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Recommended Reviews - Chinatown
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This is one of the cool Chinatown that I've been through. I've checked out loads and I can say, the one in London is pretty much up there. Most are quite small and in a small cluster but this one does offer a major punch. It's near the bar area, soho and theaters. Loads of fun restaurants throughout the walkway as well as some along the main strip. I don't think car are allowed as it caters to pedestrians. Regardless on whenever you visit, it'll always be packed with people walking up and down the street. Restaurants are lined with people trying to usher you inside. A good amount of pastries shop as well as groceries store. Can't have Chinatown with a grocery store. I'm sure they tend to get more tourist visiting versus locals. Plenty of restaurants that offer dim sum and local Chinese cuisine. You'll be greeted with all the lanterns hanging along the alleyway. It's a fun spot even if you're just walking through or having a meal. A must in London.
The first Chinese community in London formed in the late 1800s since this was where the Chinese sailors working for the East India Company and British merchant ships stayed in the Limehouse area, since it was near the docks. That area was bombed during the blitz in WWII, so people began to leave that area. The new wave of Chinese immigrants began to settle in this Soho area that is now Chinatown, since it was affordable at the time for Chinese entrepreneurs. This Chinatown area gained its' official recognition in 1985 when the famous Chinatown gate was formed and bilingual street signs were added. They host cultural festivities like Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Harvest Festival in the area. This was a 15 minutes walk from the British Museum to London's Chinatown, between Leicester Square and Shaftesbury Avenue. My boyfriend and I stepped down one street with red lanterns, and we were in awe to see a large area and more streets with the red lantern and the official Chinatown gate. They had cuisines from various parts of China and Asia, Asian markets, bakeries, tea shops, and even a slots gambling shop. Compared to other Chinatowns I've been to, these buildings have the original British architecture with added touches of Chinese motifs. A nice area to walk through. After we left Chinatown, we took a quick 7 minutes walk over to the Piccadilly Cirus area.
Chinatown was bustling with people! There were so many stores and restaurants nestled in the few streets dedicated to Chinatown. I ate at one of the restaurants.
We were making our way to Leicester Square when I spotted the Chinese gate. We walked around for a bit. There was a map showing all the different food available here- not just Chinese but a variety of Asian food. Look for the "The Lion" sculpture when you see the Kung Fu Noodle restaurant.
Right next to Leicester Square, Chinatown London is a collection of restaurants (varying in price), with most being related to Asian cuisine. Chinese and Hong Kong cuisine are the majority, but there are quite a few Korean and Vietnamese restaurants, with a few Japanese ones as well. I liked that there weren't many fusion type restaurants...they must get enough business to not have to create mixed dishes just to attract tourists. We didn't see any open air markets, or other types of non-food related stores. They were preparing for the Chinese New Year with some decorations, but didn't see anything big. Perhaps it will pick up next week when the change comes closer.
Perfect go to eat everyday and you will say a ton of money. Great entertainment also . You will love it
Quality/Quantity - What a cool Chinatown! Check out all the pictures. Plenty of choices to eat, from fast casual to fine dining. Many bars also. Many indoor/outdoor options. Atmosphere - Good size Chinatown. Very well decorated throughout. Bustling and very active environment. Service - Good, tourist and locals support here, so businesses have to give the appropriate service. Price - Depends what you buy and/or eat. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your 200+ years of success. We visit every time we are in London.
Bustling little enclave in the center of London. A array of restaurants, supermarkets, little shops make up Chinatown , London Red lantern are hung high above the streets reflecting festive mood of a Chinese Lunar Year. I has Dinner in a restaurant that was reviewed separately. I also did some heavy shopping for Chinese items(Clothing & Accessories)
London's Chinatown is one of the better ones that I have seen around the world. It is fairly clean, organized and is large as well. There are lots of restaurants to choose from. It is conveniently located in the middle of the city close to places like Leicester Square and Soho too. I have to offer a word of warning though. I noticed a few all you can eat Chinese buffets here that were crowded with people. Out of curiosity, we tried one of them one night and the food was terrible. Everything was old and was as bad as any American Chinese takeout place. Another night, we ended up going to an actual sit down table cloth restaurant and the food was far better and authentic.
