241 Pizza

8 Hanway Place W1 (020-7927 7000), open Mon-Sun noon-3pm (Sat & Sun -5pm); Mon-Sat 6pm-midnight (Sun -11pm)

The Michelin-starred locale retains its title as London’s most chic Chinese restaurant by some distance. The sultry basement, lit in shades of purple and filled with beautiful fretwork, oozes sex appeal and attracts a good-looking crowd. But it’s not a case of style over substance. Perfectly formed dim sum compete with salt and pepper squid or stir-fried rib-eye beef with Merlot sauce.

HUNAN £££

51 Pimlico Road, SW1 (020-7730 5712), open Mon-Sat 12.302.30pm, 6.3011.30pm

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BACKGROUND

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• Mmmm . . . smell that soy sauce, ginger and coconut

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BACKGROUND

• Hot-and-Sour Scallop Soup

• Five-Spice Roast Pork with Bok Choy

• Salt-and-Pepper Squid with Sweet Chilli Sauce

• Five Spice and Lemon-Infused Goose

• Steamed tofu with prawns and mangetout

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Genteel Pimlico is not where you might expect to find one of London’s best Chinese restaurants, but the appearance of the owner, Mr Peng, to take your order makes clear that this is more than just a local stalwart. He urges diners to opt for the feast menu, ten courses of small plates chosen following a quick consultation of your preferences. Meals progress from vividly flavoured broths to fresh seafood dishes and succulent slow-cooked meats.

JOY KING LAU £

3 Leicester Street, WC2 (020-7437 1133), open Mon-Sat noon-11.30pm; Sun 11am-10.30pm

Tucked away down a narrow Soho side street, this Chinatown veteran serves up all the Cantonese classics, from tasty roast pork to gai lan and dim sum – don’t miss the lotus leaf-wrapped glutinous rice with its filling of Chinese sausage, mushrooms and meat, delicate steamed har gau (prawn dumplings) and slippery cheung fun (rice pasta filled with meat, seafood or veg). Weekend lunches see Joy King Lau buzzing, with would-be diners sent in search of a table through its three floors. Prices are low and service brisk and efficient.

MANDARIN KITCHEN ££

14-16 Queensway W2 (020-7727 9012), open Mon-Sun noon-11.30pm

Still going strong, the Mandarin reportedly sells more lobster than any other restaurant in London, a fact reflected in the number of ways in which you can order it, from lobster sashimi to the best option, steamed and served with garlic and spring onion sauce, and served on a bed of the softest noodles you are ever likely to taste. Roasted baby squid with chilli and garlic is another favourite, while elsewhere the long menu yields endless variations on sea bass and turbot, Dover sole and red snapper, prawns, oysters and eel.

PHOENIX PALACE ££

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