Recommended by Chinatown: An Insider’s Guide

From traditional delicacies to viral desserts, visitors to Chinatown London all have their favourite eats and go-to spots. But where do the people who make the destination a captivating foodie haven like to go and eat? We caught up with a few members of the Chinatown community to find out what dishes they enjoy the most and where they recommend to go to get the best!

Katie, Manager China Modern

What is your favourite dish and where is the best spot in Chinatown to get it?

“Fried pork with chilli and garlic, you can find many variations of this dish at a number of places here in Chinatown including China Modern (Newport Place), as well as Lotus Garden, New China and Plum Valley (all found on Gerrard St). Although the name of the dish could be perceived to be ‘simple’ – this dish is very tasty due to the sauce which is very similar to sweet chilli. The meat is finely sliced, so it is incredibly tender and juicy with a slight crisp to it. Matched perfectly with a bowl of steamed rice and some fresh vegetables”.

Ice, Manager Candy Cafe

What is your favourite dish and where is the best spot in Chinatown to get it?

“I love black truffle and seafood rice, it offers such a rich and earthy flavour that pairs perfectly with the seafood. My favourite place to enjoy it is The Eight” (Shaftesbury Avenue)

And for dessert?

“Mango Pomelo Sago, it provides a sweet and refreshing finish to your meal! Enjoy at Candy Cafe (Macclesfield Street) or Pretty March (Little Newport Street)”

Jay, Co-owner Rasa Sayang

What is your favourite dish and where is the best spot in Chinatown to get it?

“My death row meal is Hainanese chicken rice. A dish that consists of perfectly poached chicken alongside rice which is cooked in chicken stock and chicken fat along with garlic, ginger, onions and pandan leaves – making it extremely fragrant. My wife cooks my favourite version but we serve a pretty good one here at Rasa Sayang (Macclesfield Street).

It is a dish that I grew up eating and my love for the dish has brought me on a lifelong journey searching for the best Hainanese chicken rice and endlessly experimenting in my home kitchen to recreate the dish”

Marina & Grace, Owners Lotus Garden

What is your favourite dish and where is the best spot in Chinatown to get it?

“A favourite has to be crispy duck, delicious deep fried aromatic duck shredded and served on a thin pancake with a layer of hoisin sauce, julienned cucumbers and spring onion for freshness against the flavoursome meat. This dish is perfected by Golden Phoenix (Gerrard St) – a great deal of care and attention has gone into this staple because of its significance in British Cantonese cuisine. It’s a flavour bomb, that’s for sure!”

Hyunjeong, Marketing Oseyo

What is your favourite dish and where is the best spot in Chinatown to get it?

“My all time favourite dish is ANYTHING with noodles. My go-to dish in Chinatown London is malatang, a hot and spicy soup. Zhang Liang Malatang (Shaftesbury Avenue) are masters of malatang – I don’t normally add meat to my soup but I always add noodles to make it feel more like a meal. It’s the perfect dish for people like me who just love hot, spicy, soup-based dishes!”

Emily, Owner Cuppacha & Taiyakiya

What is your favourite dish and where is the best spot in Chinatown to get it?

“I would pick the Malaysian dessert Sago Gula Melaka, it’s a taste of my childhood memories. I love the combination of the Gula Melaka (coconut palm sugar) and coconut milk. You’ll find this perfect pudding at C&R Café (Rupert Court)”.