It's not as big as San Francisco Chinatown but it's far cleaner and less crowded, which makes it more enjoyable to visit. There are multiple restaurants specializing in a variety of styles of Chinese cuisine. The buffet restaurants are very popular and they have a lot of options if you're not sure what you want. The steamed buns are a great choice because they are very delicious.
4/4/23 - found Chinatown is just 1 stop from our hotel. We are there. Rivals SF, CA, USA Chinatown. Has 99% food there. Just 1 store to go by trinkets in. SF is about 2/3 retail stores and the rest is food. Several all you can Chinese places with in 50 years of one another. I counter 4 at least. Bakeries were good as well. Have fun there
Everything that you hear about from others and from what is depicted in movies and social media. A ton of Chinese restaurants to choose from. They all smell good and offer very similar menus. I loved the crowded atmosphere. Despite the crowd on a Sunday evening the waits were minimal. Would revisit Chinatown here again!
Well, well, well... London's Chinatown was just a six minute walk from our hotel, and it ended up being one of the most visually dramatic and densely packed Chinatowns we've ever visited. The streets were incredibly lively, filled with people, and lined with restaurant after restaurant. Everywhere we looked, the food looked so tempting and delicious that it was hard to decide where to eat. We ended up having dinner here one night and loved the vibrant atmosphere. By the time we arrived, we had been eating our way around London from early morning until late at night, so we were already completely full. Otherwise, we definitely would have tried even more of the restaurants. If you're visiting London, I highly recommend taking a stroll through Chinatown. Even if you're not hungry, it's worth experiencing the energy, sights, and incredible selection of restaurants, you won't regret it. ^^, read more
29 days ago
I love going to Chinatown whether it's in Singapore or New York. First time in London and there's so much to see. I do enjoy seeing the Chinese decor as well as all the shops and restaurants. read more
Tip: The lanterns that hang above you as you walk along the streets in Chinatown are lovely. Take a photo! I visited London in 2013. During my first full day in the city, I had one goal, which was to visit M&M's World. I took the underground to Piccadilly Circus. As I was walking towards M&M's World, a Russian man approached me. "Chinatown?" he asked. I had no idea where it was. Folks tend to ask me for directions no matter where I am. Maybe I look like I know what I'm doing, but I didn't this day with a map in my hands and a confused look on my face. Well, after visiting M&M's World, I walked around the area. I ended up in Chinatown. Ask me now. I know where Chinatown is! I liked the lanterns around the area. It was nice. There were bakeries, restaurants, cute stores, and more. I loved the excitement being in a decent Chinatown. I ended up having a late lunch at Jade Garden, which was an authentic restaurant that served dim sum. Sadly, it's no longer there. However, it has other locations across the city. I enjoyed the best har gow, siu mai, sticky rice bundles, barbeque pork rice rolls, and steamed pork dumplings. I'd love to check out this Chinatown again. I hope to revisit London someday and eat my way through this cool part of the city. (26) read more
This is one of the cool Chinatown that I've been through. I've checked out loads and I can say, the one in London is pretty much up there. Most are quite small and in a small cluster but this one does offer a major punch. It's near the bar area, soho and theaters. Loads of fun restaurants throughout the walkway as well as some along the main strip. I don't think car are allowed as it caters to pedestrians. Regardless on whenever you visit, it'll always be packed with people walking up and down the street. Restaurants are lined with people trying to usher you inside. A good amount of pastries shop as well as groceries store. Can't have Chinatown with a grocery store. I'm sure they tend to get more tourist visiting versus locals. Plenty of restaurants that offer dim sum and local Chinese cuisine. You'll be greeted with all the lanterns hanging along the alleyway. It's a fun spot even if you're just walking through or having a meal. A must in London. read more
