London is a city where Asian dining spans everything from tiny street-food joints to Michelin-starred temples, late-night Soho institutions, Mayfair power tables and members-only Japanese counters behind guarded doors. To make this landscape navigable for the stylish, the curious and those who prefer good taste over guesswork, this guide is divided into five insider categories:
Street Food & Casual, Traditional & Old-School, Modern & Trend-Led, Members’ Clubs, and Michelin-Starred.
1. STREET FOOD & CASUAL
Roti King — Euston (North London)
Best for: Those who crave rich Malaysian comfort food in a no-frills basement that feels like a delicious secret everyone knows but pretends they don’t.
London’s most beloved Malaysian canteen, Roti King serves flaky, buttery roti canai with deeply spiced curries in a tiny, perpetually packed spot behind Euston station. It is loud, warm, messy in the best way and utterly addictive — the kind of place chefs and locals swear by.
Address: 40 Doric Way, Euston, NW1 1LH
Website: https://www.rotiking.co.uk/
Bun House — Soho (Central London)
Best for: Hong Kong nostalgia, late-night bao cravings, and the fashion crowd grabbing soft buns between shows.
Bun House offers impossibly soft Cantonese steamed buns filled with pork, lamb, chicken or sweet custard, alongside comforting Hong Kong-style street snacks. With its neon glow and fast-moving energy, it’s a quintessential Soho bite — perfect before drinks or after.
Address: 26–28 Lisle Street, Soho, WC2H 7BA
Website: https://bun.house/
BAO — Soho (Central London)
Best for: Those who love a cult favourite — the chic crowd who line up because it’s worth it.
This is the original BAO that ignited London’s Taiwanese bun scene. Intimate, atmospheric and endlessly cool, it serves pristine milk buns, xiao chi plates and inventive Taiwanese twists. A true Soho favourite — small, stylish and always buzzing.
Address: 53 Lexington Street, Soho, W1F 9AS
BAO — Fitzrovia (Central London)
Best for: Diners who want Taiwanese flavours with a more refined, experimental, almost gallery-dinner edge.
Located among Fitzrovia’s art galleries and chic cafés, this BAO outpost goes deeper — elegant small plates, bold flavours, and meticulous presentation. A calmer, more grown-up take on the cult concept.
Graam Bangla — Brick Lane (East London)
Best for: An insider’s Bangladeshi experience — homestyle, soulful and the opposite of the tourist curry houses outside.
A Brick Lane landmark for Sylheti Bangladeshi food, Graam Bangla specialises in bhortas, river-fish curries and lightly spiced, flavour-packed dishes that feel genuinely homemade. It’s modest, warm and deeply authentic.
Address: 68 Brick Lane, East London, E1 6RL
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
2. TRADITIONAL & OLD-SCHOOL
Wong Kei — Chinatown (Central London)
Best for: Cantonese classics served with glorious speed and zero fuss — the kind of place where everyone from students to socialites eats without pretense.
A Chinatown institution with chaotic charm. Wong Kei is legendary for huge portions, fast service and an unapologetically old-school attitude. The food is hearty, generous and timeless — a London icon.
Address: 41–43 Wardour Street, Chinatown, W1D 6PX
Website: https://wongkeilondon.com/
Esarn Kheaw — Shepherd’s Bush (West London)
Best for: West Londoners who know exactly where to go for real, fiery Isan Thai dishes made the proper way.
A beloved local spot since the ’90s, Esarn Kheaw specialises in deep, aromatic North Eastern Thai cooking — spicy salads, grilled meats and curries with bold flavours. It’s family-run, genuine and adored by loyal regulars.
Address: 314 Uxbridge Road, Shepherd’s Bush, W12 7LJ
Website: https://esarnkheaw.com/
Royal China Club — Marylebone (Central London)
Best for: Elegant dim sum lunches that feel like a power meeting and a treat all at once.
One of London’s most refined Cantonese dining rooms, Royal China Club combines luxury ingredients with precise dim sum craftsmanship. It’s polished, grown-up and ideal for special occasions or business lunches.
Address: 40–42 Baker Street, Marylebone, W1U 7AJ
Sushinoen — Whitechapel (East London)
Best for: Neighbourhood Japanese dining with a side of karaoke — the perfect mix of calm dinner and chaotic fun.
A friendly East London restaurant known for fresh sushi, comforting hot dishes and a surprisingly lively basement karaoke room. It balances tradition with a fun, community feel.
Address: 2 White Church Lane, Whitechapel, E1 7QR
Website: https://www.sushinoen.com/
