Shikumen — Restaurant in London

People with dietary restrictions —— avoid this place.

Completely misleading menu, bad customer service but good food.

We had really mixed feelings about this restaurant. The reason why we came here is because they have allergen information on the menu (very rare for Chinese restaurant), which is really helpful for our gluten free guest. It seems it had a good selection of gluten free food. We had called the restaurant and the restaurant also called us on the same day prior the meal to confirm the booking, both times they mentioned they will prepare the gluten free menu as I have noted it on the booking form online.

However when we were ordering in the restaurant, the waiter said “the allergen information is all wrong, nothing is gluten free”, which is unbelievable. It ended up escalating between about 4 different people. After checking with the manager, he said “you can eat steam fish, veg and plain rice”. We have expressed that it is not acceptable to have such a misleading menu. He said “yes the menu is wrong, it’s done by our boss, he will change it as some point”. It was so unhelpful and at a point we were planning to leave. Then the boss showed up who promised the chef could ‘custom make’ something for our friend. It was made out to be a big favour, bordering on a miracle.

All the food (gluten or gluten free) was delicious. We were just very disappointed with the extremely misleading menu and rude customer service by the staff.

Also the sake that we ordered was out of stock, but no one bother to tell us until we chased after 15 mins. Lastly there were mini egg shell in one of the fried rice.

Advice to the restaurant: please update your outdated menu as it could cause serious health problems for some people if they don’t triple check with you before ordering. Chinese restaurant that cater people with special dietary needs are rare in London, you should take this chance to...

The best dim sum I have tasted in London.

20% more expensive than your standard dim sum place, but 50% better quality. Clearly they're using high quality produce as well as brilliant chefs. The service is impeccable too. I'd especially recommend trying the Crispy Eel Cheung Fun, the Venison Pastry Puffs, and the Seafood & Black Truffle signature dimsum. They were flavoursome, unique, and I'll definitely be ordering them again next time.

The Cheung Fun dishes could have done with more sauce as the quantity provided seemed a bit stingy. However, when we asked for more the staff quickly and happily provided us with plenty more over our Cheung Fun, so I was happy.

While the food was fab, the seating was a bit odd. The banquette seating was strangely low as the luxurious cushioning meant some of our party sank to well below where they'd usually be. When we asked for cushions or a booster seat for one of the children, they unfortunately did not have any. The chairs were circular and wide. The arms of the chairs would make them difficult to manouver as it meant they were slightly too wide for the area, banging into other chairs when trying to leave the table. The oddness of the seating and lack of booster seat or cushions to raise guests on the bench seating, is the only aspect which lost a star. The food was certainly 5 star quality.

Another quick point to note is when entering the establishment we waited at the front desk, and then it seemed we were waiting in the wrong place and should go further into the restaurant to the bar area to register our arrival. A sign would be useful for future first-time patrons.

All in all, I would recommend a visit to this restaurant for dim sum. I haven't tried other menu items but if the quality of Sunday dim sum is anything to go by, it could...

This Chinese restaurant is an absolute gem and undoubtedly deserving of every bit of acclaim it receives. As a longtime lover of Chinese cuisine, I can confidently say this is arguably the best Chinese dining experience in London, surpassing even famed names like Hakkasan and Yauatcha, both of which I’ve frequented many times. From the moment we stepped in, the ambiance and warm welcome set the tone for an extraordinary meal.

The food here is a masterclass in authenticity, elevated with an exquisite, high-end touch. The dim sum platter, in particular, was a revelation – fresh, vibrant, and bursting with flavor, each piece perfectly crafted and nuanced. The Sichuan dishes were standouts, deeply authentic and technically flawless, with layers of spices that danced on the palate without overwhelming it. Discovering that the chef hails from Sichuan made complete sense – every dish felt like a loving tribute to the region’s culinary tradition.

The menu offers a thoughtfully curated range of dishes, all executed with remarkable skill and precision. Each course was a delight, right down to the dessert, which often feels like an afterthought in Chinese restaurants. Here, even the desserts are crafted with the same dedication to quality and authenticity, rounding off an already perfect meal.

Service was impeccable – attentive yet unobtrusive, with staff who clearly know and care about the food they’re serving. To top it off, the bill was surprisingly reasonable for the quality of food and service we experienced. This restaurant not only deserves its Michelin recommendation but, in my view, has truly earned a star. It’s a must-visit for any lover of exceptional Chinese cuisine, and I can’t recommend it...