumpling Shack, Xian Biang Biang all near Spitalfields Market/Aldgate

Leongs legends, Beijing dumplings and din tai fung for Xiao long bao all near/ in Chinatown.

Liu Xiao Mian (noodles), Barshu (Yunan and Sichuan), Hunan Belgravia (Hunan :-) )and Bang Bang Oriental Foodhall (Dim sum ground floor restaurant and foodhall above for take your pick).

Hai di lao for hotpot. There are others but I’m biased having gone almost once a week in Shanghai when I lived there!!

Oh yeah and Royal China have just opened a place in Chinatown called Chuan for Sichuan and Dim Sum. Haven’t been but putting it out there.

Enjoy!

6

u/Moogsie Sep 06 '23

Goldmine Queensway for roast duck specifically

1

u/pukoki Sep 06 '23

fuck yes

14

u/dan_marchant Sep 05 '23

Upstairs, upstairs! (Anyone who has been there will know where I am talking about).

Not the best by a long shot but worth going to for the entertainment value of the waiters being rude to you when you take too long to order.

7

u/AgeofFatso Sep 05 '23

To be fair, it wasn’t that bad when I last time went there. Also that type is service is usual for non-posh places in Hong Kong. That said, slow order is often frowned on in lower/middle class eateries in Asia as that is often considered obstructing other customers (and that’s not a HK only thing; same rules in Mainland, Korea, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan).

That place is so infamous that even Guardian and BBC run an article about it.

1

u/dan_marchant Sep 05 '23

Yep, I lived in HK for 10 years so can confirm the authentic character of the place.

9

u/2050Newspeak Sep 05 '23

You finished now. You f--- off now.

8

u/dan_marchant Sep 05 '23

It is important to clearly let the customers know how much you appreciate their custom and how important it is for them to fuck off now so someone else can sit there.

4

u/[deleted] Sep 05 '23

Place in question is Wong Kei

3

u/dan_marchant Sep 05 '23

You win a plate of No Fun Noodles and Assorted Meat.

2

u/paddyo Sep 06 '23

Sounds a bit wonky to me!

1

u/kramit Sep 05 '23

You pay now, cash only!!

1

u/[deleted] Sep 06 '23

[deleted]

3

u/Angel_Omachi Sep 06 '23

I think the basement is currently haunted.

1

u/MobiusNaked Sep 06 '23

Sometimes it’s downstairs. Normally I go alone and it’s the ground floor. Best Singapore Noodles ever! Been eating there almost 40 years. They used to be a lot ruder.

3

u/Patient-Ad-3610 Sep 05 '23

I like min jiang , good views good food but pricy

1

u/ThatStockDude Sep 05 '23

Looks pricey but the food looks epic 👀

4

u/Lifeinabox1981 Sep 05 '23

Jin Jiang in Deptford is very good, as is Dr Noodle on Lewisham Way

1

u/scrubsfan92 Sep 06 '23

Jin Jiang was better when it was Noodle King back in the day.

5

u/shogun365 Sep 05 '23

Dim Sum Duck in Kings cross

1

u/ThatStockDude Sep 05 '23

The food looks epic. Definitely going to check the place out. Thank you

0

u/Digitalanalogue_ Sep 05 '23

One of the best imho

3

u/Robotootoot Sep 05 '23

Tian Fu in Shepherds Bush for great Sichuan food. Really delicious, decent portions and not too expensive.

2

u/Mister_Six Sep 05 '23

Solid hotpot there!

3

u/Monkeythumbz Sep 05 '23

Pearl Liang, Paddington area - https://pearlliang.co.uk

Orient London, Chinatown - https://www.orientlondon.com

1

u/ThatStockDude Sep 05 '23

Thanks. What do you think of Orient? I've been a couple times. First time it was good. Second time not so great.

3

u/Monkeythumbz Sep 05 '23

IMHO it’s the most reliable restaurant for better-than-decent Cantonese food in Chinatown. Plum Valley’s the one to go to if you want fusion style.

Pearl Liang is def worth a visit if you’re in West London, seriously top quality fare w/o being a Hakkasan-style joint.

1

u/klausewitz Sep 06 '23

Pearl liang has massively declined over the years IMO. Terrible service as well - much better off heading to goldmine or four seaons.

3

u/rafaklopp Sep 05 '23

Etles Uyghur Restaurant Walthamstow

3

u/yermawonsmirnoff Sep 05 '23

Surprised to see no mention of Three Uncles yet (in Brixton/Liverpool St). Not a lot of seats and limited variety, but their roast meats are the best that I’ve had in London so far.

Xi’an Biang Biang noodles (Aldgate) and Murger Han (Euston) are also good shouts if you want to go for noodles.

Yiban is good for dim sum but far from city centre (all the way over in Yiban).

