From innovative Japanese fusion to authentic Chinese delicacies, the city offers a diverse range of Asian cuisines to satisfy every palate. The vibrant food culture in areas like Brixton, Tulse Hill, and West Norwood has an impact on the city’s dining landscape.
This guide highlights must-try Asian restaurants in London. We’ll explore trendsetting Japanese fusion spots, traditional Chinese eateries, Southeast Asian gems, and exciting pan-Asian hotspots. Whether you’re craving East Asian food in South London or looking to experience the best Asian cuisine the capital has to offer, this list has something to tempt every food lover.
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London’s Asian restaurant scene is evolving, with Japanese fusion leading the way. Two standout venues, Sexy Fish and The Ivy Asia, are pushing boundaries and redefining the dining experience in the capital.
Sexy Fish, located in Mayfair, has made a name for itself with its innovative approach to Japanese cuisine. The restaurant boasts the world’s largest Japanese whisky collection, offering a unique opportunity to pair exquisite sushi with rare spirits. The menu features a delightful mix of sushi, seafood, and meat cooked on a Robata grill, all designed to complement the extensive whisky selection.
The bar’s commitment to excellence is evident in their yearly-changing cocktail menu, a collaborative effort involving bartenders from Sexy Fish locations worldwide. Each drink is carefully crafted using advanced techniques such as infusion, distillation, and casein clarification, resulting in modern cocktails presented with refined flair.
What sets Sexy Fish apart is their dedication to the whisky experience. Many of the bottles in their vast collection have been opened and tasted alongside UK whisky experts, allowing the staff to provide personal tasting notes for guests looking to order by the dram. This attention to detail creates a truly immersive experience for whisky enthusiasts and novices alike.
The Ivy Asia, with its first London location in Mayfair, offers a different take on Asian fusion. The restaurant’s vast menu draws inspiration from various Asian cuisines, with a particular focus on Japanese flavours. Diners can enjoy an array of dishes, from salmon prepared three ways to black truffle, pork, and prawn dumplings topped with gold leaf.
One of the standout features of The Ivy Asia is its innovative sake cocktail menu. In collaboration with the sake brand Akashi-Tai, the restaurant has launched the ‘Sake Sensations’ menu across eight UK venues. This menu showcases the finest flavours of Japanese culture, offering an elevated dining and drinking experience.
The Ivy Asia’s expert mixologists have created an unmissable cocktail menu featuring artisan sake, allowing guests to enjoy the luxury of Eastern culinary excellence. For those interested in exploring sake, the restaurant offers a range of options, from sweet and sparkling varieties to full-bodied and dry sakes, perfect for pairing with seafood dishes.
Both Sexy Fish and The Ivy Asia offer more than just exceptional food and drinks; they provide a feast for the eyes as well. Sexy Fish’s decor is a visual spectacle, with the huge Japanese whisky collection displayed prominently on the bar’s shelves, creating an impressive backdrop for diners.
The Ivy Asia takes a different approach, with its breath-taking interiors designed to transport guests to the Far East. The restaurant boasts an antique gold mirrored bar and a spectacular illuminated floor crafted from green, semi-precious stone. Adding to the ambiance are 12 beautiful cherry blossom trees scattered throughout the main dining area, creating a truly immersive Asian-inspired atmosphere.
Both venues offer private dining spaces for special occasions, ensuring an intimate and luxurious experience for those looking to celebrate in style. As the night progresses, The Ivy Asia transforms into a lively spot with DJs working their magic every night of the week, keeping the atmosphere buzzing until late.
These innovative Japanese fusion restaurants are redefining Asian cuisine in London, offering unique dining experiences that blend traditional flavours with modern techniques and stunning surroundings. Whether you’re in Mayfair or exploring East Asian food in South London, these venues are must-visit destinations for food lovers seeking something extraordinary.
London’s Asian restaurant scene boasts some exceptional venues that offer authentic Chinese cuisine. Two standout establishments, Hunan and Four Seasons, have made a name for themselves by serving up delectable dishes that transport diners to the heart of China.
Hunan, located in Belgravia, has been a culinary institution since 1982. What sets this restaurant apart is its unique approach to dining – there’s no menu. Instead, patrons are treated to a chef’s choice tasting menu, a concept that was pioneering when Hunan first opened its doors.
