Chinatown London has always done food differently (and that includes dessert). This summer, its streets are packed with sweet things worth seeking out: flaky egg tarts straight from the oven, shaved ice piled high with fruit and syrup, and bubble teas that verge on obsession. Whether you’re here for tradition or trend, this is the city’s most exciting spot for something sugary. No excuse needed.

Viral Desserts

Located in Chinatown’s very own ‘Dessert Alley’, better known as Newport Court, Taiyakiya offers traditional Taiyaki. These fish-shaped waffles are stuffed with a range of moreish fillings including red bean paste, Nutella and banana or peanut and black sesame – or their newest viral filling, Dubai Chocolate. The ever-popular soft serve Taiyaki, is filled with smooth, creamy ice cream with flavours including matcha, lychee rose and ramune – a summer special with a lemon soda flavour. Topped off with candy unicorns and mermaid tails, this is definitely one for the ‘gram. 

Bubblewrap is a decadent dessert shop that has brought one of Hong Kong’s most popular street snacks, egg-shaped waffles, to Chinatown. Load up with your favourite scoops and customise with fresh fruit slices, nuts and sauces. A visit to Chinatown isn’t complete without a salted egg yolk custard bun from Bun House. Join the queue for this irresistible steamed bao filled with a sweet custard lava. Héfaure flip up an array of delicious Japanese style soufflé pancakes loaded with chocolate and strawberries, lotus Biscoff and Oreo cookies.

Keep it Cool

Summer in the capital can be a scorcher, so what better way to cool off, than with a frozen dessert. Candy Cafe’s shaved ice, also known as Crystal Snow Ice, is a popular Taiwanese dessert made from shaved blocks of frozen milky ice. Also available at Meet Fresh, enjoy topped with grass jelly, fruit and syrups.

Best known for their vibrant purple Ube puds, Mamasons serves up a variety of ice cream and sorbet combos. Enjoy sandwiched within a Filipino milk bun (Bilog), layer up with a traditional Halo Halo – alongside crushed ice, condensed milk, jelly and more! – or grab a tub or two to take home. Mad for matcha? Tsujiri is a haven for all things matcha and the place to go to pick up vibrant green matcha ice cream sundaes and soft serve cones, as well as their iced tiramisu latte. 

Bakes and Cakes

Chinatown’s much-loved Cantonese bakeries freshly prepare and bake their goods on site daily. With over 80 cake variations in Golden Gate Cake Shop you’ll be spoiled for choice. The Mango Cake has a zingy, fruity taste with layers of fresh mango, perfect for Summer. Chinatown Bakery has a selection of cheap and cheerful treats, such as their popular pandan cake and pineapple bun, filled with red bean paste.

You may have come across Chinatown’s newest bakery, Mrs Bakery; its matcha mochi bun has fast become viral and a must try! Sakurado’s beautifully handmade mille crêpe cakes are deliciously fresh and made using the finest ingredients including the much-loved East Asian flavours of Matcha, Yuzu, Hojicha (Roast Tea) and black sesame charcoal.

Traditional Delicacies

If you’re feeling adventurous, delve into the lesser-known desserts of Chinatown and discover authentic Asian flavours. Typically eaten in Malaysia, sago pudding is a sweet, creamy dessert made with sago pearls, coconut milk and fruits. Rasa Sayang’s Sugo is made with the sweet addition of Gula Melaka, a palm sugar. Egg tarts are a traditional Chinese delicacy.

A light pastry consisting of a flaky crust filled with a smooth, sweet egg custard that can be found in most dim sum spots across Chinatown; including Plum Valley, Golden Phoenix and Tao Tao Ju. Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made from glutinous rice flour, with a chewy outer layer and creamy filling. Misato’s mochi ice cream is available in a number of tempting flavours such as strawberry, matcha, black sesame and mango. Head to Chinatown’s specialist Asian supermarket SeeWoo and pick up a variety of ESEA desserts like Tanghulu (skewered fruits coated in hardened sugar syrup), Osmanthus Jelly and Qingtuan (sweet, green-coloured dumplings with a red bean filling). 

Alicia Grimshaw

Alicia is a features writer at About Time. A Northerner with a passion for eggs, brunch & HIIT, she can usually be found wearing matching prints and battling press releases. Don’t ever tell her your brand is ‘guilt-free’.