This week, The Plum Edit team headed to Chinatown. Come with us as we show you some of our favourite bakeries, viral pastries, classic comfort food and local heritage.
London’s Chinatown is a sensory playground, and your tour kicks off at Arôme Bakery, a chic, minimalist space where French pastry techniques brilliantly collide with East Asian flavours. The absolute must-order here is their viral Honey Butter Toast, a thick, deeply caramelised, and crispy slice of Shokupan (Japanese milk bread).
Moving deeper into the neighbourhood, you’ll encounter the high-energy atmosphere of Chinatown Bakery. It’s impossible to miss thanks to the mesmerising automatic machine flipping fresh, fish-shaped Taiyaki waffles filled with custard or Nutella right in the window, though you should definitely venture inside to pile your tray high with fluffy Pandan cake and savoury pork floss buns.
If you’re hunting for a more traditional, comforting neighbourhood staple, Mrs Bakery is your next stop. They specialise in authentic everyday Chinese bakes, most notably their legendary Pineapple Buns, which get their name from the sweet, crunchy, textured cookie-like crust on top rather than any actual pineapple ingredients.
To take a quick break from the food madness and highlight the deep cultural roots of the area, duck into Guanghwa Bookshop. As one of the premier Chinese bookshops in the UK, this quiet sanctuary is packed with beautiful art books, language-learning tools, and traditional calligraphy sets, offering an excellent moment in your vlog to reflect on the neighborhood's rich heritage.
Once your appetite returns, head over to Kowloon Restaurant & Bakery, a legendary, multi-level institution oozing with pure nostalgia. While it operates as a full sit-down Cantonese restaurant, you'll want to head straight to the bustling bakery counter upfront to grab one of their giant, steaming Cha Siu Bao (barbecue pork buns), which are famously fluffy, sweet, and perfect for eating on the move.
Finally, cap off your tour with a modern, fast-casual twist at Kungfu Burger. This street-food favourite puts a viral spin on the classic burger by ditching standard brioche for a flaky, crispy, layered Chinese flatbread known as Roujiamo. Stuffed with rich, shredded duck and sweet hoisin sauce, it is the ultimate savoury finale.
Watch the full video below.
Image credit: Candid Flaneur
