London's Chinatown, located in the heart of the capital between Soho, Leicester Square and short walk from Piccadilly Circus is full of Chinese and Asian delicacies and can be overwhelming to choose one - particularly if you just want something quick and simple. In this post I have recommended my must try street foods in London's Chinatown.

Large Fried Chicken Breast - Ji Pai

Location: Ji Chickens - 14 Little Newport St, London WC2H 7JJ

Arguably Chinatown's most popular street food, Ji Chickens ji pai (chicken steak) is a butterflied and flattened chicken breast that is deep fried then covered in a flavour of your choice - and there are many! Chicken can be served as a whole large chicken breast or in popcorn chicken styled bites with chips salads and bubble teas also available and are included in a variety of combos. However I recommend sticking to just the classic ji pai as it is large, I always forget how big it actually is and is definitely heavy enough to be considered a meal on its own for some.

But come when you have plenty of time as the restaurant normally has large queues and the chicken takes around 10 minutes time to cook - although it is definitely worth it. Also, don't immediately bite into it as it is blisteringly hot... as I painfully found out. There are plenty of powdered flavours for everyone including sweet, savoury or spicy, and flavours can be combined for unique flavour profiles - I chose the classic garlic and chilli.

Bubble & Fruit Teas

Location: Pretty March - 2 Little Newport St, London WC2H 7JJ

Located next door to Ji Chicken is Pretty March, a Chinese dessert store. But is not the desserts you need to come here for, its the incredibly refreshing and tasty teas. Drinks are made to order including hot or cold (where applicable), how much ice, and how much sugar.

My personal favourite is the humble lemon tea. A refreshing classic and when I have my first mouthful of cold sweet tea I am immediately taken back to the streets of Shanghai, feeling a sense of comfort. For added exoticness the passion fruit tea also packs a punch while the classic milk tea is also a delight, covering the palette with velvety sweetness and is the perfect comfort snack.

For those with an adventurous spirit Chinese desserts are much more healthy than western style desserts and pastries, usually consisting of fruit jellies and sweet beans. When I arrived there was a variety of mochi style animal cakes.

Chinese Burgers

Location: Kung Fu Burger - 104 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 5EQ

Just outside Chinatown on Shaftesbury Avenue you can find King Fu Burger. A hole in the wall Chinese burger shop which replicates ones you could find all around China, offering quick and tasty snacks.

Chinese burgers originate from the Shaanxi province, where the Terracotta warriors were discovered and are more common than people realise, more typically known as buns. However, buns can also include steamed bao-zi buns, a kind of breaded dumpling with filling or a man-tou a similar style bun with no filling. Chinese burgers known as rou-jia-mo, which literally translates as meat in a bun, uses a slightly crisper style bun bread which is cut in half and has meat in filled in - typically stewed pork belly that is in a rich broth filled with herbs and spices and accompanied with fresh salad.

King Fu Burger in Chinatown offers a range of flavours though, including braised beef or shredded duck with hoisin. I had the signature pork burger, which was delightful, a real comfort food treat especially with all the juices which are soaked up by the bun. For an authentic experience, I recommend combining a burger with the cold noodles with sesame sauce and chilli oil, especially on a hotter day to cool you down.

Cheap Sushi & Ramen

Location: Japan Centre Leicester Square - 35a Panton Street, London, SW1Y 4EA.

While not strictly street food, I simply could not miss the hidden gem that is the Japan centre located a short walk from Chinatown in Leicester Square. Technically, it is a store for Japanese food, drinks and cooking ingredients but it also offers really affordable noodles, tempura and Sushi - with students being able to take advantage of additional discounts using student discount cards.

When I first started taking late night Chinese classes in Tottenham Court Road I was recommended to come here for super cheap sushi. I would finish class and sprint to Leicester Square to make sure I got the best treats. The trick with the Japanese centre is to arrive around 8pm to make use of the 'must-go' sushi which has been discounted by 50% and sometimes more. Everything from sashimi salads, nigiri, and uramaki is on discount and is super delicious.

On my visit, I pigged out on the super garlicky Dracula ramen, a tuna onigiri, melt in the mouth salmon nigiri and a fizzy lychee drink. The food is super hearty and even entertaining. The onigiri rice triangle tests you in trying to unwrap the plastic without removing the crunchy sticky seaweed from the rice, a test I always mess up. The lychee drink bottle comes with its own challenge to pop a glass ball into the bottle, only then after can it be consumed. There are a range of drink flavours including blueberry, strawberry and lemon.

Final Thoughts on the Must-Try Street Foods in London's Chinatown

London’s Chinatown is truly a foodie’s paradise, offering a variety of flavours and experiences that shouldn’t be missed. Whether it’s the crispy and flavourful Ji Pai from Ji Chickens or the comforting sweetness of Pretty March’s bubble teas, there’s something here for everyone. Exploring these must-try street foods is not just about satisfying your hunger, but also about diving into the rich culinary traditions that Chinatown has to offer. Next time you’re in the area, make sure to try these dishes—they might just become your favourites too!