Haozhan
Chinatown, London
Restaurant in London, United Kingdom
Book with PearlThe Read
Evolved Chinatown Kitchen
Dress
Casual
Why go
Haozhan is a practical Chinatown pick rather than a trophy booking. Choose it when Gerrard Street convenience, easy planning, a central London table matter more than awards, chef detail, or a clearly defined tasting-menu experience. For a more documented Asian option, YiQi gives diners a clearer price signal.
About Haozhan
For Haozhan in London, the useful question is whether it suits a low-friction meal plan rather than whether it is a destination built around published accolades or a clearly defined signature format. Consider it when the priority is an easy London option with daily opening hours; look elsewhere if the night needs awards, chef details, cuisine information, or a defined format.
A practical London pick, not a destination splurge
Haozhan works well for diners who want a simple decision in London: a casual dress code and hours that run daily, with Monday to Saturday listed from 12:00 PM to 10:45 PM and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 9:45 PM. The record here does not include a published price tier, awards, chef detail, cuisine type, or signature dishes, so it is a weaker choice for diners trying to justify a special trip around those specifics. That does not make it a bad choice; it means the value case is practical rather than prestige-led.
The safer read is conservative: choose Haozhan when convenience and schedule fit are the point, not when the meal needs to be planned around a documented menu format or particular dish. Without dish, service-style, or off-premise details, keep the plan simple and check directly with the venue for anything that matters to the group.
Who should choose it over other options
Choose Haozhan when the group wants an easy London option and does not need a long pre-dinner briefing. For another comparison, Beijing Dumpling is a useful cross-shop. YiQi is another option to consider if you want to compare alternatives before committing.
The main reason to choose Haozhan is logistics: its daily opening hours make it straightforward to fit into a London plan. For a wider scan before deciding, use Pearl's London restaurants guide; if the evening needs drinks or a hotel, the London bars guide and London hotels guide are better places to build the rest of the night.
Planning details
- Location
- 8 Gerrard St, London W1D 5PJ, United Kingdom
- Website
- haozhan.uk
- Phone
- +44 20 7434 3838
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Haozhan reads as a quietly ambitious Chinatown stalwart that balances tradition and reinvention. Having held the same Gerrard Street address for roughly two decades, it keeps one foot in the classic Cantonese banquet-room universe while nudging the cuisine forward with a more fluid, creative menu. The kitchen’s focus on technique and sourcing gives the restaurant a modern, sophisticated edge without abandoning the neighbourhood comforts that sustain it. Overall it feels like a considered local institution — familiar in format but contemporary in execution.
Best For
Haozhan suits groups and neighbourhood diners who want a serious take on Cantonese and wider Chinese cooking. Its history in Chinatown and references to dim sum, roast meats and banquet-style service make it a natural choice for communal lunches or dinners where sharing is central. The presence of signature roast dishes and Peking Duck also means it works well for heartier evening meals. While visitors might drop by casually, the kitchen’s emphasis on technique rewards those coming to explore regional variations across a multi-course, shared meal.
Ordering Tips
Let the table share: order a mix of roast meats and dim sum to sample the kitchen’s range. The menu’s signature items—Peking Duck, siu mai, roast pork cheong fun and turnip cake in XO sauce—are good anchors for a group meal. Pair roast dishes with rice or cheong fun and stagger dim sum plates across the table so everyone can try multiple items. The menu intentionally borrows across regional traditions, so choose a few classic Cantonese plates and a few of the more creative preparations to get a full sense of Haozhan’s evolution.
Venue details
Ambiance
Cozy black wood decor split over two floors, lively and busy with a vibrant Chinatown feel overlooking red lanterns.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
View
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Small
Signature Dishes
- Peking Duck
- siu mai
- roast pork cheong fun
- turnip cake in XO sauce
Planning details
Location
Also consider
If Haozhan is not the right fit
Try Beijing Dumpling if the meal should be casual and dumpling-led. Choose YiQi if the group wants a clearer price tier and Asian category before committing.
Restaurant context
How Haozhan compares in Chinatown and central London
Haozhan is the easier, logistics-led choice if the group wants a central Chinatown table without turning dinner into a major planning exercise. Beijing Dumpling is the sharper pick for a casual dumpling-focused mood, while China City suits diners who want another Chinatown option to compare before committing.
YiQi has the clearer pre-booking signal because its Asian category and ££ tier are stated, so it is easier to judge budget before arrival. Haozhan is better when location and flexibility drive the decision; YiQi is better when the group wants more certainty around style and spend.
Rasa Sayang and Ember at Horizons are worth cross-shopping if ambiance or a different Asian-leaning brief matters more than being on Gerrard Street. For the easiest plan, Haozhan stays in play; for a more defined meal, choose the peer with the clearer category signal.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Haozhan guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Haozhan
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haozhan | London | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Ember at Horizons | London | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Beijing Dumpling | London | ; | ; | No published awards |
| China City | London | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Rasa Sayang | London | ; | ; | No published awards |
| YiQi | London | Asian | ££ | Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate |
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How Haozhan London compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Haozhan good for a special occasion?
Only if the occasion is about convenience and an easy London meal, not a splurge dinner built around accolades or a documented tasting format. Haozhan's hours run from 12:00 PM to 10:45 PM Monday through Saturday, with Sunday listed from 11:00 AM to 9:45 PM. For comparison, you may also want to look at Ember at Horizons before treating Haozhan as the main event.
Can I eat at the bar at Haozhan?
Do not count on bar dining unless the venue confirms it, because the details here only include London, daily opening hours, a casual dress code. If you need a flexible meal, Haozhan's opening hours are the useful part. For another comparison, YiQi is a useful point of reference.
What should a first-timer know about Haozhan?
Treat Haozhan as a straightforward London option, not a place that requires heavy planning. The big practical advantage is the schedule: open every day, from 12:00 PM to 10:45 PM Monday through Saturday and from 11:00 AM to 9:45 PM on Sunday. If you want to compare another restaurant before deciding, China City is another option to consider.
Is midday or evening better at Haozhan?
The hours make Haozhan usable for midday or evening plans: it opens at 12:00 PM Monday through Saturday and at 11:00 AM on Sunday, then closes at 10:45 PM Monday through Saturday and 9:45 PM on Sunday. Choose the timing that best fits your group, confirm any time-sensitive details directly with the venue.
