London's top 50 restaurants: Chinese
A round-up London's best Chinese food, from dim sum lunches to lip-tingling Oriental feasts
Dreaming of dim sum? Or is it noodle soup that hits your spot? Take a wok on the wild side at these cutting-edge Chinese restaurants – they're sharper than a cleaver. Do you agree with the choices? Use the comments box below or tweet your suggestions.
© Rob Greig
Barshu
- Rated as: 4/5
- Price band: 3/4
- Critics choice
Since opening in 2006, Barshu has done much to popularise Sichuan cuisine in London. The strong flavours of slow-cooked dong po pork knuckle in chilli oil is typical of the dishes that give your taste buds an invigorating whack. Spice lovers we may be, but we still recommend avoiding the dishes marked as hot, because here they really mean it. Barshu remains an exceedingly charming venue, its decor modelled on that of an old Beijing teahouse, complete with elaborate wood carvings and tasselled lanterns. Its owners also now run two other restaurants nearby, Ba Shan which champions northern dishes, and the cheap Baozi Inn café.
When to go: If you know your way around a Cantonese menu, and want something with more kick.
What to have: Classic Sichuan dishes such as fish-fragrant aubergines or dong po pork.
- 28 Frith Street, W1D 5LF
Hakkasan
- Rated as: 4/5
- Price band: 3/4
- Offer
The original branch founded (then sold) by Alan Yau still remains an iconic venue for smart lunchtime dim sum or an evening cocktail or two. The A-listers may have moved on, but it still attracts a crowd who like to flash their cash. Make sure you peruse the tea menu and if you’re after a more reasonably-priced meal, the set lunches make a good choice.
When to go: When you feel like putting on your glad rags and splurging on something decadent.
What to have: Start with a platter of perfectly turned out dim sum, then see what takes your fancy from the list of mains.
- 8 Hanway Place, W1T 1HD
© Tricia de Courcy Ling
Manchurian Legends
- Rated as: 4/5
- Price band: 2/4
Sichuan is so over. With regional Chinese cuisines in Chinatown sprouting like bamboo in a rainstorm, there's no need to limit yourself to just Cantonese or Sichuan dishes any more. For culinary adventurers with chopsticks at the ready, Dongbei food is a blast of fresh air from north-eastern China, a surprise even if you think you know Chinese food.
When to go: This is the ideal place for the coming cooler month, with a menu of warming spiced dishes.
What to have: The meaty skewers are the highlights, particularly the chilli-dusted lamb and cumin-spiced chicken wings.
- 16 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BE
© Britta Jaschinski
Royal China
- Rated as: 4/5
- Price band: 2/4
For authentic dim sum at a reasonable price, the original branch of Royal China is the place to go. The bustling dining room had a spruce up in 2012, so you can now enjoy your dumplings in black lacquer and gold leafed splendour. Be prepared to queue to get in – they don’t take bookings and at peak times you’re likely to have to jostle for a table.
When to go: Make a Sunday afternoon of it with steamed buns and copious cups of tea.
What to eat: The Royal China cheung fun (roast pork wrapped in rice pasta and prawns with beef and water chestnuts) is a must-order.
- 13 Queensway, W2 4QJ
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