A. Wong

A. Wong has held its title as the UK’s only two Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant for four years, and ever since Hakkasan lost its star in 2024, is now the only single-starred Chinese restaurant in the country, too. Chef-patron Andrew Wong lies, quite literally, at the heart of the restaurant, standing front and centre at the pass as he marshals a laser-focused kitchen brigade.  

Despite building a covered, outdoor terrace off the back of the pandemic, the restaurant is small, and an open kitchen comprises a large proportion of the space. The sounds of one of the country’s finest dim sum kitchens pour into the dining room – whirring extractor fans and the clatter of chefs wielding red-hot woks – to the point of almost noisy. These guys prepare a 30-course tasting menu for dinner alone, plus a 15-course lunch menu, and an a la carte offering. One can forgive them a little noise.  

Dishes are small, often just single bites, but they arrive thick and fast, sometimes in multiples, which gives the experience a sense of structure. The menu is built around the concept of Cantonese dim sum, but inflected with a myriad of influences across China, and crucially Andrew Wong’s own unique creativity. This we see in dishes like pyramid-shaped Iberico pork croustades flavoured with sweet liquorice and dusted with dehydrated raspberry. While one of his signatures, a rabbit ‘puff’ in the shape of a carrot, is an intriguing glutinous snack that blurs the line between sweet and savoury.

Andrew grasps every opportunity he can to take a nostalgic idea and make it his own. A crisp ‘souffle’ spring roll sees deep-fried pastry filled, somehow, with air, and shatters into thin shards as we attack it with a fork. Another favourite is the 999 layered scallop puff with XO oil - beautifully soft scallop encased in paper-thin pastry, it’s a marvel of a bite. Another A. Wong staple - fluffy steamed buns filled with duck yolk custard - are so delicious they deserve their own bakery. 

This experience is delivered by relaxed, well-trained staff armed with anecdotes about the history and technical skill behind certain dishes. All of this, naturally, comes with a price tag, even when dining a la carte (the restaurant enforces a £100 minimum spend), but there’s bags of value to be found here, both in its uniqueness and commitment to exploring the nuances of Chinese cuisine. 

Arguably serving up some of the best Chinese food in the whole of London, A. Wong is a fine dining restaurant located in the heart of Pimlico.

Named after head chef and owner Andrew Wong, it first opened in 1985 by Wong's parents under the name Kym's, before being reopened with a new name in 2012 by Wong and his wife. In 2021 A. Wong was awarded a second star in the Michelin guide making it the first Chinese restaurant in the UK to hold such a title. Serving a highly innovative menu of modern Chinese food, the restaurant aims to showcase a diverse selection of dishes from the many different regions of China. Its not overly formal ambience makes A. Wong a brilliant spot for special occasions when you want to avoid hushed voices and silver service.

Found on the busy Wilton Road, the outside of the restaurant is surrounded by trees and greenery, while there is some outdoor seating, allowing for al fresco drinking and dining when the weather allows. A Wong's large windows and light interiors provide a bright and airy feel to the place, with an open kitchen allowing diners to see the chefs at work and a few seats up at the counter.

There are a variety of different menus on offer throughout the day including a dim sum lunch menu, an evening a la carte, and a lengthy tasting menu. Expect creative savoury dishes such as Shaanxi pulled lamb ‘burger’ with Xinjiang pomegranate salad and Anhui province red braised fermented wild seabass, while sweeter treats might include poached meringue with fruit textures.

The drinks offering is equally innovative as the food with a range of Chinese-inspired cocktails available alongside an impressive selection of wines by the glass and bottle. You can either enjoy your drinks at the table or head down to the Forbidden City bar on the lower ground floor before or after your meal.