Place is an older Chinese restaurant. Food is standard authentic Chinese, but as such, does not allow for any modification of menu. As such, even though I liked the food, my wife did not. Recommend only for those that want down to earth Chinese. read more

My friends and I went here for dinner during a show intermission. For how good this place was, we were surprised it wasn't busier as it's directly behind the Palace Theatre. We tried a wide variety of dishes including, garlic beef, ants climbing a tree, steamed dumplings, a whole fried fish with red sauce, and some others that I can't recall. Everything came out very quickly and was delicious. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone traveling to London and can't wait to come back on my next visit. read more

As a prc, I have to say this restaurant sucks. And this is not taste like Sichuan at all. The only dish I can eat there is the spring roll. Service is bad, one of the Chinese lady helped with the order, she seems like she was having a bad day... read more

Awesome Szechuan. Large menu and everything was delicious. Mapo Tofu and Lamb rubs were excellent!

One of the most delicious meals I have had in London. And definitely the best Chinese food I've ever eaten anywhere. This place is not for the non-adventurous eater. Pretty much every body part and organ of every animal on earth is available on the menu, and it's all very spicy, in keeping with the Sichuan tradition. But boy is it tasty. Plus, I got some sort of sick enjoyment out of surprising our waiter, who was highly impressed that four white kids devoured the "spiciest dish on the menu." An absolute gem, and my new go-to place for Chinese food in London. read more

Flavorful dishes but not enough heat for a sichuan restaurant. I had mapo tofu I did not enjoy having celery in it. That was a first and ruined the texture and altered flavor of the dish for me. read more

I ate at this restaurant about a year ago. As a native of Sichuan, I must say that Bar Shu has the best and most authentic Sichuan food I have ever had outside of China. The dishes there taste practically the same as the ones I had at home. I live in NYC where there are many Chinese restaurants and many good ones, and I can tell you that Bar Shu is that much better. I wish they had a branch in NYC. The decoration is also very nice, nicer than any Chinese restaurant I've ever been to in the US. If you want a taste of real Sichuan food, which can be very spicy and isn't for everyone, Bar Shu is the place. It is a little pricey though, but that's true for most good restaurants. read more

Very good food, especially the prawns and the old woman tofu. Service not always so good tho.

As a Chinese born now settled in London, this is by far my favourite Chinese restaurant in town. Though leaning towards the spicier end of the spectrum, this restaurant manages the capture the subtler, delicate flavours in Sichuan cuisine, without relying on heavy handed use of grease and burnt dried chilli in other lesser Sichuan restaurants. My favourite is the Sea bass poached with chilli on a bed of noodles (the precise name escapes me) and the Mouth Watering Chicken. Dan Dan Mien is a must too. Bar Shu is one of the more authentic Chinese restaurants in London and you may be disappointed at the lack of more familiar dishes (don't ask for a fortune cookie; they're not even Chinese!). Yes there are bones, the skin is kept on the fish and there are few decent vegetarian dishes, but that's why there is a strong Chinese clientele. Be bold and you will be rewarded with an authentic taste of China that is rarely executed so well in this country. 4 stars because I have yet to compare it to Hunan in Pimlico and with ones in Manchester, plus I don't want it to be even harder to get a reservation. read more

I've given this place two stars b/c the food is decent but the service is horrendous. And this place is pricey too for szechuan food. If you're charging these prices, you have to have better service, otherwise your customers will not return unless the food is STELLAR. The food is decent but not STELLAR. read more

Good choice for Chinese in Soho. We came in without a reservation on a Wednesday night and they sat us promptly in a private basement room on the proviso that we leave in 1.5 hours. They were flexible with providing vegetarian versions of vegetable dishes that would normally have meat stock and I found the Gong Bao chicken to have the right level of spiciness. Sometimes the service was missing for awhile but given their flexibility, speed and accuracy I didn't mind. You might like the fact that the menus have photos of all dishes if you want to see what you're getting ahead of time. read more

Authentic spicy Sichuan cuisine at reasonable price. The baked whole bass alone is worth a trip to this place. Service is attentive and fast. The bars and clubs nearby make this a good starting point for a fun night. read more

