Chinese cuisine covers a wide set of distinct regional cooking traditions rather than one national style. Cantonese cooking, the most familiar in London thanks to a long history of Cantonese immigration, favours steaming, stir-frying and dim sum, while Sichuan cooking leans on chilli and Sichuan pepper for heat and numbing spice, and coastal regions such as Fujian and parts of Guangdong have their own strong seafood traditions built around fresh fish and shellfish. A restaurant's specific regional focus shapes its menu far more than the general Chinese restaurant label suggests.

Chinese food in London ranges from casual noodle and dim sum spots to larger banquet-style restaurants serving whole steamed fish and shared platters. Cantonese-style cooking is the most common regional influence historically, though Sichuan, Hunan and other regional styles have all become well established in their own right. Menus often mix familiar dishes with more specifically regional ones, so two Chinese restaurants can look quite different depending on their focus.

Across London's 12 chinese restaurants in our directory, the highest concentration is in Westminster (5), Camden (1), Kensington and Chelsea (1), Brent (1), Tower Hamlets (1).

What's on the menu

Expect stir-fries, noodle and rice dishes, dim sum where offered, and whole cooked fish or shellfish on menus with a Cantonese or coastal lean. Dishes are frequently ordered to share across the table rather than as separate individual courses, particularly at larger or more traditional restaurants.

Seafood is well established in Chinese cooking, particularly in Cantonese and other coastal regional styles, where steamed whole fish, prawns, crab and scallops are common banquet dishes rather than a minor addition. It's less central to some inland regional styles, so a restaurant's regional focus is the best guide to how much seafood is likely to feature.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Cantonese and Sichuan restaurants in London?

Cantonese cooking tends to be milder, built around steaming and stir-frying with an emphasis on natural flavours, including a strong seafood tradition. Sichuan cooking is spicier and bolder, built around chilli and the distinctive numbing heat of Sichuan pepper. Many Chinese restaurants lean toward one style even without stating it explicitly.

Is dim sum available at every Chinese restaurant?

No, dim sum is specifically a Cantonese tradition, usually served at lunchtime, and not every Chinese restaurant offers it. It's worth checking a specific listing if dim sum is what you're after rather than assuming it's on every menu.

Where can I find a chinese restaurant in London?

We list 12 across London, with the largest concentration in Westminster (5 restaurants). Use the filters above to narrow down by borough or price.