The best Chinese restaurants in the UK for 2026 are A. Wong, Kai Mayfair and MiMi Mei Fair, with Yauatcha Soho, Hakkasan Mayfair and Barshu close behind for dim sum, Cantonese and Sichuan depth.
The best Chinese restaurants in the UK for 2026 are A. Wong, Kai Mayfair and MiMi Mei Fair, because they combine the strongest verified recognition, distinctive Chinese cooking and consistent editorial evidence. This guide compares standout Chinese restaurants UK-wide, including Chinese fine dining UK destinations, best dim sum UK contenders, best Cantonese restaurants UK picks and regional strengths in Manchester, Glasgow and Birmingham.
Quick comparison
| Place | Best for | Known for | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Wong | Chinese fine dining, special-occasion tasting menus and ambitious dim sum. | Two MICHELIN Stars in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide United Kingdom and a menu inspired by Chinese regional culinary history. | A. Wong ranks first because the evidence is specific and current: MICHELIN lists the 70 Wilton Road restaurant as a Two Stars destination in the 2026 UK guide, the official menu centres on Chinese culinary history, and Visit London separately highlights its regional Chinese and dim sum credentials. |
| Kai Mayfair | Mayfair Chinese fine dining and polished Nanyang-inspired cooking. | Liberated Nanyang cooking, long-running guide recognition and Harden’s Top 100 UK Restaurants 2026 listing. | Kai ranks second for longevity, consistent restaurant-guide recognition and a distinctive Nanyang focus that gives it a clearer editorial identity than many luxury Chinese dining rooms. |
| MiMi Mei Fair | Peking duck, dim sum and special-occasion Mayfair dining. | MICHELIN Guide listing, National Restaurant Awards profile and wood-fire roasted Peking duck. | MiMi Mei Fair ranks third because it has current official operating evidence, strong editorial profiles and a distinctive luxury Chinese dining identity that is well supported by external sources. |
| Yauatcha Soho | Dim sum, Cantonese teahouse dining and West End meals. | Refined dim sum, modern Cantonese dishes and long-running guide presence. | Yauatcha ranks fourth because it is one of the most defensible dim sum specialists in the UK, with strong official, MICHELIN and guide-history support. |
| Hakkasan Mayfair | Contemporary Cantonese, cocktails and special-occasion dining. | Modern Cantonese cooking, luxury ingredients and MICHELIN Guide listing. | It ranks fifth because it remains one of the best-known Cantonese restaurants UK diners consider for high-end Chinese food, with strong official and guide evidence for the Mayfair site. |
How we ranked these
Hakkasan Hanway Place was excluded because public reporting shows the Hanway Place site closed in 2025; this guide uses Hakkasan Mayfair only.
Top ranked places
This ranking focuses on operating Chinese restaurants in the UK with live official sources and credible external evidence. London dominates the highest-recognition end of the market, but regional restaurants are included where source quality is strong enough.
#1 A. Wong
A. Wong is the UK benchmark for Chinese fine dining, combining chef Andrew Wong’s research-led regional Chinese cooking with a Pimlico/Victoria setting and a verified two-star MICHELIN listing for 2026.
- Best for: Chinese fine dining, special-occasion tasting menus and ambitious dim sum.
- Known for: Two MICHELIN Stars in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide United Kingdom and a menu inspired by Chinese regional culinary history.
- Why it ranks here: A. Wong ranks first because the evidence is specific and current: MICHELIN lists the 70 Wilton Road restaurant as a Two Stars destination in the 2026 UK guide, the official menu centres on Chinese culinary history, and Visit London separately highlights its regional Chinese and dim sum credentials.
- Evidence signals: Supported by the official A.Wong website, MICHELIN Guide 2026 and Visit London’s regional Chinese and dim sum description.
Named sources: A.Wong official website checked 2026-06-25 | MICHELIN Guide A. Wong checked 2026-06-25 | Visit London A. Wong checked 2026-06-25
Editorial score: Score 96 | Confidence high
#2 Kai Mayfair
Kai Mayfair is a long-running Mayfair Chinese restaurant with an official Nanyang cooking identity and current Harden’s Top 100 UK Restaurants 2026 recognition.
- Best for: Mayfair Chinese fine dining and polished Nanyang-inspired cooking.
- Known for: Liberated Nanyang cooking, long-running guide recognition and Harden’s Top 100 UK Restaurants 2026 listing.
- Why it ranks here: Kai ranks second for longevity, consistent restaurant-guide recognition and a distinctive Nanyang focus that gives it a clearer editorial identity than many luxury Chinese dining rooms.
- Evidence signals: Supported by Kai’s official website, Harden’s 2026 Top 100 and Leading Restaurants guide-history data.
