Where to Find the Best Noodles in London

Priding itself on its ethos of Gan Gin Gan Yuu (as you eat, so you are), Busaba is a delightful blend of modernist efficiency and traditional authenticity. Equipped with a delectable range of authentically Thai soup noodle dishes, from prawn and glass noodles in spicy sour soup to beef, rice noodle, and star anise in chilli vinegar, Busaba certainly brings a piece of exotic excitement to London. And not just one fortunate street of London either; there are no fewer than nine Busabas in the capital – from Stratford Westfield City to Covent Garden.

Colourful in both its menu and in its layout, the Cirilo Filipino Kainan on Cable Street promises “a humble, unpretentious eatery serving take on classic hearty Filipino Food”. Dishes include Pancit Bihon (rice vermicelli noodles and seasoned vegetables cooked atsuete, gluten-free soy in a vegetable broth) and the chicken or beef ‘Mami’ (noodles, vegetables cooked in a miso broth with oriental spices). You can pick your noodle type, with a choice of egg, rice vermicelli, or udon noodle.

If you value great beer as much as you value great noodles, the Bermondsey outpost of London franchise Bone Daddies is lip-smack bang where you want to be. Tucked away beneath one of the many arches that make up the city’s legendary “beer mile”, this Japanese, rock n’ roll-embracing noodle restaurant provides all the meaty and brothy sustenance you and your pals will need. Drop in for a bowl of tonkotsu ramen, some Korean fried wings, perhaps a bao bun or two – and cool the spicy flavours with more ice-cold IPAs. The exclusive DEYA Brewery X Bone Daddies collab beer most definitely hits the spot.

Serving excellent Korean food since opening its doors in Fitzrovia in 2005, Koba pairs classic Korean table barbecue with luxury dining and indulgence. Go for lunch and you’ll be dithering over beef bulgogi stir-fried noodles or seafood udon jjamppong, while the dinner menu will bring mouth-watering dishes like kimchi jjigae (pork stew) and spicy pork dolsot bibimbap into the dilemma. One thing you shouldn’t leave to chance is your table – book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Dim T prides itself on authentic and traditional Asian food, and the know-how of its skilled chefs to bring a modern twist. Offering a great choice of steamed foods and tasty salads for the more health-conscious, there’s plenty on the menu to suit every appetite. The Victoria-based restaurant is a great place to fuel your love of noodles – and theatre, if you make your reservation before or after a show at the Victoria Palace Theatre.

Focused on balance, freshness, and authenticity, New Culture Revolution caught the attention of Londoners not long after it opened – and has held it firmly ever since. Using the cuisine of Northern China as the basis for their menu, they have a formidable range of wheat-based dishes which include chao mian (stir-fried) noodles, tang mian (soup noodle) dishes, and lao mian (noodles covered in ‘gravy’). Both affordable and tasty, this China-meets-Chelsea restaurant also does dumplings, soups and seafood – and does them very, very well.

Formerly Noodle Oodle, the only thing that has changed about this long-standing restaurant is the name and look. The menu remains the same – much to the probably delight of locals, who, back in 2006, were treated to the first Chinese restaurant in London to serve freshly made hand-pulled noodles, done the old-fashioned Chinese way. It serves Shanghainese cuisine even the fussiest Chinese customer would greedily devour: most notably the stewed beef la mian (seafood flat noodles with egg gravy) and sour spicy la mian with chicken and shrimp.

And that’s not the only first it proudly lays claim to – all dishes traditionally served with pork-based ingredients can be ordered with Halal chicken instead – a thoughtful touch for the local Muslim community that makes this noodle restaurant fully deserving of a place on this list.

With six London outposts, Shoryu Ramen has become so reputed that it has been recommended by the Michelin Guide. Proud of its heritage, its specialty tonkotsu ramen originates from the Hakata district of Fukuoka, Japan. This style of ramen is made with a rich pork soup and thin, straight noodles with – according to Shoryu – “plenty of bounce and chew”. Using this as their basic component, the team at Shoryu have designed some brilliantly creative dishes, including Dracula Tonkotsu (ramen with caramelised black garlic mayu and garlic chips) and Piri Piri Tonkotsu (ramen with jalapeños and top-secret spicy gochujang sauce).

Known locally – and somewhat accurately, depending on what you order – as ‘SIN’, Salvation in Noodles is a Vietnamese restaurant in Dalston, found a short walk away from the area’s busier streets. It’s the go-to for generously portioned, no-fuss noodles, slurped to a hip-hop soundtrack and lively chatter. Notable mentions must also go to the taro-root spring rolls and the tofu rice paper rolls – served in sticky wrappers and best dunked in sweet and sour sauce.

Viet Hoa Restaurant serves brings a fresh blend of traditional and modern Vietnamese cooking styles to Shoreditch, with no fewer than nine different types of pho (soup noodle) dishes, and as many different types of hue noodle dishes – the spicier version of pho. There’s also a very exclusive-looking underground restaurant: Viet Hoa Mess, where minimalism and modernism meet to create the sort of Bond-lair atmosphere any fancy birthday bash would be suited to.