London’s food & restaurant scene is a melting pot of global flavors. When it comes to Asian cuisine, London truly delivers. It is no secret that I am obsessed with Asian food. I love cooking it. I love eating it. I love everything about the strong flavors. I’ve written similar Asian food guides for cities like Düsseldorf, Berlin & Cologne, because it is one of the most common food categories I search for when traveling. 

From sizzling woks at street food stalls to elegant Michelin-starred restaurants, London offers a mouthwatering selection of must-try spots for fans of dumplings, noodles, and aromatic curries. 

In this guide, I’m taking you on a flavor-packed journey through 12 must-try Asian restaurants in London, sorted by style of Asian cuisine. If you're looking for my other London food content, check out my full London food & restaurant guide here.

Whether you’re a die-hard foodie (like me!) or just dipping your chopsticks into new flavors, these restaurants will transport you straight to the bustling food markets of Bangkok, Mumbai, and beyond—without ever leaving London. I haven’t tried every Asian restaurant in London, but I’m working on it. These foodie spots are my favorite Asian restaurants in London.

12 Must-Try Asian Restaurants in London

Sri Lankan

Hoppers

With locations all around the city, Hoppers started serving casual Sri Lankan street food in 2015. It quickly captured the hearts and stomachs of Londoners, thanks to its casual atmosphere and delicious dishes. The namesake hoppers are a must order dish. Hoppers are savory, thin, bowl-shaped pancakes with a similar texture to Indian roti. They are most often topped with an egg, spicy sambar sauce, or cheese. The prices are reasonable, the vibe is fun, and you can usually get in without a reservation (although you might run into a brief queue).

• Address: 49 Frith St
• Neighborhood: Soho
• Website: http://www.hopperslondon.com/
  

Indian

Lahore Kebab House

When I first walked up to Lahore Kebab House, I was a little nervous about leading a group of my colleagues to this somewhat out of the way spot. It is sparsely decorated with cafeteria vibes and the windows are covered in delivery app stickers. But once I started tasting the food, I understood why this Punjabi-style curry house remains a long-term staple on the London curry house scene. The family-run Lahore Kebab House offers excellent tandoori grilled meat, generous portions of ghee-laden curry, and piles of sweet onion bhaji.  If you aren’t familiar with lamb haleem, let this one be your introduction. It is bliss in a bowl. 

• Neighborhood: Whitechapel
• Address: 2-10 Umberston St, London E1 1PY, UK
• Website: www.lahore-kebabhouse.com 

Dishoom

Perhaps the most famous name in British Indian food these days is Naved Nasir. He is the executive chef at Dishoom, a Bombay-inspired restaurant with multiple locations across London (as well as other UK cities like Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham). This isn’t one of those hyped places that can’t deliver – it’s actually really good. Famous but delicious!

I find all of the dishes here have great seasoning with lots of cardamom. The Black Dahl was my favorite dish. Stewed for 24 hours, the lentils are perfectly soft with a wonderful mix of spices without being too spicy. Another favorite is the paneer was excellent, because the cheese is delightfully firm and squeaky yet still soft and rich. You can even go for brunch!

• Neighborhood: Multiple locations around London & UK 
• Website: https://www.dishoom.com/ 

Bibi

In the heart of Mayfair, BiBi is such a memorable dining experience, in no small part thanks to the open concept kitchen with integrated seating. You will feel like you’re dining at a chef’s table! Chef Chet Sharma even served and presented some of our dishes during our 10-course tasting menu. The ethos is inspired by traditional Indian cuisine and the chef’s personal memories and family history woven throughout.

No menu is provided, so you’ll get a set menu custom designed for your dietary needs. Every dish was impeccable. A few highlights for me were the Baida Roti with Thetcha Butter, the Goat Galouti Kebab, and Sharmaji’s Lahori Chicken. The flavors were incredibly deep & rich, but perfectly balanced and never overpowering. It flowed beautifully, and I genuinely loved this meal so much. You'll need a reservation several weeks in advance. 

• Neighborhood: Mayfair
• Address: 42 N Audley St, Mayfair, Greater London, W1K 6ZP
• Website: bibirestaurants.com

Gunpowder

Offering a homey yet modern take on Indian food, Gunpowder is not a curry house. But there were a few familiar dishes on the menu, prepared in a unique or modern way. The Tandoori chicken was juicy and flavorful, especially the creamy tomato sauce served alongside. Sticky pork ribs were another highlight. It’s not the most memorable place on this list, but I certainly wouldn’t mind eating here again.

• Neighborhood: Spitalfields, Tower Bridge & Soho 
• Address: 20 Greek St, London W1D 4DU, UK 
• Website: gunpowderrestaurants.com

Gymkhana

In the center of one of London’s most high-end neighborhoods, you can enjoy contemporary upscale Indian food at Gymkhana. Inspired by elite sport clubs in India, the restaurant’s design feels like you’ve walked into an old-world joint in the heart of Mumbai or Kochi. Awarded its first Michelin star in 2014, the menu at Gymkhana focuses on less common south Indian cuisine. If you aren’t familiar with the dishes, ask the helpful and knowledgeable staff for recommendations. My favorite thing that we ate, the Kid Goat Methi Keema, is not something I would normally order so I was happy our server recommended it!  

