The food scene in London has to be one of the best in the world. You can eat food from practically every corner of the globe. With so many options, it can be hard to choose what to eat, let alone where. Even once you decide on a cuisine, which restaurant should you choose to visit?
Looking for a new place or cuisine to try? Look no further than these 11 Asian restaurants in London!
Why Asian foods? As such a massive and diverse continent, Asia features an amazing and vibrant range of foods and flavors. So many of my favorite dishes come from Asia, and I love to introduce people to new foods and drinks that they can enjoy.
There is no shortage of Asian restaurants in London, and there are so many to try. I certainly haven’t been to every highly-regarded spot. By no means an exhaustive list (especially for a city like London!), these are some excellent Asian restaurants that have stood out not only to me, but also my dining companions.
The spots are arranged in alphabetical order by cuisine and restaurant name for ease of organization.
Table of Contents
Cantonese/Dim Sum
Hakkasan
We’re starting this list off a bit fancy. Hakkasan is a swanky Michelin-starred restaurant, serving up high-class Cantonese and dim sum.
The ambience of Hakkasan is dark and sumptuous, with inky walls and strategically-placed dim lighting. There are well-stocked liquor shelves and a glass case displaying delectable desserts.
The dim sum is pricey, but oh, it is good. The char siu bao were so delicious I had to order another set. But with the high prices come craftsmanship and attention to detail. Just look at these puffs that are astonishingly pumpkin-like, upper left corner below.
Some of our dim sum spread at Hakkasan
My friends and I ordered a range of dim sum dishes, and I know we were all quite happy eating here. It seems like their menu items change occasionally, as some of the dishes we had don’t seem to be on the menu now. But I bet you can’t go wrong ordering anything that sounds good.
Some close-ups of my dishes
Both locations offer set menu dim sum (e.g. steamed, baked, vegan, supreme). If you’d like to choose your own selection, the Mayfair location has a dim sum lunch a la carte. So visit in the afternoon and indulge in some world-class food!
Hakkasan London Locations
Hanway Place – 8 Hanway Place, W1T 1HD
Mayfair – 17 Bruton Street, W1J 6QB
Filipino
Romulo Café and Restaurant
Unfortunately for me, I have not had the opportunity to travel to the Philippines at the time of writing this post. But my friends that have visited always rave about Filipino food.
But fortunately for me, I lived nearby Romulo for a short while and had my first foray into Filipino food there. It was so good I went back again a few weeks later. It’s easily one of the best Asian restaurants in London that I’ve had the pleasure of dining at.
The setting is very bright, airy, and chic, with pops of color and walls adorned with photos of various people.
A bit of the ambience
But the food. It is beyond fantastic. They start you off by bringing you a few rolls of pandesal, a classic Filipino roll. It is warm, fluffy, moist, just everything you want a roll to be.
Both times I went I had the chicken adobo because it was that good. This signature Filipino dish was so juicy, and had this great harmony of flavors. Their crispy pork was also quite delicious.
Pandesal, chicken adobo, and crispy pork
I finished out my first visit with halo halo, ube (purple yam) ice cream topped with jackfruit, pandan jellies, coconut, banana, and leche flan. It was also delicious, but definitely too much for one person to finish. Try sharing this huge dessert between a couple people!
They also gave us some lovely coffee-flavored candies when we paid.
Halo halo, coffee candy
I also tried the ube cream cheese pandesal and the dulce de leche pandesal, which were quite fluffy and soft. But the fillings left a bit to be desired for my personal tastes. Even so, I would love to try their other baked desserts sometime!
Filled pandesal, outside and inside
Romulo Address
343 Kensington High Street
W8 6NW
Indian
Dishoom
Dishoom is a well-known and well-loved institution in London, and for good reason. These restaurants serve up food inspired by the Irani cafes of Bombay in gorgeous settings. Visit them in the morning for some brunch or in the evening for dinner and drinks.
I have eaten at 3 different Dishooms (Covent Garden, Shoreditch, and Kensington) and I have loved the ambiance of every location. Each restaurant is a trip back in time, with decor reminiscent of a Bombay of a bygone era.
Some of the decor of Dishoom, including tongue-in-cheek signs
It’s definitely worth visiting Dishoom at least twice, once to try their breakfast foods and once to try their all day menu. Their all day offerings are a range of appetizers, curries, biryanis, and grilled items, including a number of vegan options. They also have a sizeable drinks list with both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages.
Mango lassi, chai, and various foods at Dishoom
Though I found all the food I’ve had at Dishoom enjoyable (as did my friends), if I had to suggest only one menu, I would recommend going in the morning for breakfast.
Their other food is great, but their breakfast has some distinctive and delicious foods. Treat yourself to a naan roll with various fillings, or try dipping a bun maska into the house chai.
