Chinese New Year in London Chinatown: Dumplings, Bao and Bubble Tea

barry roberts 24/01/2020

Chinese New Year brings a particular energy to London’s Chinatown. Red lanterns fill the streets, restaurants stay busy into the evening and a short walk can become a progressive supper of dumplings, bao, bakery treats and bubble tea.

Red Chinese New Year lanterns above Gerrard Street in London — Gerrard Street illuminated by rows of red lanterns.

Chinese New Year lanterns in Chinatown

The walk begins around Gerrard Street, where rows of red lanterns stretch between the buildings. The decorations transform familiar streets after dark, framing the shopfronts, restaurants and crowds in a warm red glow.

Restaurants and pedestrians in London Chinatown at night — The restaurants and evening crowds of London’s Chinatown.

Jen Cafe in London Chinatown at night — Jen Café, a long-standing Chinatown stop for freshly made dumplings.

Fresh dumplings at Jen Café

Jen Café is one of Chinatown’s most recognisable informal eating places. Dumplings are prepared by hand in the front window before being cooked and served inside with hot tea.

Dumplings being handmade at Jen Cafe in Chinatown — Fresh dumplings being formed by hand at Jen Café.

Tray of freshly prepared dumplings at Jen Cafe — Freshly prepared dumplings ready for cooking.

Plate of boiled dumplings at Jen Cafe London — A plate of boiled dumplings served at Jen Café.

The order is deliberately simple: boiled dumplings, a dipping sauce mixed from chilli and soy, and a mug of Chinese tea. Watching the dumplings being made is part of the experience.

Chilli and soy dipping sauce for Chinatown dumplings — Mixing chilli and soy sauce for the dumplings.

Dumplings with a mug of Chinese tea at Jen Cafe — Dumplings and hot Chinese tea inside Jen Café.

Eating a freshly cooked dumpling at Jen Cafe Chinatown — Trying one of Jen Café’s freshly cooked dumplings.

Bao beneath the lanterns

One plate does not have to be the end of a Chinatown food walk. Back outside, the next stop is a warm pork bao: soft steamed bread wrapped around a savoury filling and eaten while exploring the lantern-lit streets.

Chinese pork bao bun in London Chinatown — A warm pork bao eaten beneath Chinatown’s lanterns.

Busy London Chinatown street beneath red lanterns — Evening crowds moving beneath the Chinese New Year lanterns.

Chinese bakeries and roast meats

The windows are a useful guide to what to try next. Chinese bakeries display colourful cakes and buns, while restaurant windows present lacquered roast duck and other meats ready for service.

Colourful cakes in a Chinese bakery in London Chinatown — Colourful cakes displayed in a Chinatown bakery.

Roast duck and meats hanging in a Chinatown restaurant window — Roast meats displayed in a Chinatown restaurant window.

Bubble tea to finish

The final stop is bubble tea with tapioca pearls. Sweet, cold and made to order, it provides a fitting conclusion to an evening built from several small tastes rather than a single formal meal.

Bubble tea with tapioca pearls in London Chinatown — Finishing the Chinatown food walk with bubble tea.

Watch the Chinatown food walk

The complete film follows the Chinese New Year lanterns through London’s Chinatown, visits Jen Café for handmade dumplings and continues with bao, bakery displays, roast meats and bubble tea.

Categories: Hospitality

Tags: bubble tea, Chinatown food, Chinatown London, Chinese bakery, Chinese New Year London, Gerrard Street, Jen Café, London dumplings, London food walk, pork bao

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