Dim sum’s ubiquity in London has done little to dampen their popularity but what separates the great from the good is often the minutest detail. With this in mind, and with hundreds in our belly, here are our IDEAL picks for the best dumplings in London.
On Café
At first glance, a quaint macaron purveyor on an industrial road off Clapham Common, but enter with your BYO bottle, take a seat and enjoy some of the finest dumplings in the capital. Dim sum is fashioned with great care and is delicate and light. The kind of place where you feel real love has gone into the food and prices which have made regulars of us.
Address: 31 Clapham Park Rd, London SW4 7EE, UK
Website: oncafe.london
A.Wong
Tipped to finally win a Michelin star in the next guide*, A.Wong offers a dedicated dim sum menu at lunch time with some really inventive combinations and quirks of presentation. Whilst the bill can rack up, a few pieces are still utterly reasonable for the lofty standards this place sets. Desserts are also ethereal, so save room!
Address: 70 Wilton Rd, Victoria, London SW1V 1DE, UK
Website: awong.co.uk
*since the article was written, A.Wong did indeed win that star. Congratulations guys!
My Neighbours the Dumpling
A newer addition to the dumpling landscape, this little family run joint housed in Clapton is a fair trek from the city centre but that trek will be rewarded with lovely dumplings. These are very much handmade, with not a whiff of production line in the fantastic aroma emanating from the kitchen. A no bookings policy requires an early arrival – but don’t worry, the pace is efficient enough to cope with the queues and there’s a bar to drink away the wait.
Address: 165 Lower Clapton Rd, London E5 8EQ, UK
Website: www.myneighboursthedumplings.com
Yauatacha
A lesson in understated elegance, this chic dim sum and teahouse is the most expensive of our picks, but the whole experience is flawless. The room exudes sensuality and the dim sum is exquisite – perfectly light and refined and as good as any we’ve eaten anywhere in the world.
Address: 15-17 Broadwick St, Soho, London W1F 0DL, UK
Website: www.yauatcha.com
Jen Cafe
A cash-only, no reservations affair in the heart of Chinatown, you can see the excellent dumplings being freshly made through the window. This sight never fails to entice us inside to sample the goodies on offer.
Address: 4-8 Newport Place, Chinatown, West End, London, WC2H 7JP
Website: chinatown.co.uk