My naan roll and bun maska
Dishoom London Locations
Carnaby – 22 Kingly Street, W1B 5QB
Covent Garden – 12 Upper St Martin’s Lane, WC2H 9FB
Kensington – 4 Derry Street, W8 5SE
King’s Cross – 5 Stable Street, N1C 4AB
Shoreditch – 7 Boundary Street, E2 7JE
Locations also in Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Manchester
Indian Butler
From baltis to vindaloos, their menu has an absolutely massive array of foods. They probably offer something that can cater to every palate and craving. They also have a number of appetizers and vegetable side dishes (that can be made into main dishes!) if you want to try a bunch of foods.
Some beautiful garlic naan and butter chicken curry
Their butter chicken and garlic naan are some of the best I have had in a very long time. I would definitely recommend grabbing one of their curries and/or some naan!
Indian Butler Address4 Pinchin Street
E1 1SA
Masala Zone Covent Garden
Masala Zone’s restaurant in Covent Garden definitely has some of the most unique decorations of any Indian restaurant I’ve ever visited. Dangling from the ceiling around the entire restaurant is an incredible assortment of puppets. These stunning Rajasthani puppets are displayed in vibrant costumes in various poses.
Some puppets hanging around Masala Zone
Besides the remarkable decor, the food was also quite delicious. Our appetizer, main courses, and dessert were all very good. I particularly liked the samosa and chana masala appetizer and kulfi (frozen dessert) we had.
With a menu that regularly changes, there is always something new to try. Their menu features classic Indian foods, as well as lesser-known dishes. Of particular note are their thalis, traditional platters comprised of 4 ounces of curry and small servings of various vegetables, grains, and proteins.
Appetizer, curries, and kulfi
Masala Zone Covent Garden Address
48 Floral Street
WC2E 9DA
Other London Locations
Bayswater – 75 Bishops Bridge Road, W2 6BG
Camden – 25 Parkway, NW1 7PG
Earls Court – 147 Earls Court Road, SW5 9RQ
Islington – 80 Upper Street, N1 0NU
Selfridges – Garden Cafe 4th Floor, Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, W1U 1AT
Soho – 9 Marshall Street, W1F 7ER
[Related article: Walkable itinerary of things to do in the East End and City of London]
Japanese
Coco Ichibanya Curry House
This terrific Japanese chain serves up totally customizable curry, as well as other entrees and sides.
Whatever curry you want, they can make it. You can choose your toppings, amount of rice, and spiciness level. They have a huge range of toppings, including chicken or pork katsu, beef, sausage, eggplant, tofu, mushrooms, spinach, shrimp tempura, fried squid, clams, kimchi, and even natto. You can also add an omelette to your curry to have curry omurice (which is what I always do)!
Katsu curry omurice times two
Among their sides and drinks, you can order naan and smoothies that are like lassis. I personally really enjoy their mango lassi, though it’s pretty sweet.
I’ve actually eaten at these curry houses in at least 3 countries now, including multiple locations in Japan. Their customizable menu, affordable prices, decent quality, and huge portion sizes keep me coming back for more.
Coco Ichibanya Locations
Bond Street – 39 James Street, W1U 1DL
Leicester Square – 17-18 Great Newport Street, WC2H 7JE
Shoryu
Honestly, I’m pretty picky about my ramen. I’m not often impressed by ramen I’ve had, even in Japan. But the ramen at Shoryu, which specializes in said dish, is one of those tasty exceptions.
With a multitude of locations across London, Shoryu is easily accessible and definitely worth a try. Try their signature ganso tonkotsu ramen, or order one of their specialty ramen bowls for something with a bit of a twist. You can also add extra toppings to your ramen if you’re feeling fancy.
Ramen and Hirata buns at Shoryu
If ramen isn’t enough, try one of their Hirata buns or other classic Japanese sides like gyoza or takoyaki. The BBQ pork bun is quite delicious.
They do have a few vegetarian options, including one ramen, but their food is overwhelmingly not vegetarian.
Shoryu London Locations
Carnaby – G3-5 Kingly Court, W1B 5PJ
Covent Garden – 35 Great Queen Street, WC2B 5AA
Liverpool Street – 33 Broadgate Circle, EC2M 2QS
New Oxford Street – 84 New Oxford Street, WC1A 1HB
Regent Street – 9 Regent Street, SW1Y 4LR
Seven Sisters – 110–118 Markfield Road, N15 4QF
Shoreditch – 45 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HP
Soho – 3 Denman Street, W1D 7HA
Westfield Stratford City – 1 Fresh Food, Great Eastern Market, E20 1GL
Locations also in Manchester and Oxford
Korean
Gogi
Gogi (literally “meat” in Korean) is a Korean restaurant offering both regular Korean dishes and Korean barbecue a bit north of Paddington Station.
