Food & Drink

Best Chinese restaurants in central London for authentic flavours

Chinese restaurant in Fitzrovia
Chinese restaurant in Central London

Central London has one of the city’s widest selections of Chinese restaurants, ranging from polished dining rooms to small neighbourhood favourites. Much of that variety is concentrated around Chinatown in Soho, where luxury Chinese restaurants, long-running family-run spots and casual noodle shops sit only a few doors apart.

t takes you a few times returning to the place to fully step in every eateries and try all dishes such as span Cantonese dim sum, Sichuan dishes, roast meats, hotpot and regional specialities, making the area easy to explore in one visit.

Must-try Chinese restaurants in Fitzrovia

1.  Sanxia Renjia

  • Address: 29 Goodge Street, London W1T 2PP
  • Google rating: 4.0/5
  • Price range: £20–30
  • Opening hours: Mon–Sat 11:30–23:30; Sun 11:30–22:00
  • Best for: Regional Chinese dishes, spicy sharing plates and group dinners

Sanxia Renjia is a good local choice on Goodge Street when you want a proper sit-down Chinese meal rather than a quick Chinatown stop. The cooking leans towards Hubei and Sichuan flavours, so expect plenty of spice, savoury sauces and dishes made for sharing. It works especially well for small groups who want to order a few plates for the middle of the table.

2. Oriental Dragon

  • Address: 100 Cleveland Street, London W1T 6NU
  • Google rating: 4.4/5
  • Price range: £20–30
  • Opening hours: Daily 12:00–23:00
  • Best for: Sichuan dishes, fresh seafood and a shared Chinese dinner

Oriental Dragon is a long-standing Cleveland Street option for a relaxed Chinese meal in Fitzrovia. The menu has a strong Sichuan influence alongside seafood and familiar sharing dishes, making it easy for a group to mix spicy and milder options. It is the kind of neighbourhood restaurant to choose when you want generous plates, straightforward service and plenty of choice.

 

The most recommended Chinese restaurants in central london

1. Super Bowl Noodle Bar

  • Address: 47 Goodge St, London W1T 1TD
  • Google rating: 4.8/5 
  • Price range: £10–20
  • Opening hours: 11:30–21:00 daily
  • Best for: Quick solo lunch or casual noodles

This is one of the frequently recommended Goodge Street restaurants when you want a fast, unfussy meal rather than a long occasion. The room is compact and usually busy around lunch, with bowls arriving quickly and tables turning over at a steady pace. If you prefer noodles without soup, order the beef rib chilli oil to enjoy Sichuan’s spicy finish and heat. For a casual lunch, you can also try dumplings or rice dishes.

 

2. Fatt Pundit

  • Address: 6 Maiden Ln, London WC2E 7NA
  • Google rating: 4.8/5
  • Price range: £20–60
  • Opening hours: 
    • Tue–Thu 12:00–14:15, 16:45–22:15;
    • Fri–Sun 12:00–22:15
  • Best for: Lively dinner with friends

Fatt Pundit mixes Chinese and Indian influences, so it suits groups and families who would love to share dishes. The Maiden Lane dining room is energetic and close to Covent Garden theatres. You can simply start with the crackling spinach; its crisp leaves come with yogurt, pomegranate, and a sweet-tangy date and plum sauce, giving you several textures in one bite. For something richer, the Malabar monkfish curry brings saffron butter and coconut, while reviewers also regularly pick out the chilli duck and prawns. 

3. Din Tai Fung Covent Garden

  • Address: 5 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8PS
  • Google rating: 4.5/5
  • Price range: £20–70
  • Opening hours: Mon–Fri 12:00–23:00; Sat 11:00–23:00; Sun 11:00–22:00
  • Best for: Xiao long bao and a polished group meal

The Covent Garden branch gives you a large, polished dining room and a menu built around dumplings, noodles and Taiwanese favourites. You can watch the kitchen team fold dumplings through the glass, which makes the meal more engaging for first-time visitors.

4. Noodle Inn Covent Garden

  • Address: 13–14 Maiden Ln, London WC2E 7NE
  • Google rating: 4.7/5
  • Price range: £20–30
  • Opening hours: Mon–Thu 12:00–21:30; Fri–Sat 12:00–22:30; Sun 12:00–21:30
  • Best for: Casual pre-theatre noodles

You should definitely try their dumplings and noodles before looking at the larger mains. The xiao long bao features thin wrappers holding hot broth and meat, while prawn dumplings in chili sauce offer a sharper, spicier contrast.

 

5. Dim Sum Library

  • Address: 136 Long Acre, London WC2E 9AD
  • Google rating: 4.6/5
  • Price range: £30–80
  • Opening hours: Mon–Thu 12:00–22:00; Fri 12:00–22:30; Sat 11:00–22:30; Sun 11:00–21:00
  • Best for: Dim sum date or stylish lunch

Dim Sum Library is a more polished choice when presentation and setting matter as much as the food. The Long Acre location feels contemporary rather than traditional, and the menu encourages sharing. It fits a date, a business lunch, or a slower weekend meal when you want dim sum without the rush of Chinatown.

