The Ultimate Chinatown London Guide

Step into London’s Chinatown, tucked neatly between the West End theatre district and the neon-lit streets of Soho, and you could be forgiven for believing this foodie fantasia had been here for centuries. Old-school restaurants line the streets, golden-roasted ducks dangling delectably in window fronts, and paper lanterns jump up and down in the breeze.

In fact, Chinatown as we know and love it has only been in this location since the 1970s, when it migrated from its original location up east in London’s Docklands. Now a bustling mini-village that’s super-popular with in-the-know locals and curious tourists alike, Chinatown is home to more than 80 restaurants, plus a selection of Asian supermarkets, bakeries and souvenir stores. As such, it’s hands-down the best place in London to try Chinese, Cantonese and Singaporean delicacies, and to pick up that all-important souvenir sack of fortune cookies. You’ll also find a smattering of Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese and Malaysian restaurants in and around the district. 

Besides the (obvious) main event – don’t worry, it’s coming – there are plenty of things you can see and do in Chinatown…

• Photo opportunities. There are stacks of spots in which Insta addicts can scratch their selfie itch. Check out the ornate Qing dynasty-style entrance gate that towers over Wardour Street entrance, all glittering greens, reds and golds, with terracotta-tiled tops. Serve up your best snarl for a snap with Gerrard Street’s fearsome stone lions. And eyes to the skies for row upon row of beautiful bobbing painted lanterns in vibrant red and gold.

• Shopping. Stock up on Chinese sauces and spices at one of Chinatown’s excellent supermarkets, where shelves are crammed to bursting with packs of rice noodles, oyster sauce, mochi, bean paste, Asian tea and more. Hit up the stalwart Loon Fung Supermarket, which has been serving Chinatown customers for half a century, and mosey down to Newport Court for cute Asian beauty products at kitsch indie store P2BUS, and customizable bubble teas at Cuppacha.
• Lunar New Year. Pitch up at the right time in late January/early February to catch Chinatown at its most vibrant, casually shrugging off London’s winter chill with a colourful parade that features eye-popping floats, lively dragon dances and a show-stopping firework display. The parade starts and ends at Trafalgar Square, with events taking place there and around the West End through the day.

Sure, you could just have the same thing you always do when you order Chinese (chicken with cashews; egg-fried rice; prawn crackers). But where’s the fun in that? For a truly authentic experience that your tastebuds will thank you for, you need to try these…

• Crispy hoisin duck pancakes. A Chinese restaurant staple, these delicate DIY parcels of deliciousness pair smoky strips of roast duck with tangy hoisin sauce and shredded cucumber for a burst of freshness. Get yours at Chinatown stalwarts Wong Kei or the Four Seasons.
• Sichuan hotpot. When in Chinatown, do as the Chinese do. Choose your broth (from mild to mouth-numbing), select meat, veg, dips and spices, and start dunking! Pro-tip: leave your noodles in the broth an extra minute or two to soak up all those lovely Sichuan flavours. Try Shu Xiang Ge or Haidilao restaurants for the most authentic hotpot in the area.

• Bao buns. Get your fix of these fluffy clouds of deliciousness at the aptly named Bun House on Lisle Street. All you need to do is choose your filling, then let these bun-steaming specialists work their magic. BBQ pork belly and custard flavours for the win!
• Taiwanese popcorn chicken. Simple, delicious and crunchier than a freshly dug carrot, this traditional Taiwan street snack can be found at Chinatown joints including Good Friend and Monga. Choose from seasonings that run the gamut from zingy chilli to seaweed and plum.
• Sweet treats. Don’t leave Chinatown without tasting at least one of its famously Instagrammable desserts. Try taiyaki: warm, plump fish-shaped parcels stuffed with sweet azuki-bean paste. Or opt for colourful mochi buns and egg tarts, manna for the mouth as well as the socials. Get your taiyaki at Taiyakiya (try saying that with your mouth full!) and mosey over to Bake for the crispiest, flakiest, gooiest egg tarts in town.

Opinions vary as to where Chinatown begins and ends, but head for Gerrard Street and Lisle Street and you won’t go too far wrong. The London Underground (tube) stations at Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus are closest, bringing you pretty much to Chinatown’s doorstep, and it’s easy enough to follow your nose from there.

Chinatown’s central location also puts it within stumbling distance of dozens of major London attractions, meaning you can wander in just about any direction and will quickly hit the bright lights of e.g. Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Soho and Piccadilly Circus. Take a stroll south to Trafalgar Square’s (free) National Gallery, then onwards to bucket-listers including Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. Or head north through Theatreland to Oxford Street and the British Museum. Or do both! After all, there’s no better way to work off all those spring rolls and prawn toasts.

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