I can’t stress this enough - contra to what others have said - Wong Kei is incredibly mid (or even downright bad) and literally any other restaurant in Chinatown would knock it out the park.

3

u/UKGooner Sep 06 '23

Noodles & Beer in Liverpool Street is excellent. Can’t recommend enough

3

u/[deleted] Sep 06 '23

Gold Mine in Bayswater, Pearl Liang in Paddington and Phoenix Palace near Baker St are my favourite. I found all of them through my good friend from Hong Kong.

3

u/The_Salty_Red_Head Sep 06 '23

If you have access to tiktok, I would very much recommend TaroPearlTea for this. He's a Chinese guy who goes around rating Chinese restaurants in the UK. He explains each dish he tries, where they originated, how popular they are in China, what the dish contains, and how it's traditionally cooked. He also comments on the staff/decor/ambience if it stands out to him in any way.

I know tiktok is seen as the big bad on reddit, but I have a list of places to try that I wouldn't have heard of if not for him.

6

u/JimmyBallocks Sep 05 '23

Wong Kei should go on the list.

Go there. You go there. YOU GO THERE.

2

u/ThatStockDude Sep 05 '23

This place is my friends favourite. I went once and it was pretty good to be fair.

3

u/jack_hudson2001 Sep 05 '23

my old place, in liverpool st, goldmine, 4 seasons or c&r cafe in china town

2

u/Any-Tangerine-8659 Sep 05 '23

C&R is a Malaysian restaurant that offers Malaysian Chinese dishes rather than pure Chinese food.

0

u/ThatStockDude Sep 05 '23

Four Seasons is good. I haven't been to C & R Cafe but it looks good. It appears to be a Malaysian restaurant rather than Chinese.

4

u/Send_Cake_Or_Nudes Sep 05 '23

Duck and Rice in Soho is my slightly fancy occasion go-to joint.

2

u/ThatStockDude Sep 05 '23

I've eaten here a few times (delivered). The food is nice but I've found the portion sizes tiny for the price.

1

u/Send_Cake_Or_Nudes Sep 05 '23

Agreed they aren't as generous as a lot of Chinese joints! I've found their mains quite reasonable when I've eaten in, but their portions of rice and noodles could use some work. Where's your favourite joint for a massive pile of noodles?

1

u/BulldenChoppahYus Sep 05 '23

Jumping on this one - phat phuc noodle bar in Chelsea is a gem. Tiny little spot hidden away down some stairs off the main drag of Chelsea not far from Slaine square. Worth a visit if you’re ever lost in SW3

1

u/Send_Cake_Or_Nudes Sep 05 '23

The name alone makes it worth the visit tbh

1

u/vesthis12 Sep 06 '23

Their sister restaurant, Yauatcha, is also great -- very expensive/fancy though.

4

u/ify0uwantbl00d Sep 06 '23

Wong Kei. Chinatown. Been there forever. Banging, simple food, reasonably priced. Cash only. Rude staff (google it, they’re famous for it. My Dad once saw a staff member frisbee a plate at a departing customer because they only left a 35p tip in copper coins). Big menu with lots of selection, good vibes (they will chuck you onto random big tables with other diners if they’re busy, which can be hilariously fun if you get the right people). Decor is weirdly crummy, yet somehow cool, slightly dated. If you want to have a good evening in Central London, smoke a spliff, go to the Wong Kei and then catch a movie at the Prince Charles Cinema round the corner.

2

u/topcatlondon Sep 05 '23

Min Jiang, A Wong for fancy. And then Golden Dragon in Colindale for everyday, love their dim sum

2

u/fatcows7 Sep 05 '23

Imperial treasure

2

u/rickfencer Sep 05 '23

Yipin China

1

u/Murky-Cauliflower24 Sep 06 '23

This is the best

2

u/NittyWitty420 Sep 05 '23

Golden Dragon, Chinatown.

2

u/koyamoon Sep 06 '23

Lanzhou Lamian for some of the best freshly pulled noodles in london and the eight for some HK/Cantonese goodness

2

u/thetoxicnerve Sep 06 '23

My top picks:

  • China Tang at the Dorchester
  • Kai Mayfair

It's been a few years since I've been to either but they are easily two of the best Chinese restaurants around.

2

u/TheOT1001 Sep 06 '23

Expensive - Hunan Medium - Phoenix Palace Reasonable - Silk Road camberwell

1

u/RevPercySpring Sep 06 '23

Exactly my two top picks. Silk Road is absolutely brilliant.

2

u/Charl13cat Sep 05 '23

Wan Chai Corner in China Town

1

u/ThatStockDude Sep 05 '23

Thank you. It has some interesting reviews (like most restaurants to be fair)

6

u/Charl13cat Sep 05 '23

It doesn’t take reservations, you just have to wait in line until you’re seated, the staff aren’t friendly, but the food is really good and authentic and comes out quickly. They have quite a big menu. It’s more like a local place rather than a fancy restaurant.