The experience at Hunan typically involves a parade of around 18 small dishes, each carefully crafted to showcase the best of Chinese cuisine. The kitchen, led by talented chefs like Sam Wong, who previously worked at the prestigious Ming Court in Hong Kong, creates a culinary journey that blends traditional techniques with innovative twists.
Diners can expect a variety of flavours and textures, from delicate soups and dumplings to more robust meat and seafood dishes. The emphasis is on tasting a wide range of different things, with each course building on the last to create a comprehensive dining experience.
Four Seasons has earned a reputation as one of the best places in London to savour Cantonese-style roasted duck. This dish has become so renowned that it’s been hailed as “the best roast duck in the world” by some food critics.
The secret to Four Seasons’ success lies in their meticulous preparation and cooking process. The duck is expertly roasted to achieve a perfect balance of crispy skin and succulent meat. The result is a dish that shatters in the mouth, releasing a burst of flavour with each bite.
While the roast duck is undoubtedly the star of the show, Four Seasons also excels in other Cantonese specialties. Their menu features an array of delicious options, including crispy pork belly and char siu (barbecued pork), all prepared with the same attention to detail as their famous duck.
Both Hunan and Four Seasons showcase the diversity of Chinese cuisine by offering regional specialties that go beyond the typical dishes found in many Asian restaurants in London.
At Hunan, diners might encounter dishes inspired by various Chinese provinces, including Sichuan and Hakka cuisine. The restaurant’s no-menu approach allows the chefs to experiment with seasonal ingredients and regional recipes, providing a unique dining experience with each visit.
Four Seasons, while specialising in Cantonese cuisine, also offers a range of dishes that represent different regions of China. From Hong Kong-style wonton noodles to Sichuan-inspired spicy dishes, the restaurant provides a comprehensive taste of Chinese culinary traditions.
Both establishments have made a significant impact on London’s East Asian food scene, attracting food lovers from across the city, including those seeking authentic Chinese flavours in South London areas like Brixton, Tulse Hill, and West Norwood.
London’s Asian restaurant scene extends beyond East Asian cuisine, offering authentic Southeast Asian flavours that transport diners to the vibrant streets of Thailand and Myanmar. Two standout establishments, Singburi and Lahpet, have made a name for themselves by serving up delectable dishes that showcase the best of their respective cuisines.
Singburi, a small family-run Thai restaurant in Leytonstone, has developed a considerable following over the years. Chef-patron Sirichai Kularbwong has built a reputation for quality Thai cooking, making it essential to book a table in advance. The restaurant’s compact menu frequently changes, offering a range of authentic Thai dishes that keep patrons coming back for more.
One of Singburi’s standout features is its ever-changing specials board, which has become a focal point for regular diners. The blackboard menu showcases seasonal dishes and fan favourites, such as crispy pork belly with chilli, stir-fried clams, duck larb, and pork ribs in chilli paste. These specials often highlight the chef’s creativity and commitment to authentic flavours.
Singburi’s menu includes a variety of starters, stir-fries, curries, and soups, as well as vegetable dishes, rice, and noodles. Popular choices include the yam samun phrai, a northern Thailand herbal salad made with lime leaves, ginger, and lemongrass, and the pad talay seafood stir-fry with sweet basil and chilli. The restaurant’s gaeng massamun (massaman curry) has also received high praise from diners.
Lahpet has made a significant impact on London’s Asian restaurant scene by specialising in authentic Burmese cuisine. Named after Burma’s national delicacy, pickled tea leaves, Lahpet has become one of the city’s only restaurants to focus on the flavours of Myanmar. The restaurant aims to shine a light on this relatively untapped cuisine, presenting regional specialities and Burmese staple dishes with a hint of refinement and contemporary flair.
Founders Dan and head chef Zaw, both with Burmese heritage, are the driving forces behind the concept. Their menu includes traditional Burmese dishes such as tofu and split pea fritters served with a sweet and sour tamarind dip, and the namesake lahpet thohk salad. This unique salad consists of pickled tea, double-fried beans, dried shrimp, peanuts, chilli, and garlic oil, offering a complex flavour profile that’s distinctly Burmese.