The first Chinese community in London formed in the late 1800s since this was where the Chinese sailors working for the East India Company and British merchant ships stayed in the Limehouse area, since it was near the docks. That area was bombed during the blitz in WWII, so people began to leave that area. The new wave of Chinese immigrants began to settle in this Soho area that is now Chinatown, since it was affordable at the time for Chinese entrepreneurs. This Chinatown area gained its' official recognition in 1985 when the famous Chinatown gate was formed and bilingual street signs were added. They host cultural festivities like Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Harvest Festival in the area. This was a 15 minutes walk from the British Museum to London's Chinatown, between Leicester Square and Shaftesbury Avenue. My boyfriend and I stepped down one street with red lanterns, and we were in awe to see a large area and more streets with the red lantern and the official Chinatown gate. They had cuisines from various parts of China and Asia, Asian markets, bakeries, tea shops, and even a slots gambling shop. Compared to other Chinatowns I've been to, these buildings have the original British architecture with added touches of Chinese motifs. A nice area to walk through. After we left Chinatown, we took a quick 7 minutes walk over to the Piccadilly Cirus area. read more
We were making our way to Leicester Square when I spotted the Chinese gate. We walked around for a bit. There was a map showing all the different food available here- not just Chinese but a variety of Asian food. Look for the "The Lion" sculpture when you see the Kung Fu Noodle restaurant. read more
Right next to Leicester Square, Chinatown London is a collection of restaurants (varying in price), with most being related to Asian cuisine. Chinese and Hong Kong cuisine are the majority, but there are quite a few Korean and Vietnamese restaurants, with a few Japanese ones as well. I liked that there weren't many fusion type restaurants...they must get enough business to not have to create mixed dishes just to attract tourists. We didn't see any open air markets, or other types of non-food related stores. They were preparing for the Chinese New Year with some decorations, but didn't see anything big. Perhaps it will pick up next week when the change comes closer. read more
Quality/Quantity - What a cool Chinatown! Check out all the pictures. Plenty of choices to eat, from fast casual to fine dining. Many bars also. Many indoor/outdoor options. Atmosphere - Good size Chinatown. Very well decorated throughout. Bustling and very active environment. Service - Good, tourist and locals support here, so businesses have to give the appropriate service. Price - Depends what you buy and/or eat. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your 200+ years of success. We visit every time we are in London. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
Got off at Piccadilly square and just started walking around. Many theaters in this area and stumbled into Chinatown. Wasn't on our itinerary but we enjoyed and ate at one of the Pho restaurants. Lots of restaurants here along with many shops. read more
Bustling little enclave in the center of London. A array of restaurants, supermarkets, little shops make up Chinatown , London Red lantern are hung high above the streets reflecting festive mood of a Chinese Lunar Year. I has Dinner in a restaurant that was reviewed separately. I also did some heavy shopping for Chinese items(Clothing & Accessories) read more
London's Chinatown is one of the better ones that I have seen around the world. It is fairly clean, organized and is large as well. There are lots of restaurants to choose from. It is conveniently located in the middle of the city close to places like Leicester Square and Soho too. I have to offer a word of warning though. I noticed a few all you can eat Chinese buffets here that were crowded with people. Out of curiosity, we tried one of them one night and the food was terrible. Everything was old and was as bad as any American Chinese takeout place. Another night, we ended up going to an actual sit down table cloth restaurant and the food was far better and authentic. read more
2 years ago
It's not as big as San Francisco Chinatown but it's far cleaner and less crowded, which makes it more enjoyable to visit. There are multiple restaurants specializing in a variety of styles of Chinese cuisine. The buffet restaurants are very popular and they have a lot of options if you're not sure what you want. The steamed buns are a great choice because they are very delicious. read more
4/4/23 - found Chinatown is just 1 stop from our hotel. We are there. Rivals SF, CA, USA Chinatown. Has 99% food there. Just 1 store to go by trinkets in. SF is about 2/3 retail stores and the rest is food. Several all you can Chinese places with in 50 years of one another. I counter 4 at least. Bakeries were good as well. Have fun there read more
2 years ago
