YiQi

A 4.9 on Google from nearly 2,400 reviews is not a number that happens by accident — and at ££, YiQi is one of Chinatown's most compelling reasons to book rather than just wander in.

Opened in 2024 on Lisle Street, YiQi draws its menu from Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore — a Southeast Asian triangle that most London Chinatown restaurants handle inconsistently, if at all. The 2025 Michelin Plate recognition confirms what the review count already suggested: this is a kitchen that knows what it is doing, and a room that delivers on the promise. Whether you are planning a birthday dinner, a group meal with family, or a date where you want food to be the talking point rather than the bill, YiQi earns its place at the leading of the shortlist.

What to Expect

YiQi runs across two floors, which means the venue handles groups without the squeeze that plagues many Chinatown spots. The service team is notably attentive and , according to Michelin's own notes , actively helpful when you are working through the menu. At the ££ price point, that level of floor engagement is not guaranteed elsewhere on the street. The staff are reported to give practical guidance on dishes rather than simply taking orders, which matters when the menu is as extensive as this one.

The Michelin Plate is the relevant trust signal here. It sits below a star but above the noise , it means the food is consistently good enough that the Guide's inspectors came back and committed to print. For a restaurant that opened in 2024, earning that recognition in its first full year is a meaningful signal about kitchen consistency, not just opening-night ambition. If you are comparing it to longer-established Chinatown neighbours, the credentials already outrun many of them.

What to Order

The Michelin assessment calls out several dishes by name, which is worth noting because the menu is large enough that having anchors helps. Salt and pepper squid is listed as a highlight , a dish where execution separates the versions worth ordering from the ones you forget by the time you leave. The whole grilled silver pomfret and the charcoal chicken wings are both cited, with the wings specifically described as succulent. Street food-style morning glory rounds out the recommendations. Portions are described as generous, which at the ££ price range means the cost-per-dish equation is firmly in your favour. The practical implication: come with at least three or four people and share across the menu. Solo diners or couples will get good food but will miss the full range of what the kitchen is doing.

Service Philosophy and Price Point

This is where YiQi separates itself from the surrounding competition. At ££, you might expect perfunctory service , the Chinatown norm is fast-turnover and minimal engagement. YiQi runs counter to that. The team is described as eager and professional, with an emphasis on offering advice rather than just processing tables. That service posture matters for the special occasion diner: it means you are not on your own decoding a long menu under pressure. It also matters for groups with dietary questions or unfamiliar dishes. The service earns the price point rather than simply accepting it.

For a special occasion specifically, the combination of Michelin recognition, strong service, and a menu broad enough to satisfy a table with varied preferences makes YiQi a genuinely practical choice , not just an interesting one. The two-floor layout also means you are less likely to be seated in a way that makes a celebration feel cramped.

Booking at YiQi

With a 4.9 rating across nearly 2,400 reviews and Michelin recognition earned in its first year, demand at YiQi is not a question mark. Book ahead rather than relying on walk-in availability, particularly for groups of four or more, weekend evenings, or any night you are planning around a specific occasion. Because this is the kind of restaurant where word of mouth travels fast and tables at prime times fill without much notice, a week's lead time at minimum is sensible; two weeks for Saturday evenings is safer. Walk-ins may work at lunch on quieter weekdays, but it is not a strategy worth depending on for anything that matters.

How YiQi Fits the Wider London Picture

If Southeast Asian food in London is your focus, YiQi sits in a different category from the pan-Asian showrooms at the higher end of the market. Lucky Cat by Gordon Ramsay and Sexy Fish both operate at a higher price point with more emphasis on the room and the spectacle. Bar des Prés in Mayfair takes a French-Asian fusion approach at premium prices. YiQi does none of that , it is focused, mid-range, and Michelin-recognised on the strength of the food and service rather than the design budget. For a broader view of where YiQi fits in the capital, our full London restaurants guide covers the range. If you are building a full trip around the visit, London hotels, London bars, and London experiences are worth checking. For Southeast Asian cooking at Michelin level outside London, taku in Cologne and Jun's in Dubai offer useful points of comparison in different cities.