6. Noodle & Beer Chinatown

  • Address: 27 Wardour St, London W1D 6PR
  • Google rating: 4.5/5
  • Price range: £20–30
  • Opening hours: Mon–Tue 12:00–23:00; Wed–Sat 12:00–04:00; Sun 12:00–23:00
  • Best for: Late-night noodles

This Wardour Street restaurant earns its place for late opening hours and a direct noodle-focused menu. The setting is informal and energetic, especially later in the evening when Soho stays busy. It is a practical choice after a show, drinks or a late arrival when many kitchens have already closed.

 

7. Bun House Chinatown

  • Address: 26–27 Lisle St, London WC2H 7BA
  • Google rating: 4.5/5
  • Price range: £10–20
  • Opening hours: Mon 12:00–21:00; Tue–Thu 12:00–22:00; Fri–Sat 12:00–22:30; Sun 12:00–21:30
  • Best for: Snacks, buns and a short Chinatown stop

Bun House is better for a compact meal than a formal dinner. The menu centres on filled buns and small plates, so two people can order several items and compare flavours. The Chinatown location stays lively most of the day, making it useful when you want food between sightseeing stops rather than a long reservation.

8. Funky Noodles

  • Address: 103 Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0DT
  • Google rating: 4.7/5
  • Price range: £10–20
  • Opening hours: Mon 12:00–21:30; Tue 12:00–21:30; Wed–Sun 12:00–22:00
  • Best for: Hand-pulled noodle comfort food

Funky Noodles has the quick pace of a Charing Cross Road stop, with the focus placed firmly on bowls of noodles rather than décor. It works well for solo diners and pairs who want a filling meal near Soho and Leicester Square.

9. Guilin Ramen House

  • Address: 64 Grafton Way, London W1T 5DP
  • Google rating: 4.8/5
  • Price range: £10–20
  • Opening hours: Mon–Sat 12:00–21:30; Sun 12:00–20:30
  • Best for: Rice noodles near Fitzrovia

Guilin Ramen House is another delicious option among restaurants in Fitzrovia when you want Chinese rice noodles and a smaller independent setting. The room is simple, so most of the experience comes from choosing the broth, toppings and spice level. It suits lunch, an early dinner or a low-key meal after exploring nearby museums.

10. San Hao

  • Address: 3 Gerrard St, London W1D 5PD
  • Google rating: 4.7/5
  • Price range: £10–20
  • Opening hours: Mon–Thu 11:00–22:00; Fri–Sat 11:00–22:30; Sun 11:00–22:00
  • Best for: Fast Chinatown meal

San Hao sits right at the start of Gerrard Street, so you step straight into Chinatown foot traffic. The format suits a quick meal with noodles, rice and small dishes rather than a drawn-out celebration. It is especially useful when your group wants something central before moving on to Soho or Leicester Square.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 叁號SAN HAO (@sanhao.ldn)

 11. Shanghai Family

Shanghai Family gives you a more practical, home-style meal near the British Museum and Tottenham Court Road. The room is modest and the menu is broad enough for groups to share several dishes. Choose it when you care more about familiar regional cooking and portion value than a polished special-occasion setting.

12. Ma La Sichuan

  • Address: 37 Monck St, London SW1P 2BL
  • Google rating: 4.6/5
  • Price range: £20–30
  • Opening hours: 
    • Tue–Fri 12:00–14:30, 17:30–22:30; 
    • Sat 12:00–22:30; 
    • Sun 16:00–22:00
  • Best for: Sichuan dinner near Westminster

If you came specifically for Sichuan flavours with numbing pepper, make mapo tofu one of the dishes on the table, you will experience a strong and unique flavour that is totally different from the usual hot sauce. Ma La Sichuan is a useful choice south of the main Soho cluster, especially when Westminster is already on your itinerary.

13. Master Wei Xi’An

  • Address: 13 Cosmo Pl, London WC1N 3AP
  • Google rating: 4.5/5
  • Price range: £10–20
  • Opening hours: 
    • Mon–Thu 11:30–22:00; 
    • Fri–Sat 11:30–22:30; 
    • Sun 12:00–21:00
  • Best for: Xi’an noodles and dumplings

Master Wei is the place to choose when hand-pulled noodles, dumplings and Xi’an flavours are the priority. The Cosmo Place dining room is compact and practical, with an easy walk from Russell Square. It suits travellers who want a regional Chinese meal without committing to a long dinner or a premium price point.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Master Wei (@master.wei.3150)

14. Shan Shui Social

  • Address: 14 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0QP
  • Google rating: 4.7/5
  • Price range: £20–50
  • Opening hours: 
    • Mon–Thu 12:00–15:00, 17:00–22:00; 
    • Fri–Sat 12:00–22:30; 
    • Sun 12:00–21:00
  • Best for: Dinner near Victoria and Buckingham Palace

Shan Shui Social works well when your day finishes around Victoria, Buckingham Palace or the West End theatres. Shrimp and scallop dumplings are a strong starting point for your meal, especially with the house chilli sauce, while the sweet pork belly char siu gives you something richer and more caramelised. The 1920s Shanghai-inspired setting also makes this better suited to a planned Victoria dinner for a date or group meal than a quick noodle stop.

 

 

16. Noodle & Snack

Do not judge this restaurant by its simple room. The handmade biang biang noodles are the dish customers mention most often, with their broad, chewy texture carrying chilli and sauce well. Pork dumplings and braised beef noodles are dependable additions, while sweet and sour pork gives the table something less noodle-focused. Google reviews also repeatedly point to strong portions and value.