London is slowly beginning to reopen, so I would like to share my evening in Chinatown. The quickest way to get there from LSE is to take the Piccadilly line to Leicester Square. There are lots of things to do and fabulous places to eat and drink. If you’re looking for a special place to eat, or spend an afternoon or evening, I recommend visiting Chinatown!
Things to do
There are lots of fun things to do around this area, for example, I went to go see Six, the musical! We were spaced apart from other parties, but it was great to see theatre back on. There are some great shops to buy things, from souvenirs to spices, as well as nail salons and acupuncture clinics. It’s also a lovely place to slowly wander around and people watch. It’s a small space, so take your time soaking up the atmosphere.
Something to eat
Be prepared to be overwhelmed with options! There are some excellent dim sum restaurants, such as Dumplings Legend (for seriously legendary dumplings), fried chicken, buns, noodles, and regional Chinese dishes such as Leong’s Legend or roast duck at Four Seasons. Wherever you decide to eat, you’ll find something very scrummy. If you’re unsure what to get or where to start and what to order, I recommend trying char siu bao (bbq pork buns), steamed prawn dumplings, and pork and vegetable dumplings. (The crispy roast pork at Dumplings Legend is wonderful) There are also lots of vegetarian options, such as vegetable dumplings, spring rolls, tasty crispy seaweed, and very tasty tofu options. For some Canton dishes, congee is also very tasty, as are steamed rice rolls!
Something sweet
There are so many restaurants in Chinatown, so make the most of the options and explore for something sweet! The Golden Gate Cake Shop sells truly beautiful char siu bao as well as cakes and other tasty sweet treats. The café, Bake, gave me powerful memories of buying pineapple buns or custard tarts in bakeries in Hong Kong, and they also sell tasty vanilla and matcha soft ice cream in taiyaki cone. There are also yummy waffles to be found in some bakeries in Chinatown! Be adventurous!
Something to drink
There are some cute tea rooms in the area, such as XU Tea House where tea is imported from Taiwanese teahouses. There are also excellent options for bubble tea including Happy Lemon and Biju Bubble Tea Room. If you go in the evening, be prepared to wait – but it’s worth it! For cocktails, you must visit Opium Cocktail Bar for some tasty drinks in a great atmosphere.
I hope you enjoy your trip to Chinatown whether it’s sunny or rainy, evening or daytime!
This post was written in late May 2021. Please consult the UK Government website for the latest coronavirus guidance. Find out more on LSE’s response to coronavirus here.
