Duck and Rice

Chinese feasting, pub style

Feasting time!

Duck and Rice is one of the most unique Chinese restaurants you would see in the UK, a hybrid of a British pub and Chinese restaurant, Duck and Rice is all about serving premium Chinese cuisine with a fine selection of beer to match, spread across 2 floors. The restaurant also sticks to the true British pub identity, hosting regular bingo and quiz nights. The menu of Duck and Rice offers beyond your typical Chinese restaurants, there are plenty of classic Cantonese dishes, but also some other Asian influenced dishes from the like of Japan, such as gyoza and yakitori. 

Shikumen Aldgate

Modern Cantonese in East London

Roasted Chilean Sea Bass Fillet in Black Truffle Sauce

Shikumen has always been one of the better Chinese restaurants in London. Sadly, it has closed down its Earling and Finchley sites with now only Algate and its original Shepherd's Bush sites remaining. Shikumen Algate is located inside the Dorsett City Hotel, the menu is mostly Cantonese with a few regional Chinese dishes in the mixed. You can find many classic dishes such as sweet and sour and dim sum, but also some modern and premium offering that you would not be able to see in most Chinese restaurants in China Town, such as roasted sea bass in black truffle and smoked black Angus beef, which reflects its position as a hotel restaurant.

China Tang London

Classic Cantonese in luxury hotel setting 

Peaking duck at China Tang

China Tang, the Chinese fine dining restaurant inside the 5 stars Dorchester Hotel is one of the top destination restaurants for wealthy travelers from around the world. Located inside the basement of the hotel, this iconic Chinese restaurant was created by the late Sir David Tang, featuring a stunning art deco inspired cocktail bar and dining room. The menu is mostly classic Cantonese dishes, along with some modern dishes created by chef Fong, the head chef who has been at China Tang for over 7 years. This is an extremely popular restaurant, and can even be packed out on a Monday night, so booking is recommended.

Yauatcha City

Modern high-end dim sum restaurant

Homemade spinach tofu with shimeji mushroom with baby asparagus

Part of the mighty Hakkasan empire, Yauatcha is a dim sum restaurant concept that gained success when it was first launched in Soho more than 10 years ago. These days, it has over 10 sites across the world, Yauatcha City is the second site in the UK. The menu is mostly based on Cantonese dim sum, just like in many other classic Chinese restaurants, you will find steam, bake and deep fry dim sum, along with some wok based and stir fry dishes. However, Yauatcha has a strong brand identity with a modern and edgy decor to match, along with some signature dishes that itself become a classic, with many other Chinese restaurants trying to copy.

Pachamama East

East meets South America

Octopus, black quinoa, onion, lime

Fusion cuisine is something that is hard to get it right, but when managed, it can be something truly beautiful and expressive. On top of that, it is not restricted by rules with an open canvas that allows endless creativity and ideas, which can lead to many exciting concepts and styles. Pachamama East is somewhat a unique concept in London, merging Asian and Peruvian flavours. The restaurant itself is modern, edgy with open bar seating and live DJ playing music at the weekends. The menu at Pachamama East is designed to be more sharing, with many small dishes in tapas sizes that allow diners to enjoy a wide range of flavours in one single setting.

Park Chinois

The king of Chinese cuisine in London

Native Lobster, Vermicelli Noodles, Scrambled Eggs

After trying out most of the top end Chinese restaurants in London, it is fair to say that Park Chinois is clearly above the rest. Put the glamour and nightclub elements away, if we are just focusing on the food, it is really exceptional. And I am wondering why the hell it has not yet reach Michelin star status. Not only the cooking is clever with a modern touch, but Park Chinois is also committed to source really high standard ingredients to offer exceptional Chinese fine dining quality cooking. I am back at Park Chinois for the fourth time for a special celebration, knowing that without a doubt, something spectacular will be waiting for me.

Kai Mayfair

Chinese fine dining in Mayfair

Roast rack of veal with soy reduction

Kai Mayfair has been around for over 10 years now, one of the few Chinese restaurants in the UK that has a Michelin star. The fine dining restaurant is headed up by chef Alex Chow, the cooking is mostly based on Nanyang style but with plenty of modern and regional Chinese cuisine elements. As a holder of the Michelin star for 10 years straight, Kai clearly has got its consistency right. There are not a lot of great quality Chinese restaurants in the UK at the fine dining level so I was interested to see what Kai can offer as we are slowly witnessing more and more Chinese restaurants opening with the rise of interest in Chinese regional cuisines.

Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine London

Traditional high-end Cantonese cuisine

Silver cod baked in soy

Over the last couple of years, London has been flooded with oversea Asian concepts. From Monga Fried Chicken, Din Tai Fung to Jobilee. Imperial Treasure, from Singapore, also launch its very first restaurant in London and targetting Paris for the coming year. The concept of Imperial Treasure is fairly simple, it is all about traditional Cantonese cuisine but at a refined level. The group has over 20 restaurants back in the Far East, with the Hong Kong site landed a Michelin star for the last 2 years. I was not overly impressed with I dine at the Hong Kong site back in January, and I wonder can the London site make a difference considering the menu is so similar.

Chinese Cricket Club

Neo Oriental flair

Located in the City inside the Crowne Plaza hotel, Chinese Cricket Club is somewhat a unique Chinese restaurant in London. It is not your typical Cantonese style restaurant you would find in China Town, and from a price point of view, it is more premium but far from to the level of fine dining. Foodwise it offers a range of regional Chinese cuisines, from Huaiyang, Sichuan to Cantonese, at the same time the menu is clearly also influenced by British Chinese with the like of crispy duck appearing. Showing the restaurant needs to also tailor for diners that are used to the classic UK Chinese offering.