Real Beijing Food House

Real Beijing Food House is one of Chinatown's go-to addresses for northern Chinese cooking, tucked into Gerrard Street with a menu built around the charcoal-fired copper hotpot that Beijing is known for. It is an unfussy, authentic spot that draws a steady crowd for its lamb-heavy hotpots, barbecue and stir-fries rather than for any frills.

The draw for anyone seeking Beijing hotpot in Soho is the copper pot itself: a charcoal-fired centrepiece loaded with thinly sliced lamb and fresh vegetables, cooked at the table in the traditional Beijing style. Alongside the hotpot, the kitchen turns out barbecue skewers and northern stir-fried dishes, and there is a keenly priced all-you-can-eat option for the full experience.

Where to find the best Beijing hotpot in Soho

The signature is the Beijing-style copper hotpot, with tender sliced lamb, a savoury broth and a spread of dipping sauces and sides, best shared around the table. Add the barbecue and a few stir-fries and it becomes a proper northern Chinese feast. The buffet option, with barbecue offered at half price as a bonus, makes it a favourite for groups, with a time limit on the hotpot at busy times.

The cooking and the setting

This is honest, regional cooking rather than a polished dining room, and that is the appeal: authentic Beijing flavours in the middle of London's Chinatown. It sits among Gerrard Street's dense run of Chinese kitchens, near Cantonese stalwart Four Seasons, with more of the area's tables in our Soho restaurants listings.

How a visit works

Real Beijing Food House serves lunch and dinner in the heart of Chinatown, taking walk-ins and bookings, with the hotpot buffet best suited to groups. Because it is popular, booking ahead is wise at weekends. Details and menus are on its official site, and it has been reviewed by The Infatuation.