Everything that you hear about from others and from what is depicted in movies and social media. A ton of Chinese restaurants to choose from. They all smell good and offer very similar menus. I loved the crowded atmosphere. Despite the crowd on a Sunday evening the waits were minimal. Would revisit Chinatown here again! read more
The liveliest Chinatown that I have visited in my recent years. It is populated with a plethora of eating spots for both sit-down restaurants and take-outs. The area is packed with people that you sometimes have to squeeze through or shuffle your way down the streets, but is better than it being a dirty, deserted homeless center like I have encountered with other Chinatowns in the states. We did a short walkthrough of the couple of blocks it spans since we had just eaten lunch elsewhere. I spotted a couple of grocery stores and local businesses such as barbershops, not so much of general shops however. The place is between Soho and Covent Garden if looking for nearby entertainment. read more
The red-hot-colored string lights and hundreds of hanging Chinese lanterns overhead will pull you in. The yummy food smells keep you there a bit, then you'll want to dip out of the big crowds. There's a lot of street food options, including a new matcha ice cream shop opening soon, that are served in fish-shaped cones. In the surrounding area, there are tons of bubble tea walk-up shops, dumpling spots, hot pot and more. This is a big touristy area, but they are also having a big moon festival celebration for Chinese New Year soon too. Fun! read more
7 years ago
This is the best Chinatown I like. Clean, organized! I went to many Chinatown and this one in London is the best! London Chinatown is not very big, but big enough for tourists and the locals who want to have a good meal or shop for the Chinese merchandise here. London is same as many Chinatowns in other cities is located in the mid-town area. Very convenient and many shipping area near by. London Underground (subway) station is also very close. Many restaurants here and they almost all looks good and all tastes good. I don't recommend some Chinatown in the other cities for people who are traveling. But I'm highly recommend the London Chinatown for all tourists. This is a must visit tourist location if you like Chinese food or you want to just check out the areas! read more
Wherever I vacation, I always find the Chinatown. We arrived here and strolled up and down the streets scoping out a place to eat. I was surprised with the size of this Chinatown - many restaurants, bakeries & gift shops. This Chinatown had many options to dine - Dim Sum to all you can eat buffets which I usually don't see at Chinatowns. We did find a small, decent and reasonable restaurant called Canton which displayed Peking Duck, Bbq pork and roast pork which were hanging in the storefront window. We didn't try dim sum due to timing but be aware - all the restaurants all add a tax or service charge to the prices. Another pro here was this was cleaner than most other Chinatowns I've visited. read more
12 years ago
What a pleasant stroll through Chinatown of London, UK! They have the main Hong Kong style food, noodles and boba drinks served up here. Sichuan cuisine, if you like that type of Chinese food, is a wee bit hard to find, but still can be found! Good area to stop by if you are looking for a temporary change in scenery in London! read more
3 years ago
I don't know if it's the best Dim Sum in London because it's the only Dim Sum I've ever had in London. That said, it's excellent. Large variety of items available with a helpful picture menu. The food did take a bit to arrive, but quality takes time. We ordered a massive quantity of food, sticking to a lot of the classics and avoiding the true "ethnic" items. Chicken feet? Pass. Pork buns? Please! Meat dumplings? Yes! Egg custard tarts? Very! Squid paste? Okay, I'll try it. When the damage was done, we had a pile of empty plates and steaming bowls and full tummies. For six of us, it wasn't even £50. How can that be? I know I'll regret it, but I do need to try some of the other Dim Sum places in the area. I'm sure I'll be back to this one though! read more
8 years ago
In A Nutshell: -Chinatown London is probably the cleanest Chinatown in the world. -I noticed that there are ZERO garbage cans in Chinatown & most of London, maybe this is the reason why this city is so clean. -Intermingled w/ the LGBTQI part of town this area is filled w/ delicious foods & fun bars. -Come during the evening to have a fun time people watching. Overall, this is one of the best Chinatown's in the world, along w/ Vancouver B.C.'s. read more
10 years ago