Named sources: Kai Mayfair official website checked 2026-06-25 | Harden's Top 100 UK Restaurants checked 2026-06-25 | Leading Restaurants Kai Mayfair checked 2026-06-25
Editorial score: Score 92 | Confidence high
#3 MiMi Mei Fair
MiMi Mei Fair is an elegant Mayfair Chinese restaurant known for dim sum, sharing dishes and Peking duck in a luxury townhouse setting.
- Best for: Peking duck, dim sum and special-occasion Mayfair dining.
- Known for: MICHELIN Guide listing, National Restaurant Awards profile and wood-fire roasted Peking duck.
- Why it ranks here: MiMi Mei Fair ranks third because it has current official operating evidence, strong editorial profiles and a distinctive luxury Chinese dining identity that is well supported by external sources.
- Evidence signals: Supported by the official MiMi Mei Fair website, MICHELIN Guide listing and National Restaurant Awards profile.
Named sources: MiMi Mei Fair official website checked 2026-06-25 | MICHELIN Guide MiMi Mei Fair checked 2026-06-25 | National Restaurant Awards profile checked 2026-06-25
Editorial score: Score 90 | Confidence high
#4 Yauatcha Soho
Yauatcha Soho is a modern Cantonese teahouse and one of the clearest best dim sum UK picks, with official Cantonese dim sum positioning and MICHELIN Guide listing evidence.
- Best for: Dim sum, Cantonese teahouse dining and West End meals.
- Known for: Refined dim sum, modern Cantonese dishes and long-running guide presence.
- Why it ranks here: Yauatcha ranks fourth because it is one of the most defensible dim sum specialists in the UK, with strong official, MICHELIN and guide-history support.
- Evidence signals: Supported by the official Yauatcha Soho page, MICHELIN Guide and Leading Restaurants guide history.
Named sources: Yauatcha Soho official website checked 2026-06-25 | MICHELIN Guide Yauatcha Soho checked 2026-06-25 | Leading Restaurants Yauatcha Soho checked 2026-06-25
Editorial score: Score 89 | Confidence high
#5 Hakkasan Mayfair
Hakkasan Mayfair is a contemporary Cantonese restaurant on Bruton Street, combining a high-design Mayfair setting with dim sum, luxury ingredients and polished Chinese fine dining.
- Best for: Contemporary Cantonese, cocktails and special-occasion dining.
- Known for: Modern Cantonese cooking, luxury ingredients and MICHELIN Guide listing.
- Why it ranks here: It ranks fifth because it remains one of the best-known Cantonese restaurants UK diners consider for high-end Chinese food, with strong official and guide evidence for the Mayfair site.
- Evidence signals: Supported by Hakkasan’s official Mayfair page, MICHELIN Guide and Good Food Guide.
Named sources: Hakkasan Mayfair official website checked 2026-06-25 | MICHELIN Guide Hakkasan Mayfair checked 2026-06-25 | Good Food Guide Hakkasan Mayfair checked 2026-06-25
Editorial score: Score 88 | Confidence high
#6 Barshu
Barshu is a Soho Sichuan restaurant that adds regional-Chinese depth to the ranking, with official positioning around bold Sichuan flavours and MICHELIN Guide support.
- Best for: Sichuan food, chilli heat and regional Chinese cooking.
- Known for: Long-running Soho Sichuan cuisine and MICHELIN Guide recognition.
- Why it ranks here: Barshu ranks sixth because it broadens the guide beyond Cantonese and luxury dining, while still meeting strict evidence standards through official and guide sources.
- Evidence signals: Supported by the official Barshu website, MICHELIN Guide and Leading Restaurants guide history.
Named sources: Barshu official website checked 2026-06-25 | MICHELIN Guide Barshu checked 2026-06-25 | Leading Restaurants Barshu checked 2026-06-25
Editorial score: Score 87 | Confidence high
#7 Poon's at Somerset House
Poon’s at Somerset House revives a major Chinese restaurant family legacy with a permanent central London home, focusing on Chinese home classics, wontons and claypot dishes.
- Best for: Chinese home cooking, wontons and central London pre-theatre meals.
- Known for: Poon family legacy, Somerset House opening and MICHELIN Guide listing.
- Why it ranks here: Poon’s ranks seventh because the evidence points to a specific new chapter rather than a nostalgia listing: its official page places it in Somerset House’s New Wing, MICHELIN now lists Poon’s, and national review coverage in 2026 documents the permanent revival led by Amy Poon.
- Evidence signals: Supported by Poon’s official website, MICHELIN Guide, Somerset House and national review coverage.
Named sources: Poon's official restaurant page checked 2026-06-25 | MICHELIN Guide Poon's checked 2026-06-25 | Somerset House listing checked 2026-06-25 | The Guardian review checked 2026-06-25
Editorial score: Score 86 | Confidence high
#8 Tattu Manchester
Tattu Manchester is a modern Chinese restaurant at 3 Hardman Square on Gartside Street in Spinningfields, pairing contemporary Chinese dishes and dim sum with a dramatic design-led dining room and cocktails.