• Neighborhood: Mayfair
• Address: 42 Albemarle St
• Website: http://www.gymkhanalondon.com/

The Cinnamon Club

One of London’s original fine-dining establishments (that still holds up to the hype) is the Cinnamon Club. Housed in a former Victorian library, the two-story dining room is lined with floor to ceiling bookshelves with white tablecloth clad tables sprinkled throughout. It’s a really picturesque restaurant. While this may sound like a basic white girl order, trust me when I say -- get the butter chicken. After all, it is national dish of the United Kingdom. I can promise, this was some of the best butter chicken I’ve ever had! Juicy pieces of thigh meat are served on the bone in a pool of well-seasoned masala gravy sauce. I found the service to be mediocre, especially at the price point, but the food is genuinely lovely.

• Neighborhood: Westminster
• Address: Great Smith St
• Website: https://cinnamonclub.com/

Cinnamon Bazaar

Part of chef Vivek Singhthe’s London restaurant group (same as above), Cinnamon Bazaar is the perfect blend of Indian aesthetics and Indian food. The colorful interior is styled to look like a cool bazaar, complete with pink draped ceiling tapestries, hanging plant baskets and hand painted tea kettles. Genuinely, I loved the vibe. The food is approachable & delicious, so you don’t need to be super familiar with Indian food to enjoy it. I loved the chicken tandoori. Quite juicy & flavorful! On weekdays, you can get unlimited chaat & chai for a bargain price. 

• Neighborhood: Covent Garden
• Address: 28 Maiden Ln, Covent Garden, Greater London, WC2E 7JS
• Website: cinnamon-bazaar.com

Thai

Som Saa

Offering anything but boring Thai food, Som Saa totally gives you the feeling that you’ve left London on a one-way flight to southeast Asia. The aesthetic is just right and the food is absolutely excellent. While the menu features primarily traditional Thai dishes, I can almost guarantee you won't recognize most of the dishes. These are unique and delightful options with spicy, strong flavors that don’t hold back.

Some noteworthy dishes: definitely the fried seabass. It is one of Som Saa's signature dishes. I am absolutely loved the herbed salad that comes alongside the whole fried fish that looks like it is practically jumping off your plate. Another dish I'd recommend is the five-spice with succulent tender meat in an oily yummy sauce. Finally, the charred mushrooms & greens (pad pak) was great with a strong smokey wood flavor. 

• Neighborhood: Spitalfields
• Address: 43A Commercial St
• Website: http://www.somsaa.com/

Churchill Arms

Want to photograph a traditional British pub that also happens to have delicious Thai food? Then this is your spot. The Churchill Arms is one of the most photogenic pubs in London. The exterior is adorned with layers of plants, lights and a portrait of the pub’s namesake, Winston Churchill. Inside, you’ll find the place styledwith hanging plants and UK flags. Of course you can come in just for a pint, but I would recommend grabbing some of the Thai food coming out of the kitchen. There is an assortment of rich curries, and popular Thai stir fry dishes, which are surprisingly good for pub food. 

• Neighborhood: Kensington
• Address: 119 Kensington Church St, London W8 7LN, UK
• Website: www.churchillarmskensington.co.uk

Chinese

Bao

This Soho outpost was the first of a now-legendary Taiwanese mini-chain, which is notorious for its long queues. If you're wondering whether the line is worth it—it definitely is. These pillowy, rich and juicy bao buns are legit. To avoid long queues, pop in for a snack around 4pm when it opens. At this time, you should be able to get in quickly. Bao is an in-and-out kind of place, so it works well for snacking. The bao are what a lot of people come for, but you might also want to try some of the small plates, like trotter nuggets or beef with aged soy.

• Neighborhood: Soho
• Address: 53 Lexington St, Soho, Greater London, W1F 9AS
• Website: baolondon.com

Noodle & Beer

For Chinese spicy food lovers, there is no better choice than Noodle & Beer. The insanely delicious Sichuan cuisine coming out of this kitchen is impeccable. Be warned -- the food is not mild. Nearly everything is generously seasoned with the Sichuan peppers, Thai chili peppers and lots more hot spices. Try the dried Sichuan beef. These are like spicy beef jerky candy bites. My husband and I came back just to eat this dish, because he had such a visceral food memory of eating something similar in his childhood. The noodle dishes, such as dan dan, are also excellent. I loved the Mapo Tofu too!

• Address: 31 Bell Ln
• Neighborhood: Spitalfields
• Website: http://www.noodleandbeer.com/

Have thoughts or questions about this London food guide? Tell me in the comments!