A few months ago, my husband and I were shopping in Covent Garden and decided to go out for dinner nearby. Remembering a review of Barshu I had read a while back, we gave it a try. Since then, Barshu has become one of my favorite London restaurants (and one of my favorite Chinese restaurants outside Asia) for several reasons. First, it is very difficult to find authentic Sichuan cuisine outside Asia, and I love those flavors - cumin, tingling hua jiao, vinegar, star anise and of course chilies. Barshu serves up a pretty authentic repertoire - I've traveled in Sichuan and these guys do a good job. If you don't usually like "Chinese food," but like fragrant, spicy food - Silk Road flavors - it's worth giving Sichuan a try. Most "Chinese food" around here consists of bastardized Cantonese and does no credit to China's varied culinary traditions. Second, they don't treat non-Chinese diners as second-class customers. There is one menu, in English, Chinese and pictures. I did an experiment and spoke (broken, rusty) Chinese my first visit, and English only on my second, and now usually a combination, and I have received the exact same quality food every time. There's no "secret menu" rigamarole - the staff seem to want to educate diners about Sichuan cuisine and have made recommendations to maximize the balance and authenticity of the meal - compare this to many places where even when I can read and order off the "Chinese menu," and can point to other tables eating those dishes, staff still hesitate to serve me tripe or bitter melon because I'm not Chinese (no, I would NOT rather have orange chicken and pork fried rice!). Makes sense because Fuscia Dunlop, the first westerner to graduate from Sichuan Institute of Higher Cuisine in Chengdu, is involved. Third, the atmosphere is elegant and appropriate for most occasions. Works for everything from a business dinner to a date to a boozy chile fest with friends. I've liked pretty much every dish I've had here. Both my husband and I are huge fans of the dry wok dishes and the "water-boiled beef in a ridiculously spicy soup" (shui zhu - a Sichuan classic). The fragrant shell-on prawns are huge and succulent, if a bit messy. For cold dishes, I can't get enough of the whelk with Sichuan pepper and cloud ear fungus with coriander. For a break from the heat, I love the water spinach (kong xin cai). But really, you can't go wrong, so order what sounds good to you or ask the staff for recommendations. One note: they make their dishes authentically spicy. If you are sensitive to chiles, ask the staff for recommendations for less-spicy dishes. And those of us who DO love heat don't have to go through the rigamarole of assuring the staff they can in fact handle authentic levels of spice! read more

This is Szechuan cuisine so it is almost all very spicy; I had to take a break and let my mouth recover in the middle of dinner. Don't expect your Anglicized Chinese dishes here either. read more

Service was terrible. They claimed we did not have a reservation when we did. Food is really below average as well. For Sichuan food not spicy at all. Stay away! read more

This is totally legitimate Sichuan food. The gong bao prawns are absloutely amazing! I have the cookbook from this place and everything I have made out if it has been a knockout! Highly recommended if you like spicy, non-Westernized food. read more

Food was so so but over priced. I grew up in Szechuan so I know about Szechuan food. Service was sub par. The waitress did not speak much English nor did she understand much Mandarin - she speaks only Cantonese. She was impatient & seemed to be in a hurry to get us out of the door before even servicing us food. I would not recommend this place. read more

In considering where to study, Bar Shu was in my top 3 reasons for going to London. This place is my favorite restaurant in the world. I have tried fine cuisine in every continent other than Antarctica (obviously) and nothing compares. This is a must try restaurant. A word of advice, get at least 5 dishes, even if you are just 3 people. Variety is key here. read more

Hot. delicious. authentic. one of my favorites - when I want chinese, real chinese/sichuan - and I'm in london - this is where I go.