- Best for: Modern Chinese dining in Manchester and design-led special occasions.
- Known for: Spinningfields location, contemporary Chinese dining, dim sum and high-impact interiors.
- Why it ranks here: Tattu Manchester ranks eighth as the strongest regional modern-Chinese choice, supported by official location evidence, visitor listings and current local dining-guide coverage.
- Evidence signals: Supported by Tattu’s official Manchester page, Visit Manchester, Manchester’s Finest and OpenTable.
Named sources: Tattu Manchester official page checked 2026-06-25 | Visit Manchester Chinese restaurants checked 2026-06-25 | Manchester's Finest Tattu checked 2026-06-25 | OpenTable Tattu Manchester checked 2026-06-25
Editorial score: Score 84 | Confidence high
#9 Lychee Oriental
Lychee Oriental is a Glasgow city-centre Chinese restaurant on Mitchell Street, offering contemporary Cantonese and Oriental menus with strong local recognition.
- Best for: Cantonese dining in Glasgow and Chinese restaurants UK outside London.
- Known for: Glasgow city-centre Chinese dining, chef Jimmy Lee association and award-led local reputation.
- Why it ranks here: Lychee Oriental ranks ninth because it gives Scotland credible representation based on live official evidence and external booking/review sources, rather than geography alone.
- Evidence signals: Supported by Lychee Oriental’s official website, menus page, OpenTable and Tripadvisor profile.
Named sources: Lychee Oriental official website checked 2026-06-25 | Lychee Oriental menus checked 2026-06-25 | OpenTable Lychee Oriental checked 2026-06-25 | Tripadvisor Lychee Oriental checked 2026-06-25
Editorial score: Score 82 | Confidence high
#10 Chung Ying Cantonese
Chung Ying Cantonese is a Birmingham Chinatown institution established in 1981, known for Cantonese cooking, a large dim sum selection and long-running regional recognition.
- Best for: Cantonese dining in Birmingham and large dim sum selections.
- Known for: Birmingham Chinatown history, Cantonese classics, dim sum and official award claims.
- Why it ranks here: Chung Ying ranks tenth because it supplies a defensible Midlands pick with stronger evidence than many regional alternatives, including official, destination and festival sources.
- Evidence signals: Supported by Chung Ying’s official website, Birmingham Restaurant Festival, Visit Birmingham and Tripadvisor.
Named sources: Chung Ying official website checked 2026-06-25 | Birmingham Restaurant Festival profile checked 2026-06-25 | Visit Birmingham Chung Ying listing checked 2026-06-25 | Tripadvisor Chung Ying Cantonese checked 2026-06-25
Editorial score: Score 80 | Confidence high
Evidence ledger
| Place | Source | Type | Supports | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Wong | A.Wong official website | official | Operating restaurant and official culinary positioning. | 2026-06-25 |
| A. Wong | MICHELIN Guide A. Wong | editorial guide | Two Stars in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide United Kingdom. | 2026-06-25 |
| A. Wong | Visit London A. Wong | destination guide | Regional Chinese fare and dim sum lunch context. | 2026-06-25 |
| Kai Mayfair | Kai Mayfair official website | official | Official cuisine identity and operating status. | 2026-06-25 |
| Kai Mayfair | Harden's Top 100 UK Restaurants | restaurant guide | Kai Mayfair listed in 2026 Top 100. | 2026-06-25 |
| Kai Mayfair | Leading Restaurants Kai Mayfair | guide history | Address and guide-listing history. | 2026-06-25 |
| MiMi Mei Fair | MiMi Mei Fair official website | official | Official restaurant identity and operating status. | 2026-06-25 |
| MiMi Mei Fair | MICHELIN Guide MiMi Mei Fair | editorial guide | Chinese restaurant listing and address. | 2026-06-25 |
| MiMi Mei Fair | National Restaurant Awards profile | editorial profile | Menu style, dim sum and Peking duck. | 2026-06-25 |
| Yauatcha Soho | Yauatcha Soho official website | official | Original Soho location and Cantonese dim sum positioning. | 2026-06-25 |
| Yauatcha Soho | MICHELIN Guide Yauatcha Soho | editorial guide | Chinese restaurant listing and address. | 2026-06-25 |
| Yauatcha Soho | Leading Restaurants Yauatcha Soho | guide history | Guide listing and award history. | 2026-06-25 |
| Hakkasan Mayfair | Hakkasan Mayfair official website | official | Operating Mayfair location and address. | 2026-06-25 |
| Hakkasan Mayfair | MICHELIN Guide Hakkasan Mayfair | editorial guide | Chinese restaurant guide listing. | 2026-06-25 |
| Hakkasan Mayfair | Good Food Guide Hakkasan Mayfair | restaurant guide | Independent guide assessment. | 2026-06-25 |
