Where to Eat in Chinatown, London

Situated within walking distance of Soho and Covent Garden, London’s Chinatown is a feast for the senses. Plenty is packed into its nine red lantern-covered and paifang arched streets, where the sizzle of woks and scent of stir-fried spices beckon food lovers from around the world. 

But while Chinatown might be famous for its dim sum, fiery Sichuan cuisine, and sought-after Asian groceries, the district is not just about Chinese food. London’s Chinatown is a multicultural melting pot of flavours, blending Asian, European, and British culinary traditions and embodying all that’s best of Britain’s vibrant multiculturalism. 

Here’s your local’s guide to where to eat in Chinatown and its immediate surroundings.

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Best Places to Eat in Chinatown

Bun House

Address: 26-27 Lisle St, London WC2H 7BA

For the best bao buns in Chinatown, make a beeline to Bun House (open daily, midday to 9/10:30 pm). 

This quaint, no-frills spot serves up perfectly steamed bao buns filled with everything from savory fillings — such as succulent pork belly, curry chicken, cumin lamb, and vegetable mix — to sweet, with creamy custard buns that’ll change the way you think about Chinese food. 

Our favourites are the char siu pork bao or lamb bao, both packed with juicy, slow-cooked goodness. For a dessert you’ll never forget, order their filled and closed Cantonese custard buns. 

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Mother Mash

Address: 26 Ganton St, London W1F 7QZ

Not all the best food around Chinatown comes from the Far East! 

Soho’s Mother Mash (open daily from midday until 10/10:30 pm) is the jewel in the crown of British comfort food. Its atmosphere is that of a traditional 19th-century pie and mash shop with a modern twist, and it serves the best traditional English pies you’ll ever taste in your life. 

There are three steps to Mother Mash’s menu. First you choose your mash, which ranges from classic mashed potato with butter to bubble and squeak (fried mash potatoes, cabbage, peas and onions). Then you choose your main, either sausages or pies (we heartily recommend the latter). Finally, you select your gravy, which can be as simple, oniony, or even boozy as you like.  

Our favourite is the cheesy mustard mash with steak and blackheart stout pie and onion gravy.

Lovely jubbly, as the locals say.

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Speedboat Bar

Address: 30 Rupert St, London W1D 6DL

Bringing classic Bangkok street food to London’s Chinatown, Speedboat Bar deserves a place on every serious foodie’s list. The interior feels like a typical Thai street food bar, with the speedboats after which the bar is named hanging from the wall.

Their Tom Yam Mama Noodles with squid, pork and prawns is the showstopper on the noodles front, but Speedboat Bar also does spectacular curries. Try their crispy pork and black pepper curry or whole sea bream and makrut lime curry with rice, making sure to save space for dessert (pineapple pie with taro ice cream or mango pudding with red pomelo).

Open daily from midday until 11 pm (1 am at weekends). Book your table here

Oorja

Address: 117 Shaftesbury Ave, London WC2H 8AD

Oorja brings a modern twist to traditional Indian cuisine — something most apparent by the presence of braised beef short rib on its menu (lest we forget that cows are sacred in India). They do, however, serve up the best chickpea curry in town – rich, fragrant, and packed with layers of spice. Pair it with their butter naan, basmati rice and a boondi and mint raita side for the ultimate comfort meal. 

Assorted starters at Oorja, London

Oorja’s Railway Lamb Curry is a showstopper: a lamb leg that’s been slow-cooked with aromatic black cardamom, mace, and a rich onion-based sauce.

Their butter chicken is the business too, simmered in a creamy plum tomato, cashew, and fenugreek gravy and fresh cream garnish that’s just begging to be mopped up by a cheese and chili naan.

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Tasting selection from Oorja, London

Gopal’s of Soho

Address: 12 Bateman St, London W1D 4AH

Since it first opened in 1988, Gopal’s of Soho has come to be loved by Londoners for its authentic Indian cuisine. Gopal’s does all the typical Indian dishes right, from crispy pakoras, poppadoms and samosas to start to tandoori, chicken and lamb curries, and naans and rotis to mop up with. 

Their paneer dishes are so good that they’ll convert you to becoming veggie (at least when eating Indian cuisine). Check out the paneer butter masala for a rich creamy curry that’ll leave you never ordering a chicken korma again.

Mediterranean Café

Address: 18 Berwick St, London W1F 0PX

If your tastebuds are craving something a little different, check our Berwick Market’s Mediterranean Café.

Friends enjoying a mezze lunch at Mediterranean Cafe

The small unpresuming Soho retreat serves up delicious cheese börek, halloumi, hummus, dolma, and tzatziki while their mezze platters are perfect for sharing.

We especially love their grilled halloumi wrap, which balances the saltiness of the cheese with greens and tangy tzatziki. It’s a cozy, family-run spot that’s been winning over locals for years.

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Mamasons

Address: 40 Rupert St, London W1D 6DW

For something extra special, head to Mamason’s Dirty Ice Cream (open daily from midday until 10 pm), the first Filipino dessert parlour in Europe. Their must-try is the bilog, an ice cream sandwich made with toasted pandesal bread. Our favourite filling is ube (pronounced ooh-bay), a sweet, creamy purple yam which is indigenous to the Philippines. 

Enjoying ube ice cream in one of the best places where to eat in Chinatown

Another dessert that’s well worth trying is the Halo Halo. Meaning “mix mix” in Filipino, it consists of a cup full of mixed layers, including coconut strings, coconut jelly, jackfruit, shaved ice with evaporated milk, caramel dessert, ube and crushed oreos. Don't miss this place: it really is one of the best places to eat in Chinatown.

Getting to Chinatown

Chinatown’s centrality makes it really easy to reach. For those taking the London Underground, Leicester Square station is just a couple of minutes walk away. Chinatown is also within short walking distance from Trafalgar Square, Soho, and Covent Garden.

To navigate London like a local, check out our easy guide to getting around London.

Getting around London: Your Essential Guide

Getting around London might seem daunting, especially for first-timers. But bookmark this guide and you'll find exploring the capital easy peasy 

When to Visit Chinatown

If eating is the name of the game, the best times to visit are around lunchtime and early evening. But if you want to experience having Chinatown to yourself and get some great photos without the crowds, try and get here early in the morning.

Where to Stay near Chinatown

London’s West End has plenty of accommodation, with hotel rooms starting from around £100 per night. We like the Z Hotel Soho (budget option), Mimi’s Hotel Soho (mid-range option) and the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire Hotel (premium option). 

Deep dive into Soho hotel & Airbnb options in our London accommodation guide.

Where to Stay in London (for Every Budget)

Researching where to stay in London? Here are our 4 favourite London zones along with budget, mid-range and premium accommodation options.

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