27/08/2025
Bank holiday Monday we headed into Chinatown London - finally, everyone has managed to find something they like (that story deserves its own post 👀). For me, this trip was nostalgic. In my 20s it was a cut-through from Piccadilly Circus to Soho on nights out, in my 30s it was about pop-ups. Now, thanks to socials making it a modern spot, I dragged my mini-mes on an adventure.
🐟 First & last stop: Chinatown Bakery for the famous taiyaki (fish-shaped waffle). Both times they vanished so fast we didn’t even get a picture 🙃.
🥟 We walked through the main street to grab bao buns (£3.50 each). They were doughy and filling - my beancurd one was a miss, but the meat eater were happy with their fillings.
🧋 Happy Lemon… let’s just say it wasn’t for us. Drinks felt off, and we ditched them quickly. But across the road we spotted Donnateller (mental note for next time 👀).
🍦 Mama Sons was the highlight - the viral purple ice cream brioche (ube). Warm brioche + cold ice cream = 10/10. Tastes like the charcoal ice cream at on Ruislip high street.
Next stop: 🍜 A Bowl of Noodles - loved being able to sit in the square, but the food didn’t hit. Vegetarian noodle soup had fish broth (wasn’t clear on the menu), so £15 felt steep. Ate it because I needed something solid, but wouldn’t rush back.
🌿 Browsing the side streets, we found a teashop and left with goodies and a polka dot begonia cutting 🤩.
🍗 Final food dash: Joy’s popcorn chicken (too salty for grandma), Bubblewrap on Wardour Street (no offer to share = must have been worth it), and one more stop at Chinatown Bakery because why not?
👀 On the way back we wandered through Leicester Square and even bumped into Darth Vader and some artist. By then the littlest legs were tired, and we headed home with full bellies and a list of gift ideas for next time.
✔️ Sharing plates saved the day - even if one dish was a miss, someone else polished it off. Everyone left happy.
