By Lauren Jade Hill
Spanning a vast spectrum of Chinese cuisine from traditional fare to contemporary plates, these are the best Chinese restaurants in London.
Yauatcha
Yauatcha
This all-day contemporary teahouse has risen to great acclaim as one of London’s stand-out dim sum specialists, serving both classic and contemporary dumplings: think scallop shui mai, Wagyu beef and venison puffs, and roasted duck pumpkin puff with pine nuts. These are offered alongside sumptuous seafood plates, like lobster vermicelli pot, and rich meat dishes such as jasmine tea smoked ribs. Another reason for this eatery’s success is its hand-made fusion desserts, which combine Chinese recipes with international ingredients to produce celebrated sweets such as yuzu rose choux, pandan macarons and chocolate infused with matcha. All of this can be washed down with any one of the restaurant’s Chinese teas.
Min Jiang
Rated highly for its authenticity, Min Jiang is another of the capital’s best Chinese restaurants. And in its prime setting on the tenth floor of the Royal Garden Hotel in South Kensington, it commands sweeping views over Hyde Park. The signature fare here is the Legendary wood-fired Beijing duck, which is prepared according to tradition, and presented in two servings: the first features crispy duck skin in granulated sugar with pancakes and a variety of accompaniments, then the second focuses on the duck meat which is prepared according to the diner’s preference.
Hakkasan
Hakkasan
The award-winning Michelin starred Hakkasan Restaurant is a steadfast favorite among gastronomes for its modern Cantonese cuisine, which is served alongside world-class cocktails in a stylish low-lit setting. Classic Cantonese dishes such as Monk Jumps over the Wall – double-boiled soup with abalone, fish maw, dried scallop, sea cucumber and dried shitake – feature alongside fusion plates like sweet and sour Duke of Berkshire pork with pomegranate. Of the signature dishes, the Supreme dim sum platter stands out as it brings together lychee and lobster dumpling, abalone shumai with caviar, Alaskan King crab dumpling, and Dover sole dumpling with black truffle.
Hutong
Hutong
Situated high up on level 33 of The Shard, Hutong offers panoramic views across the city, which are particularly captivating after dark. But this isn’t the award-winning restaurant’s only appeal; Hutong is also celebrated for its menu reflecting northern Chinese cuisine. While looking out at the London skyline, guests can tuck into delicacies such as a dim sum platter featuring rosé champagne shrimp dumplings, and Red Lantern, which encompasses crispy soft-shell crab with Sichuan dried chili.
Hunan
Founded in 1982, Hunan is one of London’s stalwart high-end eateries, continually drawing diners in for their tapas-style sharing plates and carefully curated wine list. This restaurant doesn’t present those who come here with a menu, though; instead, each diner tells the waitstaff what they can’t eat, and how spicy they like their food. The chefs then do the rest. Over the years, Hunan has garnered raves reviews, owing to its Taiwan-influenced dishes – some of which reflect the Hunan province of China – with signature dishes including a broth of minced pork, Chinese mushrooms and ginger.
HKK
HKK London
Dining at HKK is more of an experience than a simple meal, as the restaurant endeavors to tell the story of China through its fine-dining tasting menu. Each tasting menu aims to showcase the diversity of China and its cuisine, with small plates such as chrysanthemum fish maw soup and ying yang dumpling, alongside wild green Wagyu beef and slow cooked Dingley Dell pork belly. Diners can opt for a vegetarian degustation menu, too.
For more restaurant inspiration, go over to our Top 100 Restaurants list.
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