Tottenham Court Road is one of the busiest crossings in central London. Crossrail. The Northern line. The Central line. Soho on one side, Bloomsbury on the other, and Chinatown a 4 minute walk south.
If you work, study, or shop here, you have access to one of the highest concentrations of Chinese food in Europe. Here is how to navigate it.
The geography
From Tottenham Court Road station, you can walk to:
- Chinatown (Lisle Street, Gerrard Street, Wardour Street): 4-6 minutes south
- Soho proper (Frith Street, Greek Street): 2-4 minutes south
- Fitzrovia: 3-5 minutes north (or come down from Oxford Circus)
- Bloomsbury: 5-7 minutes north
Most of the Chinese food worth eating is south of the station, in Chinatown.
What is actually within 5 minutes walk?
Walking south from the station along Charing Cross Road:
1. The chains - Wagamama, Itsu, Ping Pong. Fast, predictable, not authentic 2. Cantonese restaurants on Lisle and Gerrard Street - dim sum, roast meats, classic UK Chinese 3. Sichuan restaurants on Macclesfield Street - hot pot, mapo tofu, Sichuan classics 4. Northern Chinese: The Greedy Sheep - hand-pulled noodles, biang biang, lamb dishes. 100% halal. 4 minutes from the station 5. Bubble tea and street food on Wardour Street - quick snacks, takeaway
If you want a sit-down meal in 30 minutes, your best bets are 1, 2, or 4.
For a quick lunch
- Chains: Wagamama or Itsu - 15 minute meal, predictable
- Independent fast: rice bowls and dumpling shops along Wardour Street
- Sit down with character: The Greedy Sheep menu has bowls and dumplings that come out in 8-12 minutes
If you have 45 minutes for lunch and want something memorable, sit-down beats grab-and-go.
For an evening meal
This is where Chinatown wins. The full menus open up. Sharing plates work properly. The atmosphere is busy, lit, alive.
For Northern Chinese specifically, we are the easiest option from Tottenham Court Road. Walk down Charing Cross Road, turn left at Newport Street, you are there.
What about halal?
Most Chinese restaurants near Tottenham Court Road are not halal. The Greedy Sheep is the only fully halal Chinese restaurant in Chinatown.
That matters if:
- You keep halal
- You are with friends or family who do
- You want certified, not "halal-friendly"
For the wider context, we have written a guide to halal restaurants in Chinatown.
What to order if you have not eaten Northern Chinese before
Northern Chinese food is wheat-based and lamb-heavy. If you grew up on UK Chinese takeaway (mostly Cantonese), this will feel new.
Start with:
- Lamb noodle soup - the gateway dish
- Pan-fried dumplings - familiar but better than you have had
- Rou jia mo - if you eat it cold-walking back to the office, you will think about it later
Practical tips
- Lunch peak: 12:30-1:30pm. Book or arrive at the edges
- Dinner peak: 7-8:30pm. Wednesday to Saturday is busy
- Weekend brunch: quieter than weekdays, more relaxed
- Walking from Tottenham Court Road: the south exit is faster
Find us
8 Little Newport Street, 4 minutes walk from Tottenham Court Road station. Open 12pm to 10pm daily. Halal certified. Walk-ins welcome.
Come hungry. Leave greedy.
