Dumplings' Legend

You'll find yourself queuing alongside everyone from West End performers to hungry clubbers at this Gerrard Street institution that bridges the gap between proper Chinese restaurant and late-night drinking den. The handmade xiaolongbao are genuinely excellent – those delicate soup dumplings arrive piping hot with that crucial burst of broth that separates the wheat from the chaff in Chinatown's competitive dumpling scene. What sets this place apart is its commitment to staying open until 2am on weekends, making it one of the few spots in central London where you can get decent Chinese food after midnight. The cocktail list won't win any awards, but the drinks are strong enough and the atmosphere buzzy enough that you'll hardly mind. Yes, service can be brusque and the decor hasn't been updated since the Blair years, but when you're craving proper dumplings at 1am on a Saturday, nowhere else quite hits the spot.