9 Family Recipes from Chinatown London to Try Yourself

With Easter on the horizon, it’s likely a lot of us will be spending more time with our family than usual.

It’s the perfect opportunity to spend some time cooking and eating together – and so we’ve rounded up nine of the best recipes from Chinatown London for you to try yourself.

From our families to yours, they’re sure to bring everyone together for a delicious taste sensation!

1. Beef Rendang

Rendang is a typically Malaysian dish, and this beef version is perfect for bringing the family together – not least because of the extensive prep work that’s required! Dish creator, and Founder of Malaysian restaurant Rasa Sayang, Ellen Chew told us “Everybody in the family has to put some elbow grease into the preparation of this wonderful dish”.

This dish is available at Rasa Sayang, 5 Macclesfield St, London W1D 6AY.

2. Boiled Fish in Sichuan Chilli Oil

This is perfect for a family who like a little bit of spice. From the Sichuan experts at Jin Li, this recipe is the ultimate sharing centrepiece. The secret to getting it just right, we’re told, is using dried chilli to flavour the oil first – you heard it here!

Try this dish at Jin Li, Unit 15, Central Cross, 16-18 Newport Pl, London WC2H 7PR

3. Braised Pork Belly and Eggs

If you’re looking for a way to get the family eating something other than chocolate eggs, this might be the way – serve with a side of rice and then descend into a food coma.

Inspired by the menu at New China, 48 Gerrard St, London W1D 5QL.

4. Home-Style Fried Rice in King Soy Sauce

This Fried Rice is ready and waiting to become a family favourite in your home, just as it is in its creator Jeff Tan’s.  Made by his father for him, and now by Jeff for his son, it’s become a family symbol for him – so enjoy, from one family to another!

Available at Viet Food, 34-36 Wardour St, London W1D 6QT.

5. Seabass with Ginger and Spring Onion

This refreshing Spring dish is ideal as the piece de resistance at your family feast, as it’s as impressive to look at as it is to eat. The eye of the fish is traditionally thought of as the most nutritionally dense, so you might even have to fight over it as contributor Lucy Mitchell’s cousins would do when she was young.

Inspired by the ingredients on offer at SeeWoo Supermarket, 18-20 Lisle St, London WC2H 7BE.

6. Shanghai Style Pork & Crabmeat Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao)

If you’re a dim sum lover you’ll know how good these juicy soup dumplings are – if not, you’re in for a treat! Best made amongst family and friends, as each dumpling requires delicate and time-intensive folding, they’re well worth the effort.

Try them for yourself at Plum Valley, 20 Gerrard St, London W1D 6JQ.

7. Sichuan Dry Fried Green Beans

This dish might be made with humble, simple, ingredients, but it really packs a punch. It’s also great if you’re in a pinch on time, as it can be whipped up in five minutes.

Available at JinLi, 4 Leicester St, London WC2H 7BL.

8. Tom Yum Soup

This traditional Thai dish is a favourite the world over – and for good reason. This one has particular resonance, as it was cooked by Hot Pot founder Jerry Taechaubol’s grandmother for him. She was a woman who believed that ‘cooking makes a home complete’, and her Tom Yum soup is certainly testament to that.

Available at Hot Pot, 17 Wardour St, London W1D 6PJ.

9. Yu Sheng

This dish is traditionally used to celebrate Chinese New Year, but why confine the festivities? It’s the ideal way to get the whole family involved in the ritual of its eating, as tradition states everyone should toss ingredients into the air with their chopsticks to usher in good luck!

Inspired by the menu at C&R Café, 4-5 Rupert Ct, London W1D 6DY.

You can download all of the recipes mentioned above in our ‘9 Family Recipes From Chinatown London’ booklet.

Let us know if you try any of these dishes by tagging us @chinatownlondon on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter – we’d love to see what you create!