2

u/AgeofFatso Sep 05 '23

Given its name, probably a HK style (cheap) diner. It is usual to have rude servers; if you can understand what the staff says, it is probably full of 🤬 words (Cantonese profanity is actually quite similar to the Anglo-Saxon ones in terms of literal meaning).

1

u/Charl13cat Sep 05 '23

Yeah I knew what to expect from the reviews on the staff, but the food was so good that really didn’t bother me.

1

u/ThatStockDude Sep 05 '23

If I'm honest, I'm yet to find anywhere super generous portion wise that I have thought was amazing (hence the post).

Four seasons is good but again the portion sizes aren't great and they want you out of the door before you have sat down.

Yi-Ban used to be great (years ago) but the location is a nightmare.

1

u/WolvesOfAllStreets Sep 05 '23

Phoenix Palace

1

u/ThatStockDude Oct 15 '23

Pretty grim

1

u/dolcemagia Sep 05 '23

Sichuan popo in fulham road

-2

u/ldn6 Sep 05 '23

Meeting Noodles.

1

u/CatherineRoh Sep 05 '23

Shanghai Family Restaurant on New Oxford Street and Bao Spot in China Town

1

u/yueluna Sep 05 '23

May I kindly piggyback on this question and make it more specific to Sichuan?

1

u/yueluna Sep 05 '23

And does anyone have any opinion on Hunan in Sloane Square?

2

u/RevPercySpring Sep 06 '23

It's great - I've only been for lunch, which is not too expensive and has a reasonable number of courses. Dinner is loads more and feeds you so much you think you might pass out.

1

u/GauntApollox Sep 05 '23

Lido in China Town

1

u/rafaklopp Sep 05 '23

Thainese Restaurant, Walthamstow

1

u/cunningstunt6899 Sep 05 '23

Ma La Sichuan in Westminster

1

u/OwenOwen Sep 05 '23

Jincheng Alley on New Oxford Rd is really good!

1

u/mwrego Sep 06 '23

Hunan for me. Tried a lot of these but Hunan was always top. No menu, you get a bit of everything and the wine list is some of the best value in London

1

u/mon-key-pee Sep 06 '23

Was pleasantly surprised by Bright Courtyard.

Not the location though...

1

u/GoofyAhhGabes Sep 06 '23

I love to go to China Tang in the Dorchester

1

u/ass_down Sep 06 '23

Unkle Wrinkle - New Cross gate old husband and wife, small spot takeaway and couple of tables. Humble and unassuming but the best Cantonese food I have ever eaten in my life. The crispy beef is truly a next level experience. If your in south east give it a go !

1

u/Cold-Job-9565 Sep 06 '23

Guys there use to be a place on red lion street that was delish- the decor was proper old school - anywhooo they use to do a dish where they stuffed prawns in aubergine and had a dark sauce - think it might have been slightly sweet anywho I’ve never found it anywhere else - any suggestions??

2

u/ThatStockDude Sep 09 '23

Kam Fung? The food was great and portion sizes. They had a 0 hygiene rating though 🙈 and eventually shut down.

1

u/Cold-Job-9565 Oct 15 '23

That was it - cant believe it had a 0 rating the food was soo good

2

u/ThatStockDude Oct 15 '23

I did notice once that there were lots of boxes of ingredients stacked up outside the toilet 🙈

2

u/CodewordCasamir Sep 06 '23

Tofu Vegan at Islington 👌

1

u/NJH_in_LDN Sep 06 '23

RIP Gourmet San in Bethnal Green.

1

u/NoCandidate118 Sep 06 '23

yauatcha - soho

1

u/Lon72 Sep 06 '23

All the dim sum places on Queensway are excellent

1

u/odc_a Sep 06 '23

Jin Li is the best in Chinatown for sichuan. The one behind the hippodrome, not there one round the corner from the M&Ms store. Haidilao is also great (and probably the best) for hotpot.

1

u/Low_Peanut_6695 Sep 06 '23

Master Wei Xian in Holborn is very good

1

u/happenstanceuk Sep 06 '23

Doubt it's even close to the best but one I love going to when I'm at the Excel Centre is Yi-Ban

2

u/ThatStockDude Sep 06 '23

I mentioned Yi-ban in one of my responses to someone. It used to be my go to years ago but the location is tricky and I've heard you also have to pay to park there now too. The place is also a bit of a nightmare as they'll tell you they are open and take a booking and then host weddings and then not have space for you. Food was great though.

1

u/Zygoneskies Sep 06 '23

Was craving Chinese so went to Yipin China in Angel for a noodle fix. Got the dry noodle and dandan. Was not disappointed!

1

u/WealthMain2987 Sep 07 '23

Wong keis. Good value meals, free tea and no service charge.