It doesn’t get much better than freshly made dumplings, steaming hot dim sum, fragrant fried rice, and fill-your-own Chinese pancakes, all washed down with an ice-cold pint of Tsingtao Beer.
You can enjoy all this and more, in one of the City’s many Chinese restaurants, sure to be brimming with Chinese New Year revellers come 22 January – and beyond.
Across Asia, the celebrations last an impressive 16 days, with seven of those days typically gifted to the public as national holidays.
Luckily, most restaurants in and around the City run their Chinese New Year specials for a week or so before and after the day itself, so you could visit more than a couple from our list to make the most of the holiday!
Whether you’ll be heading to the highest-end Chinese dining institutions or the smaller, less assuming local spots, you can be sure of a cracking experience.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your chopsticks, raise your glass and shout, ‘Ganbei’!
Four Seasons Wardour Street Chinese
One of four branches in London, the Four Season’s acclaimed Chinese restaurant on Wardour Street, Soho, is not to be missed. Not too far from the City, the eatery is famous for their ability to do everything well, Four Seasons Wardour Street presents a little bit of everything – including traditional favourites like Deep Fried Crispy Spring Rolls, Stir Fried Kung Pao Chicken, and ‘Fu Jian’ Fried Rice. Dive into a wealth of flavours that will have you coming back again and again.
With a buzzy yet fuss-free vibe and a witty take on traditional Cantonese and Sichuanese dishes, the Four Seasons Wardour Street is the perfect venue for an authentic Chinese meal to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
23 Wardour Street W1D 5PR
fs-restaurants.co.uk/wardour-street
Hakkasan Hanway Place
Based at Hanway Place, just around the corner from the British Museum, the Michelin-starred Hakkasan Hanway Place combines modern Cantonese cuisine, world-class mixology, and dramatic design. Part of a chain of Hakkasan restaurants, recognised around the world, Hakkasan Hanway Place was conceived by famous interior designer, the late Christian Liaigre.
Dishes and drinks are works of Asian art, bursting with vibrant colours and flavours to match, all of which is contrasted with dark and cool interiors.
In collaboration with Hennessy X.O, Hakkasan are hosting an exclusive Chinese New Year dinner and cocktails event on Wednesday 18th January, including theatrical contemporary performances and decorations. If you miss that however, you can still visit to enjoy the eclectic menu, which includes delights like Lobster Lychee with Yuzu Pearls, and Supreme Dim Sum, featuring an assortment of fillings.
8 Hanway Place W1T 1HD
hakkasan.com/hanway-place
Hutong
Are you looking for food that will tickle your taste buds? Do you enjoy incredible views of London from above? Then Hutong is the place to head this Chinese New Year. Situated on level 33 of The Shard, Hutong will impress you with its occasionally fiery Northern Chinese dishes and gorgeous cocktails served in their Shanghai Bar.
Try the Red Lantern – crispy soft crab with Shihaun dried chilli – with a side of Mapo Tofu, finished off with a Mandarin Pudding with Fruit Salsa and Mandarin Sorbet. Yum! If you fancy a cocktail with dinner, highly recommended is the Jasmine Garden – jasmine tea infused Tanqueray Nº Ten, clarified grapefruit juice, elderflower cordial and soda.
Level 33 The Shard SE1 9RY
hutong.co.uk
Kirin
If you’ve not been to Kirin before… where have you been hiding? It’s one of the Square Mile’s most established oriental restaurants and is located in a sought-after area in the City – right next to Mansion House and directly opposite multiple commercial offices and banks.
Along with a stand-out menu – which combines food from all 14 diverse regions of China – Kirin provides diners with fun-for-all entertainment… karaoke! Don’t worry, if you’re not into people singing badly, your dinner won’t be spoiled – guests can reserve their own private karaoke rooms to sing the night away with their friends. It’s the perfect way to celebrate Lunar New Year and enjoy the flavours of the orient.
10 College Hill EC4R 2RP
kirins.co.uk
Yauatcha
This sweet spot in Broadgate Circle is held in high regard at City Matters HQ (we aren’t shy when playing favourites). From carefully sourced ingredients to the painstaking attention to detail given to each plate as it crosses the pass, everything at Yauatcha is given the highest amount of care and consideration. What does that mean? Tasty dishes fit for an Emperor, that’s what. The dim sum is the pick of the bunch, and you’ll find us attacking basket after basket with chopsticks all through January. Because we can.
1 Broadgate Circle EC2M 2QS
yauatcha.com
Master Wei and Xi’an Biang Biang Noodles
Chef Wei Guirong – behind Biang Biang Noodles in Spitalfields – and Zhang Chao – responsible for the kitchen of Master Wei in Bloomsbury – are the culinary masterminds behind this sensational spot, borne out of the success of Highbury sensation Xi’an Impression. With queues wrapping right around the block, Guirong and Chao decided to embark on a new venture, and hey presto: we welcomed Master Wei and Xi’an Biang Biang Noodles to the Chinese foodie scene. The dream team’s menu is well tucking into in January – and every other month of 2023 in fact. The biang biang noodles, well, bang, and have helped the new joint replicate the success of its North London cousin.
62 Wentworth Street E1 7AL
xianbiangbiangnoodles.com
Three Uncles
Three is the magic number, as the old saying goes, and thanks to a trio of good friends hailing from Hong Kong, the City is being treated to some wondrous Cantonese roast meats, noodles and dim sum. Pitched close to Liverpool Street Station, Three Uncles is home to all your Chinese cuisine faves – standouts being the shredded duck and char siu bao buns. In a rush? You wouldn’t be in the Square Mile if you weren’t… Get yours to go. Just don’t forget the hoisin sauce.
12 Devonshire Row EC2M 4RH
threeuncles.co.uk
Sichuan Folk
How hot can you handle? It’s a fair question given the piquant hotpots boiling at Sichuan Folk – an unassuming spot off Brick Lane that is unapologetically authentic. This place is a firm fave with locals, and blockbuster plates could go for a lot more than they are priced up at (you can see why it’s so popular). If you are big into your Asian bites (and like to dial up the spice) slide on over for a proper taste of Chinese new year.
32 Hanbury Street E1 6QR
sichuanfolk.co.uk
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