The best Chinese restaurants around Poplar
Everyone loves a Chinese, so here are the best Chinese restaurants around Poplar, Limehouse, and the Isle of Dogs.
China is famous for its food. Different regions have their unique flavours and dishes vary from the fresh seafood of Jiangan cuisine, mutton and thick noodles of Shaanxi, to spicy Sichuan. In the UK we’ve added our own twist with Chow Meins and Stir Frys.
We’re lucky to have so many options to choose from when it comes to Chinese restaurants in the Poplar, Limehouse, and Isle of Dogs.
So whether you’re looking for a comforting typical Chinese takeout or a taste of authentic China, there is a restaurant here for you.
Su Noodles
BEST FOR: WATERFRONT SOUP SLURPING
Su-style noodles are a traditional dish from the Suzhou region of China. This outdoor kitchen in Canary Wharf offers a 6-hour-slow-cooked soup, thin wheat noodles, and meat and veg toppings served from an adorable green hut. It’s the perfect antidote to its towering glass surroundings. For a hand and heart-warming pick-me-up, watch the water with a warming bowl from this charming spot.
Waterfront by, 77 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SH
Royal China
BEST FOR: LUXURY DIM SUM
If you’re looking for something fancy, Royal China, at the heart of the Canary Wharf has served workers in the financial district for over a decade. There is a large patio overlooking the Thames and the interiors are just as alluring with ornate gold and black and green furniture in a large dining space. At lunch time you might witness some hectic business lunch meetings but it is still a great spot to dine out for those not on the job. The speciality here is Hong Kong dishes and dim sum with roast pork puffs, crab dumpling soup and for dessert luxurious Black Gold Yolk Lava Custard Buns. A set menu is available for £38 pp or £48 for a seafood option.
30 Westferry Circus, London E14 8RR
New Beijing
BEST FOR: BUILD-YOUR-OWN MALA XIANG GUO
Located at the busy intersection where the A13 becomes East India Docks Road in Limehouse, the location may not scream a great dinner out.
However, the food more than makes up for this with the manager Eric having a passion for bringing authentic Chinese food to more people.
New Beijing speciality is Mala Xiang Guo (Spicy stir fry pot). Customers pick from 60 ingredients, they are then stir-fried together with spices. But New Beijing doesn’t limit itself to just this dish. Reflecting the diversity of Chinese people who have made Tower Hamlets their home, New Beijing opts for authentic dishes from across the country.
Choices vary from a massive Da Pan Ji (literally big plate chicken) from China’s far western Muslim province Xinjiang to the humble tomato and eggs. A staple in homes across China.
8 E India Dock Rd, Limehouse, E14 6JJ
Malinda
BEST FOR: HOT POT
A list of the best Chinese restaurants isn’t a true list without a hot pot restaurant, and we’re lucky to have one of the best in London on our doorstep.
Malinda regularly tops out the London branch of Hai Di Lao, China’s best-known hot pot chain, as the best Hot Pot spot in London amongst lists put together on the Chinese social media site Xiao Hong Shu.
Hot Pot is a staple of China, with different variations for different parts of the country, they all feature a large simmering bowl of broth shared amongst the guests. Raw meat and vegetables are ordered and cooked at the table by being dipped in the broth. A self-service station lets you mix your own small bowl of sauce to dip your freshly cooked food in.
If you’re looking for comfort food to keep you warm during winter, there is nothing better than a hot pot. With the temperature getting colder and the nights getting darker, what are you waiting for?
62 Mellish St, Isle of Dogs, E14 8NS
Wings Chinese Cafe
BEST FOR: TRADITIONAL CHINESE TAKEAWAY
What can be said about Wings Chinese Cafe that isn’t already known? A Poplar institution that is part of the fabric of Crisp Street Market, they have got typical Cantonese style British-Chinese food down to an art form.
A hole in the wall with some tables for seating outside, it gets rightfully busy at peak times.
Not only is the food great, but they have big portion sizes and the price is unbeatable with many offerings around a fiver.
If you’re craving a Chow Mein or Fried Rice, this is the spot.
19 Market Sq, Crisp Street Market, Poplar, E14 6AQ
Han Restaurant
BEST FOR: CHINESE SEAFOOD
Han Chinese Restaurant has a little bit of everything. You can choose from Hot Pot, BBQ, Seafood, and more typical stir fry dishes.
A cosy restaurant with a more traditional Chinese theme, the wooden tables come fitted out with a built-in hot plate ready for cooking your hot pot or BBQ. They offer more seafood than other restaurants on this list, in particular, large roast fish dishes and spicy crayfish that are hard to find elsewhere.
The lamb skewers, a popular street food and BBQ snack across China, come strongly recommended.
With so much on offer, it will be hard to choose!
213 E India Dock Rd, Poplar, E14 0ED
Sanbubai Chuan Chuan
BEST FOR: AUTHENTIC SKEWERS
As the mural of a fire-breathing baby in this eatery suggests, some of the food at Sanbubai Chuan Chuan is spicy spicy.
Chuan is the Chinese word for skewers, and there are lots of them to choose from. A wall of different raw vegetables and meats skewered onto long wooden sticks is on offer from as little as 59p. You choose your broth and wait until a giant pot is brought out filled with broth and your freshly cooked skewers.
This is an authentic restaurant with hot and salty dishes. It may be for the more adventurous, but if you’re yet to try Chuan Chuan and are looking for something new, this could be the place.
Ability Place, 37 Millharbour, Isle of Dogs, E14 9HB
Super Three
BEST FOR: SPICE LOVERS
An interesting hybrid with Chinese Hotpot and BBQ, whatever you eat here you’ll be making it on your table. But that’s the joy of this style of restaurant.
If you opt for BBQ, you’ll have a grill at your table ready to BBQ as much meat as your stomach can take.
For the hotpot, Super Three specialise in Sichuan style. As you may have realised, spice is key to a lot of Chinese food, and the Sichuan province of China is the home of spice.
Combining spicy chillies with numbing peppercorn, if you’re opting for the spicy Sichuan broth for your hotpot make sure you have lots of water nearby. For those who are a little more spice-averse, there are options like mushroom broth instead. You can even opt for a divided bowl with different broths in each section so everyone can be happy.
With funky industrial-esque decor and the cook-your-own food, Super Three makes for a memorable meal out.
207 E India Dock Rd, Limehouse, E14 0ED
If you enjoyed this article try reading: The Story of the Chinese Association of Tower Hamlets