Lahpet’s success has led to the opening of two locations in London, one in Shoreditch and another in the West End, making it easier for food lovers across the city to experience the flavours of Myanmar.
Both Singburi and Lahpet share a commitment to preserving the authenticity of their respective cuisines while creating welcoming, family-run atmospheres. Singburi’s small, functional space focuses on the kitchen, which turns out takeaways as well as serving dine-in customers. The restaurant’s unpretentious setting allows the food to take centre stage, with many diners praising the genuine flavours and spice levels in the dishes.
Lahpet, while offering a more contemporary dining experience, maintains a connexion to traditional Burmese recipes and cooking techniques. The restaurant’s founders draw inspiration from their Burmese food memories, upbringings, and roots to create a menu that celebrates the nuances and flavours of Myanmar cuisine.
These Southeast Asian gems have made a significant impact on London’s diverse culinary landscape, attracting food lovers from across the city, including those seeking authentic Asian flavours in South London areas like Brixton, Tulse Hill, and West Norwood. Their success demonstrates the growing appreciation for lesser-known Southeast Asian cuisines among London’s discerning diners.
Flesh & Buns brings the lively atmosphere of Japanese izakayas to London, offering a unique dining experience that combines traditional flavours with modern twists. The restaurant’s concept revolves around sharing, allowing guests to create their own culinary journey through a variety of small and larger plates.
The menu showcases an impressive array of dishes, from hand-rolled sushi to tender shredded duck, all designed to be shared in true izakaya style. One of the highlights is their signature steamed gua bao buns, which can be paired with an assortment of fillings such as grain-fed rib-eye steak, succulent pork belly, or vegetarian options like miso aubergine.
For those looking to explore the full breadth of Japanese cuisine, Flesh & Buns offers tasting menus that provide a comprehensive izakaya experience. These carefully curated selections allow diners to sample a wide range of flavours and textures, from delicate sashimi to hearty grilled meats.
Situated in Hatch End, North London, Dojo has made a name for itself as one of the capital’s premier Pan-Asian restaurants. The establishment prides itself on bringing together authentic and mouth-watering flavours from across Asia, offering diners a culinary journey that spans the continent.
Dojo’s menu is a testament to the diversity of Asian cuisine, featuring dishes inspired by the culinary traditions of various countries. From Vietnamese specialities to Indonesian delicacies and Indian-inspired creations, the restaurant offers an eclectic mix that caters to all palates. Standout dishes include unagi roasted eel sushi and an assortment of dim sum, showcasing the chef’s expertise in crafting authentic Asian flavours.
Both Flesh & Buns and Dojo have created environments that complement their innovative menus. Flesh & Buns embraces an Anime-inspired aesthetic, creating a friendly and intimate atmosphere that captures the essence of Japanese izakayas. The restaurant’s design encourages socialising and sharing, mirroring the communal dining experience found in traditional Japanese pubs.
Dojo, on the other hand, offers a sleek and unfussy ambiance that makes it ideal for both intimate celebrations and casual weeknight dinners. The restaurant’s modern setting provides a perfect backdrop for its diverse Pan-Asian offerings, allowing the food to take centre stage.
These trendy Asian restaurants in London have successfully blended traditional flavours with contemporary dining concepts, offering unique experiences that appeal to the city’s diverse and discerning diners. Whether you’re craving East Asian food in South London or exploring the culinary scene in areas like Brixton or Tulse Hill, these Pan-Asian hotspots provide a taste of Asia’s rich culinary heritage in the heart of the capital.
The diverse culinary landscape has a significant impact on the city’s dining culture, attracting food lovers from all corners of the capital, including areas like Brixton, Tulse Hill, and West Norwood. Whether you’re after trendsetting sushi and whisky pairings or craving the comforting familiarity of Cantonese roast duck, there’s something to satisfy every palate.
These must-try Asian restaurants showcase the best of what London has to offer. From family-run establishments serving up traditional recipes to sleek, modern venues pushing culinary boundaries, each restaurant brings its own unique flair to the table. So, whether you’re a longtime fan of Asian cuisine or just starting to explore its rich flavours, London’s Asian restaurant scene is sure to provide an unforgettable dining experience.
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