London’s China Town can feel like a maze at the best of times. Its narrow streets are always packed to the brim and every store front looks as appetising as the next. So how do you pick?
Well, honestly, you have to try them to make your own opinion. And trust me, I’ve put in my time in China Town. It’s probably my most visited area of London. So I feel like I can share my expertise with you all today.
Let me give you my 7 picks that I think might not be the most talked about, but still very well worth a visit!
1. The Fancy Option - Moi
If you’re looking for a date night in China Town, this is your spot. If you’ve never been to an Omakase, this is also your spot.
It’s reasonably priced (ish), at £95 per person for 11 courses. You won’t be disappoint by the chef’s seclection. Fresh, seasonal ingredients are the guiding light of the menu, which changes a lot.
They also have a great selection of sakes, creative cocktails that put a twist on the classics with Japanese flavours. Dimmed light and industrial decor, it makes for a romantic atmosphere right in the chaos of Chinatown.
2. The Indian Option - Kricket
Chinatown isn’t just about chinese food, so I have to include my favourite restaurants, period. High on the list is Kricket. The Indian small plates spot for all lovers of tapas and Indian food.
It’s got a few locations scattered around London and was awarded a Michelin Gourmand Bib, so if you can’t just trust me, you can trust the Michelin guide and its commercial success.
You have a wide range of options to fit different budgets. I love their £20 lunch menu to get a taste of a little bit of everything. You can also go all out with their feast menu at £70 per person.
3. The Thai Option - Kiln
Kiln is a great spot, that I don’t see mention so often on social media. If you like sharing plates and you like Thai food, then you’ll love Kiln.
Everything is cooked on the fire, which is my favourite way of eating any type of meat. Even the side dishes are super creative, all super smokey and maybe you will smell your visit to this restaurant on your clothes forever, but that’s a small price, don’t worry.
Prices vary but I definitely wouldn’t call this a cheap eat. I’d call this “impress your date” eat, so keep this one in your back pocket. On the house.
4. The Noodles Option - Q Beef
Q Beef is my favourite spot for noodles in Chinatown and that’s high praise because I love to go for noodles in Chinatown.
Here you can pick your type of noodle, dry or in a soup, with any type of meat, toppings, etc. So it’s like a noodle soup subway in a way. The Ichiran Ramen of London Chinatown, if you will. In the hopes that it ever gets exported, until then you have Q Beef.
Another specialty is the “Chinese hamburger” that you might have seen go viral on social media last year. It’s also really good, but I’d definitely go for the noodle soup. This one is between £12-£15 so maybe the cheapest on the list.
5. The K-BBQ Option - Jumak39
First time I had Korean BBQ was here so maybe it’s a nostalgic feeling but everytime I went back, I was always very happy with the quality of the meat.
They do a lot of deals throughout the week so, while it’s not necessarily the cheapest K-BBQ you’ll find in London, I still consider it to be great value.
There’s all the dishes you’d expect from a K-BBQ and the classics, so even if you’re not into working the grill, you’ll find something you’ll like.
6. The Korean Option - Bab'N'Suul
This is really not a talked about spot, but I promise you it’s good. The chefs are bringing you flavours from Korea with a deep focus on authenticity.
You can also get K-BBQ at Bab’N’Suul, but I always get something else than that and I’ve never been disappointed. It’s not the most expensive, with prices varying between £20 to £40 and a lot of sharing menus.
It’s a super central location that you can’t really miss. K-Pop music blasting with cool decor, it’s a great spot for hanging out with friends.
7. The Tea Option - ChaTraMue
Who doesn’t love Thai Iced Tea? And who went to Thailand without bringing back a tin of ChaTraMue? Not I.
When they finally opened a London spot, I was first to visit. In a world of bubble tea shops, be a Thai tea shop. They import everything straight from Thailand so you can pick your favourite flavour and remember all about your last trip, right in the middle of Chinatown, Soho.
So I can confirm, it’s the same as you get used to having every day in Thailand. Except it’s about £7 in London. But, what can you do?
That’s my list! What’s on yours? Anything on here you heard of but haven’t tried yet? Did I convince you? Let me know in the comments!
