My kids are obsessed with Chinatown. This central London hub of East and Southeast Asian shops and restaurants became their foodie heaven when we first discovered bao buns as big as their head there for £3.50 (more on that later).
If you’re planning a trip, here are our favourite places to eat in London’s Chinatown to whet your appetite. We’re heading back there again in a few weeks to a) add some more must-visit spots to this list and b) find out the name of the £3.50 bao place. Watch this space.
1. The bao bun hole-in-the-wall place at the end of Newport Court
Next to Bao Spot, at the end of Newport Court where it joins Newport Place, there’s an amazing little place serving giant fluffy bao buns from a doorway. We picked up three buns from there in a rush, then ate them on the way back to the tube and realised we never got the name of the place. They were AMAZING, only £3.50 each, and big enough to fill us all up for tea. The kids have talked about ‘that place with the massive bao buns in Chinatown’ ever since, so we’ll report back when we figure out what it’s called.
2. Lucky Tea, 35 Newport Court
Just a bit further along Newport Court, Lucky Tea is my eldest’s favourite bubble tea stop-off. Choose your tea base – from classic milk to fruit teas – add your sugar level and desired amount of ice, then pick a topping (passionfruit popping pearls every time). Ours came in at a not-ridiculous-for-London £5.25.
3. Taiyakiya, 20 Newport Court
For Japanese sweet treats, it’s got to be Taiyakiya – and although it’s a bit of an Instagram cliche, you need to order a Taiyaki. This fish-shaped cake is light and pancakey, and we tried ours in both sweet (Nutella) and savoury (kimchi) form. Both were delicious, but the Nutella won, and we got two for £7.50. We’re heading back to try their much-raved-about lychee ice cream next.
4. Tianfu Lucky Foods, 13 Gerrard Street
Lucky Foods is where we go to fill up on Asian snacks and treats to take home, but be warned: it’s not for the claustrophobic. Step inside and it’s packed to the rafters, to the point that you can only walk round it one-way and basically need to grab what you want as you snake your way slowly towards the till. Don’t even think about going back for something, because there isn’t the space – just grab as you go. And don’t miss the downstairs bit, where you’ll find more in the way of ‘proper’ food rather than snacks. We visited this shop twice before we spotted the tiny stairwell at the back, which leads down to the basement.
5. Wheelcake Island, Seven Dials Market
OK so it’s not in Chinatown, but Wheelcake Island is only a seven-minute walk away and it’s well worth the trip. It’s in Seven Dials Market, another great place for food where the whole top floor – Cucumber Alley – is dedicated to puddings. The Taiwanese wheelcakes are ridiculously soft and squishy and stuffed with creamy fillings. We’ve tried them all, but can vouch for the vanilla custard. They make the best possible pudding for the train journey home.
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