| Barshu | Barshu official website | official | Operating status and Sichuan cuisine positioning. | 2026-06-25 |
| Barshu | MICHELIN Guide Barshu | editorial guide | Sichuan/Chinese guide listing. | 2026-06-25 |
| Barshu | Leading Restaurants Barshu | guide history | Address and guide history. | 2026-06-25 |
| Poon's at Somerset House | Poon's official restaurant page | official | Operating status, location and Chinese home cooking. | 2026-06-25 |
| Poon's at Somerset House | MICHELIN Guide Poon's | editorial guide | Guide listing. | 2026-06-25 |
| Poon's at Somerset House | Somerset House listing | venue listing | Location and operating presence. | 2026-06-25 |
| Poon's at Somerset House | The Guardian review | review | National review coverage. | 2026-06-25 |
| Tattu Manchester | Tattu Manchester official page | official | Operating status, address and contact. | 2026-06-25 |
| Tattu Manchester | Visit Manchester Chinese restaurants | destination guide | Chinese restaurant listing. | 2026-06-25 |
| Tattu Manchester | Manchester's Finest Tattu | local dining guide | Chinese, dim sum and fine-dining tags. | 2026-06-25 |
| Tattu Manchester | OpenTable Tattu Manchester | booking platform | Current booking presence. | 2026-06-25 |
| Lychee Oriental | Lychee Oriental official website | official | Operating restaurant and address. | 2026-06-25 |
| Lychee Oriental | Lychee Oriental menus | official | Menu types and cuisine range. | 2026-06-25 |
| Lychee Oriental | OpenTable Lychee Oriental | booking platform | Current booking presence. | 2026-06-25 |
| Lychee Oriental | Tripadvisor Lychee Oriental | review platform | External profile and cuisine labels. | 2026-06-25 |
| Chung Ying Cantonese | Chung Ying official website | official | Operating restaurant, dim sum and awards. | 2026-06-25 |
| Chung Ying Cantonese | Birmingham Restaurant Festival profile | festival destination profile | Established 1981, dim sum breadth and awards. | 2026-06-25 |
| Chung Ying Cantonese | Visit Birmingham Chung Ying listing | destination guide | Destination listing and restaurant description. | 2026-06-25 |
| Chung Ying Cantonese | Tripadvisor Chung Ying Cantonese | review platform | External profile and category. | 2026-06-25 |
Final verdict
A. Wong is the strongest overall choice for the best Chinese food UK diners can book when the priority is Chinese fine dining, while Kai Mayfair and MiMi Mei Fair are the most compelling polished Mayfair alternatives. For dim sum, Yauatcha Soho remains the clearest specialist pick; for Sichuan, Barshu adds important regional depth; and for regional diversity beyond London, Tattu Manchester, Lychee Oriental and Chung Ying Cantonese are the most defensible inclusions based on the evidence checked.
FAQs
What is the best Chinese restaurant in the UK for 2026?
A. Wong is the top editorial pick for 2026 because it has the strongest verified evidence: a current two-star MICHELIN listing, official regional-Chinese menu positioning and strong destination-guide support.
What are the best Chinese restaurants UK diners should consider outside London?
The strongest source-backed regional picks in this guide are Tattu Manchester, Lychee Oriental in Glasgow and Chung Ying Cantonese in Birmingham. They were included because the evidence was strong enough, not just for geographic coverage.
Where should I go for the best dim sum UK shortlist?
Yauatcha Soho is the clearest dedicated dim sum pick in this ranking, while A. Wong, MiMi Mei Fair and Chung Ying Cantonese are also relevant for diners prioritising dim sum or Cantonese cooking.
Which are the best Cantonese restaurants UK-wide in this guide?
Yauatcha Soho, Hakkasan Mayfair, MiMi Mei Fair, Lychee Oriental and Chung Ying Cantonese are the strongest Cantonese-leaning entries, while A. Wong and Kai Mayfair are ranked higher overall because of broader fine-dining recognition and distinct editorial identity.
Was this ranking paid for?
No. This is an editorial ranking based on live public sources, official restaurant evidence, independent guide recognition, cuisine fit, consistency and source quality. Paid placement was not used.
Full methodology
We ranked restaurants by verified operating status, official source clarity, independent guide recognition, distinctiveness of Chinese cuisine style, consistency over time, regional relevance and source diversity. We did not use paid placement, advertising relationships, fabricated review counts or unverifiable claims.
Hakkasan Hanway Place was excluded because public reporting shows the Hanway Place site closed in 2025; this guide uses Hakkasan Mayfair only. Liverpool’s Lu Ban was also excluded because public sources report closure.