"Alan Yau's glass-walled Soho dim sum room held a Michelin star from 2005 to 2019 — book the lunch for a birthday catch-up."
About Yauatcha Soho
Fourteen years before bubble-tea teahouses arrived on every high street, Alan Yau opened a Cantonese one in Soho. Yauatcha launched on Broadwick Street in 2004, the same restaurateur behind Hakkasan, Wagamama and Busaba Eathai, and within a year it had a Michelin star. It kept that star until 2019. The dim sum is still the draw, served all day across a blue-lit ground floor and a tearoom above. It sits two minutes from Berwick Street market, in the middle of working Soho. See the rest of the London dining guide.
The Kitchen
The Yauatcha menu was built by Tong Chee Hwee, the group executive head chef who has run the Hakkasan and Yauatcha kitchens since the start and remains the technical authority behind both. His brief here is dim sum at restaurant standard rather than trolley speed. The scallop shui mai is the dish to order first, a single plump scallop folded into a translucent skin, and the baked venison puff is the other signature, a flaky pastry the kitchen has kept on the menu for two decades. A spread for one runs roughly £45 to £90 before drinks, with individual plates from £4.40 to £12.80, and the patisserie counter and cocktail list set it apart from a standard dim sum house. A Michelin star from 2005 to 2019 marks the high point; the cooking today is very good rather than starred. For the wider field, see the best Chinese restaurants worldwide.
The Room
The ground-floor dining room is glass-fronted and bright by day, then drops to a blue, low-lit hum after dark, with an aquarium-cool palette that became Yauatcha's signature look. Tables are set close and the sound runs lively rather than hushed, so it suits conversation with energy more than a quiet tete-a-tete. Service is quick and table turns are brisk, in keeping with the all-day teahouse format. Dress is smart-casual, the room seats around 130 across two floors, and the patisserie counter near the entrance doubles as a dessert stop. It is a Soho room built for buzz.
Best for a Birthday
Yauatcha is one of Soho's better birthday rooms for three reasons. The all-day format lets a group roll a long lunch into the afternoon or start an early dinner without a rigid sitting. The shared dim sum spread keeps everyone grazing and talking rather than locked into three courses. And the patisserie counter gives the celebration a built-in finale, a rare thing in a dumpling house. Picture eight friends around a corner table on a Saturday afternoon, a tower of bamboo steamers between them, cocktails arriving as the macarons land. Book a weekday or early-weekend slot for the calmest table. See more restaurants for a birthday.
Not for
Not for a quiet date or a serious business negotiation: tables are close, the room is loud after dark, and the kitchen turns seats quickly rather than letting you linger over a deal.
Frequently Asked
Is Yauatcha Soho worth it?
Yes, for the dim sum and the room. Yauatcha won a Michelin star in 2005, its first full year, and held it until 2019, and Alan Yau's Broadwick Street original still turns out some of the most polished Cantonese dumplings in central London. The scallop shui mai and the baked venison puff are the dishes to judge it on. Treat it as a buzzy all-day teahouse rather than a fine-dining destination and it rarely disappoints.
How much does Yauatcha Soho cost?
Individual dim sum plates run from about £4.40 to £12.80, so a proper spread for one lands around £45 to £90 per person before drinks. The signature dim sum set is roughly £45 a head. The patisserie and cocktails push the bill higher if you linger. For a wider view of the city's tables, see our London dining guide.
How hard is it to book Yauatcha Soho?
Easier than most Soho names, but plan ahead for weekend evenings. The Broadwick Street room takes online reservations and turns tables briskly, so a weekday lunch is usually available at short notice while Friday and Saturday dinner needs a few days. Book online or by phone. For a relaxed birthday lunch, a midday weekday slot is the sweet spot.
What should I order at Yauatcha Soho?
Build the meal around the scallop shui mai and the baked venison puff, the two dishes the kitchen is known for. Add the prawn and beancurd cheung fun, a plate of char siu, and finish at the patisserie counter, which is unusual for a dim sum house. The cocktails are serious too. Order broadly and share, the way dim sum is meant to be eaten.
Is Yauatcha Soho good for a birthday?
Yes, it is one of Soho's better birthday rooms for a group. The glass-fronted dining room is lively, the all-day format suits a long lunch or an early dinner, and the patisserie counter doubles as a dessert finale. Book a weekday or early weekend slot for a calmer table. See our best restaurants for a birthday for more celebratory rooms.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Yauatcha Soho
Weekday lunch is easiest; book a few days ahead for weekend dinner.
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Practical Information
Address15-17 Broadwick Street, London W1F 0DL
NeighbourhoodSoho
CuisineCantonese dim sum
Price£45–£90 per person; plates £4.40–£12.80
MichelinOne star 2005–2019
HoursDaily, noon–late
Dress CodeSmart-casual
ReservationOnline / phone +44 20 7494 8888
KidsWelcome at lunch
AccessibilityStep-free ground floor
DietaryVegetarian dim sum; vegan and gluten-free on request
