Chinatown goes global with these international restaurants

Taste four corners of the world in Chinatown London.

Since Chinese immigrants began establishing Chinatown in London’s West End in the 1950s, it’s been the home of traditional Chinese food. Owing to the ebb and flow of people and foodie trends over time, today this captivating corner of London presents an incredible array of Asian and international cuisines. Yes, Chinatown London is a truly global place where you’ll discover everything from cool Taiwanese chicken joints to award-winning Israeli cuisine.

Turning Japanese

Opening in 1992, Tokyo Diner was one of the earliest non-Chinese restaurants to arrive in Chinatown. A thoroughly authentic affair (it only employs Japanese chefs) it’s since built a reputation for the finest sushi in the area. For comforting Japanese curries, there’s a reason Misato has queues round the block for its sensational chicken katsu. The unassuming café is your go-to spot for beautiful bento boxes. For dessert, make a beeline for Bake to grab an Insta-ready tayaki; a fish-shaped waffle cone pumped with matcha ice cream.

Good morning Vietnam

When ex-Hakkasan chef Jeff Tan opened his much-loved Viet Food, Chinatown fell under Vietnamese cuisine’s spell. Tan’s chilli grilled sirloin salad and five spice soft shell crab won countless fans. Pho & Bun bring the fun with their 21^st century remix of Vietnamese street food favourites, pho soup and bao burger buns. For mouth-watering Viet soup, Le Hanoi are truly pho pros, selling ten different types.

Magical Malaysia

Homesick for her beloved laksa noodle soup, C&R Café’s Rosa opened up her Newport Court to satisfy her nostalgia and bring Malaysian cuisine to Chinatown’s masses. Her cooking is a firm favourite of food critic Jay Rayner. Rasa Sayang serves up authentic Malay-Singaporean dishes like nasi lemak and beef rendang with no-frills vibe.

Going Global

With an international outlook, Chinatown has welcomed countless international eateries over the past few decades. For much-venerated Israeli and Middle Eastern cuisine, the ultra-trendy Palomar is your new next dining destination. Eat its pork belly tagine amid stylish surroundings whilst watching the chefs at work in the open-kitchen. Journey to the Mediterranean at Hovarda, whose sensational Greek-Turish inspired seafood (and killer cocktails) will put a smile on your face. For dreamy Spanish tapas, Tapas Brindisa operates by the Castilian tradition of roasting tender suckling pigs and lamb in a giant wood-fired oven. One of Chinatown’s best kept dining secrets, Evelyn’s Table downstairs at The Blue Posts present a super-intimate experience with their 11-seater Modern European restaurant.