Taiwanese

Unit CR32, 1 Crossrail Pl, London E14 5AR

Din Tai Fung is a Taiwanese restaurant that's hugely successful all over the world, mainly for their xiao long bao (aka soup dumplings) which are always made on-site (from a small kitchen that you can see in all their restaurants). There's much more to the menu than that, with lots of dishes beyond the dumplings, including some must-have lava buns for dessert.

Every branch of Bao has a distinct identity and for their Battersea branch, the team took inspiration from the noodle shops of Taiwan. Key to that is the beef noodle broths which you'll find here in a rich as well as a lighter version. There are, of course their signature bao buns too, and expect to find dishes on the menu that are exclusive to Battersea. For party planners, the private karaoke room is worth knowing about.

56 James St, London W1U 1HF

Like all of BAO's London restaurants, this Marylebone outposts features their excellent Taiwanese steamed buns, with the signature Classic pork bao being a must. The added extra at this restaurant is that they also specialise in xiao chi snacks and small plates, with the lamb or mushroom dumplings well worth trying alongside the baos.

Unit 2, Building, 4 Pancras Square, London N1C 4AG

The BAO team continue their success with this opening inspired by the western style cafes in Asia. You'll find their signature bao buns alongside inventive western-style dishes like Chicken XO Kiev. As this location is also a bakery, you can take home your very own BAO goodies.

5 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8PT

The hugely popular Taiwanese dumpling restaurant arrived in London to serve up their famous steamed soup dumplings and lots more. The queues around the blocks may have gone, but the consistency is still there.

1 Redchurch Street, London E2 7DJ

BAO have mastered the art of the bao bun - now they've moved onto noodles, with beef noodles being the key draw at this Shoreditch restaurant. But worry not - bao buns are available too.

13 Stoney St, London SE1 9AD

BAO has opened their third restaurant in Borough and this time, they're promising something a little different. There are the same bao buns you've loved, but more dishes as well as downstairs karaoke.

Brixton Village Market,Granville Arcade, Unit 19 Coldharbour Ln, Brixton, London SW9 8PR

This Taiwanese restaurant moved into Brixton Village Market back in 2018, specialising in BAO and Asian BBQ food. Lots of small and sharing dishes are the vibe here - BBQ chicken wings and Jerusalem artichoke chopsticks with truffle ponzu, and baos aplenty, including tofu and kimchee, pork belly with peanut powder, shitake mushroom with yuzu.

113 Mitcham Road, Tooting, London SW17 9PE

From the people behind Taiwanese Peckham success, Mr Bao, comes the next restaurant Daddy Bao, this time in Tooting with bao buns aplenty.

30 Rupert Street, London W1D 6DL

Bao has been one of the big success stories in London. Now the team behind it have opened their third restaurant, an upmarket Taiwanese restaurant in Soho.

53 Lexington St, London W1F 9AS

One of the most successful example of street food vendors going permanent, this is one of the toughest places to grab a seat at in Soho. But when you do, the steamed milk buns that are at the heart of the menu make it all worthwhile.