Child friendly Chinese Restaurant Central London

[lotsofthingstolearn]

We are heading to London next week as we've started school holidays. Please can you recommend a child friendly Chinese restaurant. They've not been to a Chinese restaurant before. We're looking for something nothing too fancy (we did look a Din Tai Fung) but looks a little overwhelming for children etc.

We will be at the National History Museum in the afternoon before heading back towards Picadilly Circus for M&M world

Any suggestions welcome

Our favorite is wong kei because its cheap and cheerful, huge... Buzzy..

I'm sure better ones there but for us a huge plus is being severd food very fast.

So the children are not waiting long.

I can't think of any Chinese restaurant that wouldn't be child-friendly, other than A. Wong which is very fancy. But anywhere in Chinatown is probably fine if your children are reasonably civilised (how old are they?). Why do you think Din Tai Fung would be overwhelming?

Thanks for this- will have a look!

Not sure TheOccupier- when looking further at the menu it's more dumplings rather than the Lemon Chicken, Chow Mein etc- but granted that may be us considering we don't eat this type of food very often.

Do you want buffet, order at table or dumplings?

Chinatown has buffets 😂

I would have thought most kids would love dumplings.

Assuming that your going to China town nearly all the restaurants have menus outside and are all next to each other so just have a look at a few. My children won't touch Chinese food so we ended up going to one that also did chicken and chips.

Bun House on Lisle Street around the corner from M&M World specialises in bao buns which are great for kids.

In my experience a lot of Chinatown is really kid friendly as it’s on the main tourist drag. Check the menus outside and just head in, such an easy place for kids and so much to see!

There are loads in Chinatown that will be perfectly family friendly. I can't remember where we went but it was ranked one of the best in Chinatown for duck and it's up a staircase on the 1st floor from street level. I took dd when she was 5 because she did a topic project in school on China and I wanted to teach her about Chinese immigration to the UK. We went for a 7:30pm booking, so was in the evening and perfectly fine. The staff were lovely and made her some special kid's chopsticks.

Don't go to Wonk Kei.....I hate it there. Dirty table cloths. Communal tables. If you aren't Chinese you have to eat upstairs. Mediocre food. My Chinese husband loves it there and always ends up in there after a night out in London!! As pp says - quick and cheap.....

Any of the restaurants in China Town will be OK for kids.
Dim sum is great try Char Sui Bao, turnip cake, chung fung- they will also have a 'regular' menu for you to choose from too. Look at somewhere like Golden Dragon for an idea of menus.

All the restaurants in Chinatown will be fine with children. Chinese families are in there all the time! Try dim sum, you can choose lots of little dishes to try- all sorts of steamed dumplings. Add a noodle dish and try some roast meats - crispy pork belly, roast duck, soya chicken. The Chinese bakeries are amazing, they will like the little fish shaped cakes. Some places you can get a bigger fish shaped cake filled with ice cream. There’s a bubble waffle wrap shop that you can also get filled with ice cream. Bubble tea shops if you are interested too. Children might like a fruity one with the popping juice balls. Have a nosey in one of the supermarkets and pick up unusual snacks, crisps and sweets for at the hotel or to have on the next day out.

We have been taking DC to Chinatown, from when they could sit up in high chairs! Never had a problem. We now take DGD to a Chinese on the Edgware Rd (only because it’s nearer for us) - she is always welcome!

Wong Kei is ok for a quick cheap meal; but it’s not where I would go for a nice family meal, as a treat for the children!

BTW, if you want to have any of the roast meats like roast duck, char Sui (barbecue pork), belly pork, etc, choose a restaurant that has the meat hanging in the window!

Agree that most in Chinatown will be fine. We went and had dim sum for the first time (before lockdown) and my DD loved it, especially the crispy duck pancakes - she really enjoyed the making them and putting in the duck and the cucumber strips. And also all the steamed dumplings! She's into dim sum for life now.

We've taken DC to Imperial China on Lisle Street in Chinatown since they were tiny. You walk over a little red Chinese wooden bridge over water with big gold koi carp swimming and then into the restaurant. Last time we went there the food was excellent (it has been a bit up and down over the years.) Also had fabulous food and friendly service in one of the biggest restaurants with tables outside on Gerrard Street which is pretty with all the strung lanterns. Lots of families eat there.

@LittleOverWhelmed has it - we took our kids to Phoenix palace in baker st from being babies. Very child friendly, food is amazing. Our kids love the fish tank with all the tropical fish and the colour changing table lights

Took my son to Din Tai Fung when he was 3 and he loved it!

Otherwise Joy King Lau just off Leicester Square is usually a safe bet.

I always want to eat upstairs at wong kei, table clothes are covered with cheap paper clothes between each sitting and pre covid we enjoyed being sat with others or not.
It's not fancy but you can have a good meal for 30/40. Char sui porky on hot rice. Free tea but depends on your the children, how long they can wait it's extremely fast service.

I used to go to imperial over the bridge, it ie really nice but the actual dish we get the afore mentioned char sui doesn't taste any better infact I'm sure I went to imperial because they used to claim to be GSM free?
Inamo is fun op, interactive tables you can set your mood, play games.... Keeps them entertained playing around with it, little dishes (can add up ££)

I'd go to the NHM. Then walk to High Street Kensington and eat at Wagamama (main course only). Then I'd get the number 9 bus from High Street Kensington to Piccadilly Circus. Do some shopping near Piccadilly Circus, then walk to Fortnum and have dessert at their ice cream parlour

I know Wagamama is Japanese, but their food is delicious and they have a great kids menu.

A bit left field but we love Duck and Rice

It’s Chinese food in a former soho pub
The decor isn’t traditionally Chinese but the food is excellent and they are great with kids

Ping Pong is good for kids, the Great Marlborough St one not that far from M&Ms shop, but not as close as Chinatown.

What about the royal China for dim sum.

Waggamam is everywhere.. Not special to China Town. The place with the little bridge is a little gem probably best one mentioned