The brick walls and cool lighting make for a modern barbecue setting. The restaurant also features a patio with outside seating and fairy lights that looked nice to dine on.
They offer a large variety of Korean foods, including banchan (traditional Korean side dishes), soups and stews, bibimbap, mandu (dumplings), and pajeon (savory pancakes). They also serve multiple kinds of meat and seafood for grilling.
Fried chicken, beer, and strawberry soju at Gogi
We visited specifically to eat barbecue, but we also ordered fried chicken and drinks. The fried chicken was excellent, and the barbecue meat was your characteristic meat but also nice.
For a more legit Korean barbecue experience, order some Cass beer and/or soju, a Korean spirit. If you mix the beer and soju, that’s a drink that Koreans call somaek. Or try mixing one of the fruit sojus with Sprite for a refreshing and delicious beverage.
Gogi Address
451 Edgware Road
W2 1TH
Yori
Our barbecue spread and fried chicken at Yori
In Korea, when you get barbecue, you are served an array of side dishes (the aforementioned banchan), including kimchi and often lettuce to wrap your meat in. But at many Korean restaurants outside of Korea, you have to pay extra for any side dishes.
Eating at Yori, I was excited because they included kimchi, bean sprouts, cooked seaweed, and lettuce with our meat. Our fried chicken even came with a style of salad that I have absolutely been served many times in Korea on the side. All this felt made Yori feel like any other legitimate barbecue joint in Korea.
Yori Locations
Clapham Junction – 196 Lavender Hill, SW11 1JA
Covent Garden – 15 Catherine St, WC2B 5JZ
Ealing – 15 The Green, W5 5DA
Piccadilly Circus – 6 Panton Street, SW1Y 4DL
Wimbledon – 86 The Broadway, SW19 1RH
Malaysian
Tukdin
Tukdin is an unpretentious Malaysian eatery with a casual atmosphere tucked away just north of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park.
They offer a massive (and delicious!) assortment of Malaysian food and drinks. There are many classic dishes on their menu, including street or hawker foods like nasi lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk with toppings) and char kway teow (stir-fried flat noodles).
Our fantastic chicken satay, our other dishes
The chicken satay I had here is definitely one of the best I have eaten. So flavorful! I know that many restaurants have good chicken satay, but Tukdin really managed to make something special.
Their teh tarik, a kind of milk tea popular in Malaysia, was fantastic. The curry and rice dishes we ordered were also quite good.
Tukdin Address
41 Craven Road
W2 3BX
Thai
Rosa's Thai Cafe
Rosa’s is a casual Thai restaurant with locations all across London. I first came across them by walking past the vivid red facade of their original restaurant on Hanbury Street. The interior of this particular location is relaxed, but modern, and bright.
Their menu generally consists of many Thai favorites, including pad thai, tom yum soup, red curry, green curry, and kao pad (Thai fried rice). All the dishes are served up on vibrant plates, adding more pops of color to the setting.
Pad thai and Panang curry
Their pad thai is so delicious I had to order it on multiple occasions. For something with a spicy kick, try one of their curries. Their Panang curry is one of the best I’ve had both in and out of Thailand. Their chicken satay is also quite nice.
Want to try something spicy but worried about the heat? Get a Thai iced tea with milk to cool off.
I also tried their mango sticky rice once, but it was a bit underwhelming.
Thai tea (milk and without milk), chicken satay
Rosa’s London Locations
Angel – 6 Theberton Street, N1 0QX
Baker Street – 100 Baker Street, W1U 6TW
Brixton – 36 Atlantic Road, SW9 8JW
Carnaby – 23a Ganton Street, W1F 9BW
Chelsea – 246 Fulham Road, SW10 9NA
Clapham Junction – 54 Northcote Road, SW11 1PA
Ealing – 33 Haven Green, W5 2NX
Finsbury Park – Unit 10, City North, N4 3FP
Greenwich – 16 Nelson Road, SE10 9JB
Hackney/London Fields – 381 Railway Arches, E8 3PH
Queensway – 36 Queensway, Bayswater, W2 3RX
Seven Dials – 26 Earlham Street, WC2H 9LN
Spitalfields – 12 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR
Soho – 48 Dean Street, W1D 5BF
Tooting – 70 Tooting High Street, SW17 0RN
Tower Bridge – 2 Duchess Walk, Unit 6.1, One Tower Bridge, SE1 2SD
Victoria – 25 Gillingham Street, SW1V 1HN
Waterloo – 77 The Cut, SE1 8LL
Westfield Stratford – World Food Court, 1st Floor, E20 1GN
West Hampstead – 152A West End Lane, NW6 1SD
Delivery only from Blackwall, Crouch End, and Streatham
New veggie-only menu available through delivery or pick-up from Hackney and Finsbury Park
Locations also in Birmingham, Greenhithe, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, and Reading (delivery only)