Always as must-do When in London....well, Chinatown surely is on the to-do list. It's not as big as in SF or NYC. It's mainly on Gerrard Street and some of its side streets. But it's a cute little area with lots of restaurants....of different quality. The last time quite enjoyed the food at the Feng Shui Inn. Besides the restaurants the most interesting part for us were the grocery shops (like the Oriental Delight, the New Loon Moon and others). They got great products from all over Asia. Surely worth spending an hour or two. It's also a nice place to visit when it gets a bit darker, makes some good pics. The very best Asian restaurans you won't find on Gerrard Street though, but that shouldn't stop you from visiting. read more
6 years ago
I rememer the tall red gates since I was a little kid. At that time my naive mind thought that China owned this part of London. It's clean here and not as chaotic as the NYC Chinatown. So many Asian dining options. Chinese, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Malaysian, Indonesian. Although there are a few British pubs added in between the Asian establishment if you want to end the evening with a pint. Don't even bother eating at all those generic American chains in nearby Leicester square and Picadilly circus, the value is so much better in Chinatown. read more
14 years ago
Woah, has this last reviewer got it wrong! If you want dim sum in Chinatown, this is THE place to go. Egg tarts, BBQ pork buns, rice wrapped in leaves, all fresh, cheap and served up quick. Three of us ate here for just under a tenner each so it's pretty great value for money if you ask me. I don't think you can eat for that cheap anywhere in Soho without possibly eating deep fried pigeon. (Mr. Wu, I'm looking at you mate!) Apparently they do a dim sun happy hour between 1 - 4pm but you'll have to phone and check. The place itself is nothing to write home about and the service is a little sketchy to say the least... "We ordered spring rolls, could we please have them?" "You sure, they will be on your bill?" "Yes, we know, that is why we have ordered them. So that we can eat and then pay you for them" "Erm, if you are sure." "Yes, I believe we are most certainly sure." Still it has it's charm and as far as I'm concerned it's a pretty authentic joint. read more
13 years ago
So I have been abroad for 2.5 months now and this was HEAVEN when I found it!! I have had pretty mediocre Chinese food throughout Europe and this was true Chinese food. OMG PORK BUN! I've bought 4 (all at different times) in one day and I've been here in London for only 24 hours. Check it out, you can get Pork bun for 1.20 euro, coconut bun (.90) and tons of other Chinese snacks/food! I would watch out for pick pocketers here, as it gets pretty crowded especially inside the shops. read more
When I was in UK, I had to come to London! I looove London. My friends took me to Chinatown to check it out. Although we didn't purchase anything, I did like just walking through and seeing everything. I really love London. I just need more time so I could explore it all. That too with Chinatown. 155/2017 read more
14 years ago
All greatest cities have China Towns and London isn't the exception :) Especially, comparing with SF China Town, the one in London is much more clean and comfortable for tourists. We were walking there with my daughter, and we liked it! Lots of restaurants with delicious food and reasonable prices. If you won't be sure - just pick up the restaurant by counting how many asians are sitting inside - more is better :) One of the best choices that we've made for our dinner was London Chinatown Restaurant which is situated on 27 Gerard Street. The food was incredible, portions were big and you are full with only one dish, waiters are fast and pleasant :) We ordered Spicy Chili Ribs and felt in love with them - absolutely coming back on our next trip! Btw, there is a good bakery - don't refuse to step by :) read more
12 years ago
I make it a point to visit the Chinatowns whenever I am traveling because I like learning about the history of my people in the community & enjoying good food. I understand that the London Chinatown is comparably smaller than the ones in NY and San Francisco, which are the largest in the U.S. and also my personal favs. The London Chinatown is indeed smaller but much cleaner. Food wise, the selections are similar to what I've had in the U.S. and back home in HK, but the flavors are noticeably different. I suppose the restaurants have to tweak it a bit to suit the English's taste. I walked into a few grocery markets here & noted the selection of seafood, fruits & vegetables are limited. No fresh seafood to be had. No live carp, crabs, catfish, soft shell turtles, shrimp, prawns, sole fish. Only the frozen dead ones. Sigh... The folks here are friendlier & more reserved than their counterparts in the states, I suppose this is a reflection of the British culture as a whole, isn't it?1 read more
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