Although this restaurant is a bit on the pricier side as far as Chinatown restaurants go it is well worth it. I came here with two friends quite late on a Sunday evening and they were happy to seat us right away. The food took a little while to come out but once it did it was extremely delicious. We ordered one fish dish one chicken dish and two vegetable dishes which was more than enough food for three people. The eggplant (aubergine) dish was one of the best Chinese dishes I have ever had and I could have licked the plate clean. It is an absolute must order... unfortunately I cannot for the life of me remember what it was called... The ginger scallion fish was also delicious, although a bit pricey. Next time I would go and get all vegetable dishes as these were cheaper and most certainly the highlight of the meal. read more

Get the goang bow prawn read more

Barshu - Szechuan Near Me - London, XGL

See all

With so many incredible places to eat in London, it's tough to find that one must try place. But my uncle told us that we absolutely had to eat at Barshu and specifically try the chicken with chilies. I made a reservation though opentable (10% discount!) and were seated immediately. We ordered a few beers, LiLi fragrant beef and of course the chicken with chiles. The waiter warned us about the chicken being super spicy, but we were ready! The food came out pretty quickly and was piping hot. The beef was spicy, tasty, tender and tossed with red sweet peppers and edamame. And then the chicken came out...literally small pieces of chicken (with bones) and a gazillion dried red chiles. Wow its was amazing. It's not actually "hot" spicy, but more flavorful and the different spices kinda overwhelm your palate. Definitely a must try but recommend ordering some plain rice to smooth out the flavors. Loved it and will go back the next time we are ever in London! read more

Barshu - LiLi beef (bottom) and chicken in a pile of chilies - Szechuan Near Me - London, XGL

My wife and I usually go to Lido for hot and sour soup when in London but we felt like branching out. Barshu did not disappoint. We got there just before the kitchen closed (10:30pm, not 11:00) and ordered quickly. Despite rushing, we got 3 awesome dishes. The king prawns with cashews and ants climbing a tree will definitely be ordered again. Our third dish, fried chick bits buried in a pile of peppers (some on the bone which the waitress explained), was just as good flavor-wise but was a little too much work to get again next time around. Each item was pleasantly spicy and we asked for a little oil/pepper mix on the side to take it up a notch. Great restaurant. Highly recommended if you're in the area and are in the mood for Szechuan. read more

Barshu - Szechuan Near Me - London, XGL

Because it was after the expect ion bar has been raised, it was hard to get impressed. They make authentic food, just not mind-blowing food - 3 stars(4/12/2016). If you are looking for authentic Sichuan food, this can be it. I ordered Sichuan cold noodle, koushui-ji (spicy chicken), spicy and sour noodle, stir fried kongxin-cai, pork rolls with garlic sauce on top, spicy shredded potato. Based on my own preference, depth of taste was missing for most dishes. The poll rolls were good. read more

FIRE!!! Wow. Hottest food I've had in London. I probably drank a gallon of water with my meal which was delicious. Service was impeccable and the dining area is lovely. Seems popular with the Chinatown crowd. It's a nice restaurant for special occasions, but I'd only take proper foodies and willing palettes. read more

Had such high expectations for this place as it came recommended by several people I spoke with, as well as my trusty Lonely Planet. I won't even comment on the prices, as everything in London is extravagantly priced. As I understand, this is quite the popular spot for Londoners, and when I walked in, there definitely were a lot of Asian faces, so I figured it was legit. I got the Ants Clmbing Up a Tree and Water Spinach and was happier with the veg than with my main dish. The noodles weren't minutely spicy but were somehow overly salty, which was a huge surprise, as everything else I had in London was under-salted to my taste. Being a Sichuan establishment, I expected super spicy, mouth-numbing flavor. Maybe I ordered the wrong things, but I doubt I'll return to try anything else. read more

This is a really great sichuanese restaurant which makes a really refreshing change from the very many average cantonese restaurants which have flourished in london because most english people have no idea about real Chinese food. Anyway, sichuan food is characterised by ingredients such as the sichuanese pepper which are ma (numbing) and la (spicy). The Gongbao Chicken is great, and try a Shuizhu fish if you're in the mood for some real spice. Hopefully Bar Shu and other restaurants like it will start pushing up the standard of chinese food in england and allow it to lose its reputation for being sweet and oily. read more

Overpriced, greasy, uninspired. Stay away. Luckily, plenty of other Chinese restaurant options nearby

For my first dinner in London, I chose this place. I ordered shuizhurou and kongxincai. The taste were not too bad, but not as good as authentic sichuan food. And compared to Chinese restaurants in EU, the plates are obviously smaller and the rice is charged. read more

Finally! A good Chinese place in London, with ingredients and recipes not changed to suit English expectations for Chinese food. And it's an honest Szechuan restaurant. Not just "hot" but with the numbing peppercorn as well, and all the dishes you would expect. I will come again on my next trip. read more

Everything on the menu is worth trying, especially the mapo tofu....

