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How to dine in Chinatown on a £20 budget
When it comes to dining well in London without breaking the bank, all roads lead to Gerrard Street. Chinatown has long been a trusted source for delicious ESEA eats. Patrons come not for white glove treatment, but for good, quality and delicious dishes in a casual setting – all within budget!
You can easily feast on dumplings, noodles, rice and a whole lot more on £20, and still have change to spare for the bus fare home. Here are four ways to do it on the cheap in Chinatown.
Breakfast:
Savoury bun + Taiyaki + Matcha latte = £12
The smell of bread at Chinatown Bakery is irresistible, so give in and let a baked breakfast start your day. Buns start at just £1.90, but the star attraction is the Taiyaki machine in the window, peddling fish-shaped waffles filled with gooey custard paste (£4.50). If you need something to perk you up, hop across to ‘Dessert Alley’ and head to Tsujiri, where a matcha latte (£5.40) will provide a healthier and longer lasting energy boost.
Brunch:
Three dim sum plates + jasmine tea = £19
In China, dim sum is traditionally served at brunch time, and at Golden Phoenix you can enjoy a tasty duo of parcels including siu mai (£5.80), and glutinous rice with chicken and pork in lotus leaves (£6.00) at brunch. Add some Jasmine tea (£1.90) and finish with a cream-custard buns for dessert (£5.20) to complete your less-than-£20-feast.
Lunch:
Korean set menu lunch + Bubble Tea = £17
The best thing about dining out for lunch is lunchtime menus. At Pochawa Grill, you’ll score a deal Monday to Thursday 12 pm – 4:30 pm on set menus that hover around £11. Don’t miss the Kimchi Jjigae (soup made of kimchi and pork) served with rice and three Korean side dishes. You’ll even have enough space left for a pit stop at Happy Lemon for bubble tea (£6).
Dinner:
Starter, main and dessert = £18
Misato has been a Chinatown favourite for nearly three decades for good reason: its authentic Japanese dishes are both delicious and affordable. Start with some Miso Soup (£3.30), do the Chicken Katsu Curry Rice (£12) for the main, and end with a mochi ice cream (£2.20). Misato’s the real deal.
