THE CHINESE.
if you fancy some dim sum, some bao, or even some roast duck, look no further than the 8 best chinese restaurants in london
● THE GOOD EARTH
DUCK FOR DAYS
Welcome to a place that does such good Aromatic Duck that some of our friends from Switzerland would often fly to London just to eat here. And maybe also see us. No kidding. That’s one helluva good recommendation. And they’re right, it is exceptional. Is there anything quite as enjoyable as putting together your own duck pancakes, with the perfect amount of sauce, a few sprinkles of cucumber & spring onion, and a buttload of duck (*official measurement of duck)? At least that’s what we do.
Kensington
goodearthgroup.co.uk
photos from @goodearthgroup
● BAO
PILLOWY CLOUDS OF TAIWANESE JOY
How can something so small and cute bring us so much joy and happiness? This restaurant group does exactly what it says on the tin. Expertly crafted little dough sandwiches, made by hand every day in their bakeries. These nuggets of deliciousness come in all shapes and flavours, but at their core you know you’re always going to win. Confit pork bao, fried chicken bao, beef short rib bao, we’ll eat them all.
Borough
baolondon.com
photos from @bao_london
THE LONDON 100 WINNER / BEST CHINESE
● DIN TAI FUNG
THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS PLEATS
Home of the world's best Xiao Long Bao. Din Tai Fung's soup dumplings are one of life's greatest gifts and no-one can make them better than DTF. From the moment you step into their restaurant you can see their team in the open kitchen intricately making these delicacies - each dumpling has exactly 18 folds, all the dumplings are freshly made, and they arrive at your table at the perfect temperature. This is such a treat and we’re honestly jealous if you've never experienced these xiao long bao as we would love to go back in time to try them for the very first time again, mmmmmmmm....
Covent Garden
dintaifung-uk.com
photos from @dintaifunguk
● HAKKASAN
HIGH OCTANE HAUT CUISINE
Of all our foodie experiences here at TL100 one of the very earliest memories to put us on the path to gastronomic fascination was here at Hakkasan. This is years ago now but we can still remember it like it was yesterday. The beautiful oriental decor was unlike anything we’d seen before, the attention to detail was on point, and the food… the food! We can still taste the roast duck served with mango and an exquisite sauce. Lives were changed.
Mayfair
hakkasangroup.com
photos from @hakkasanlondon
● ROYAL CHINA
THE HIGH PRIEST OF DIM SUM
You know a Chinese restaurant here in London is good when it gets so popular that it gets exported TO CHINA. That’s right. Most famous for its dim sum, Royal China has multiple locations all across the city, with our favourite sitting on Baker Street. The venues themselves are gorgeous, and as soon as you’re handed the book of a menu you know you’ve come to the right place. Pan fried gyoza and spring rolls. Roast pork buns and honey roast pork puffs. Dumplings for days. All the usual suspects are here, and they are fabulous.
Baker Street
royalchinagroup.co.uk
photos from @royalchinagroupuk
● FOUR SEASONS
THE GOLD STANDARD OF CHINATOWN
Oh hello there old friend. Chinatown is known for having so many food options, although none of them quite hit the mark, but Four Seasons will always come through for you. We have been enjoying the exceptional Four Seasons for many a year and continue to be delighted by the quality (and quantity) of their food, the fun-loving (and sometimes chaotic) nature of their staff, the hustle and bustle of their kitchen, oh, and their duck. Self-proclaimed as the Best Roast Duck in the World, they may well be right. We return again and again and are never disappointed. That’s the true mark of brilliance.
Chinatown
fs-restaurants.co.uk
photos from @fourseasons_uk
● TOFU VEGAN
PLANT-BASED POWER, ZERO COMPROMISE
Think vegan Chinese is just steamed veg? Think again. Tofu Vegan has sent shockwaves through the London food scene by serving regional Sichuan and Dongbei dishes that are so meaty they’ll trick your brain. Using mushrooms, bean protein, and incredible tofu, they recreate everything from "lamb" skewers to "fish" slices in chili oil (our fave). It’s spicy, it’s bold, and it’s constantly packed with meat-eaters who have seen the light.
Islington
tofuvegan.com
photos from @tofuveganlondon
● DUMPLING SHACK
STREET FOOD’S CRISPY-BOTTOMED FAVOURITE
When it comes to street food there aren’t many better than Dumpling Shack. And as their name suggests it's all about the dumplings. Different from other famous dumplings on this list their Pork Pan Fried Soup Dumplings are unlike anything else you’ve tried before. Made fresh every day, these doughy balls of goodness are just a big ol' hug packed with flavour. Be careful though, they are as filling as they are delicious - don't let your eyes get bigger than your stomach! A handful of these for lunch alongside their equally delicious dan dan noodles will easily get you through the rest of your day.
NO RES
Shoreditch
dumplingshack.co.uk
photos from @dumplingshack