I think it's hilarious when white people review Asian restaurants. Especially when they've never even been to the county they are critiquing nor tasted something authentic to compare it to. Just can't take their reviews seriously. read more

A restaurant serving very authentic Sichuan cuisine. It's not your usual chinese restaurant and cannot be compared with many of the chinese restaurants in China Town. Service is not bad either. You may want to ask the waitress to recommend some of their signature dishes like (ShuiZhu Fish / meat). Dont be sacred with red chilies as no one would eat them. they are there for adding spice to the food and garnishing. Look out for the prices as if not careful, the bill can easily be over £60 (without alcohol). read more

I like the food in this sichuan restaurant. One dish that is a must try is Shuizhu fish. It is really spicy and the fish is really fresh. Please note that this is not your average chinese food style eatery. read more

Visited this restaurant relatively close to closing time. The staff begrudgingly said we could still eat there, but given their attitude and service, I regretted this decision later. The food was good, if overpriced - I paid £18 for a prawn dish which was good, but not outstanding. I then had to pay an extra £2.50 for boiled rice, which seems excessive. The bill came to £90 for three people, just one main meal each and a shared bottle of wine, which is a lot. Furthermore, the bill was not itemised, and when we queried it, it turns out they'd added a £16 service charge. I object to automatic service charges anyway, but the service definitely did not merit it on this occasion. The food is better than the 2 star mark I awarded, but the poor service means I will not return anytime soon. read more

I recommend this gorgeous place strongly, here the atmosphere is friendly and relaxing!

Very friendly staff, warm and relaxing atmosphere and most importantly delicious food. The sweet potato noodles are without a doubt a must try and be advised that the food is really spicy, so if you aren't used to it you better share that piece of information with the waiter. read more

Party of 5, our bill was £174... £35 per person... This incl service charge & only 3 beers We had a bad start as they lost our booking , the manager was quite rude & we had to wait half hr. They finally placed us downstairs where there were only 2 other customers which was a contrast to the bustle upstairs. The cold Sichuan chicken was tasty & meat was tender, The dry-fried green beans was tasty, we ended up asking for a second portion, The numbing & hot dried beef was a bit too dry, the red-braised pork was good, with a lot of fat which makes the taste, so it may not be everyone's liking. The fragrant chicken in pile of chillies was tasty, the chicken consisted of small crispy bits. The only thing which we thought was quite disappointing was the sweet sour ribs, which didn't have much meat on, and the assorted meat dish, which was overpriced, considering half of it was luncheon meat which is bought fm a can (spam). I noticed their menu online doesn't have the price list on, so this is from what I can remember: Assorted meats (luncheon meat, intestines, pigs blood) - £18.90 Dry-fried green beans - £8.90 Red braised pork - £8.90 Fish fragrant pork slivers -£8.90 Rice per person - £2.50 Tsing Tao beer - £3.80 Despite the bad start, our waiter was attentive & polite. Overall food was tasty, but I did find the bill slightly overpriced. The final bill was written in Chinese, as most restaurants in Chinatown is, but for the price you're paying, it really should be itemised in English too. We were able to read the bill & didn't have any problems, as so many others commented that they were over being charged. Although I did enjoy the food, I'm not sure it's special enough for me to return, as I know more authentic restaurants with far more reasonable prices (My Old Place, Aldgate) read more

Great well spiced Szechuan food. Staff surprisingly friendly! Decor average.. Good value read more

Great food! I had the whole fish with spring onions or scallions (think it was sea bass) and it was delicious. It had such a delicate flavor, superb! read more