Chinatown in Soho, London

A guide to eating in London Chinatown in Soho, from dim sum and Cantonese roast meats to bakeries and how to order.

Chinatown sits right in the middle of Soho, in Westminster, a few tight streets of red lanterns, roast ducks in the window and restaurants that stay open when everywhere else has shut. It is one of the oldest Chinese communities in the country, and while it draws crowds, there is still very good Cantonese food here if you order the right things and look past the picture menus.

Dim sum first

If you can, come for dim sum. It is served through the day in a lot of places, not just at breakfast, and it is the best way to eat here. Order a spread of small steamer baskets and plates to share: har gow (prawn dumplings), siu mai (pork and prawn), char siu bao (fluffy barbecue pork buns), cheung fun (silky rice noodle rolls), and turnip cake. Add a plate of gai lan (Chinese broccoli) with oyster sauce to balance it out.

Order in rounds rather than all at once, and keep the tea coming. Tapping two fingers on the table is the quiet way to say thank you when someone tops up your cup.

Cantonese roast meats

The other thing Chinatown does brilliantly is roast meats. Look for the windows with glistening ducks, strips of char siu and crisp-skinned pork belly (siu yuk) hanging up. A plate of roast duck or char siu on rice, with a bit of the sauce and some greens, is a cheap, superb lunch. Ask for a mix if you cannot choose.

Wonton noodle soup is another safe, satisfying order: springy noodles, prawn wontons and greens in a clear broth. Congee, a savoury rice porridge with fish or pork, is the comfort dish, especially good if you are eating early or nursing a big night.

How to order well

• Look for menus with Chinese on them and dishes beyond sweet and sour. If the roast meats and clay pots are listed, the kitchen is cooking for its own community.
• Do not fill up on prawn crackers and safe options. The roast duck and the dim sum are why you are here.
• Sharing is the point. Order several dishes for the table and pass them round.
• Busy is good. A queue of Chinese families outside a dim sum place tells you everything.

The listings below show real Chinese restaurants in Westminster in and around Chinatown.

Bakeries and snacks

Do not leave without hitting a Chinese bakery. The counters are stacked with egg tarts, pineapple buns (no pineapple, just a sweet crackly top), cocktail buns and BBQ pork buns, cheap and fresh. Grab a box for later. There are also bubble tea shops on every corner now if you want something to walk with.

Chinatown works whether you have half an hour or a whole afternoon. Rushing through? Get roast duck on rice and an egg tart. Settling in with friends? Order dim sum in rounds, keep the tea flowing, and take your time. Either way, order past the safe stuff and you will eat well.

Written by See The Smoke · kept current from the directory, last checked 2026-09-07