A Wong Review 2026: Brilliant 2-Michelin-Star Chinese in Pimlico Honest Verdict

This A Wong Pimlico review by London Reviews is the most thorough independent assessment available of the only two-Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant outside Asia — Andrew Wong’s pioneering kitchen at 70 Wilton Road, where regional Chinese cooking from all 14 provinces is treated with the seriousness usually reserved for French haute cuisine.

Last updated: 1 May 2026 — Independently researched and written by the London Reviews editorial team.

Looking for an honest A Wong review? Below we cover the famous Touch of Heart dim sum lunch, the Collections of China tasting, signature dishes, what regulars love, and how to book.

Table of Contents

1. At a Glance
2. Introduction
3. Location & Getting There
4. First Impressions
5. The Menus
6. Pricing & Value
7. Diner Review Analysis
8. What Diners Love
9. Areas for Consideration
10. Who It’s Best For
11. How to Book
12. FAQs
13. Verdict
14. Summary Rating

At a Glance

Introduction: Why We Chose A. Wong Pimlico

A. Wong is the most quietly significant restaurant in London. When Andrew Wong’s Pimlico kitchen earned its second Michelin star in January 2021, it became the first Chinese restaurant outside Asia to hold two stars — and remains, five years later, the only one. To eat here is to dine at a restaurant that has rewritten what Chinese fine dining looks like in the West.

The kitchen’s organising principle is unusual. Rather than focusing on Cantonese cooking (the default of London’s Chinese fine-dining scene), Andrew Wong works across all 14 Chinese provinces — drawing equally from Sichuan, Hunan, Fujian, Yunnan, Shanghai, Beijing and beyond. The result is a menu that reads more like a culinary atlas than a list of dishes.

We chose to review A. Wong because it represents the most distinctive entry on London’s two-star list. Andrew Wong is also a serious researcher — he spent two years travelling China before opening, and the menu reflects deep historical and regional knowledge. We have read the Michelin Guide, AA, TripAdvisor, Andy Hayler, Hardens and Infatuation reviews. (See also our reviews of London’s three-star restaurants.)

Location & Getting There

The restaurant occupies a corner unit on Wilton Road, the long street running south from Victoria station. The frontage is modest — easy to walk past unless you know the door.

By Tube

• Victoria (District, Circle, Victoria lines + National Rail) — 5 minutes’ walk south.
• Pimlico (Victoria line) — 7 minutes’ walk south-east.
• St James’s Park (District, Circle) — 10 minutes’ walk north.

First Impressions & Atmosphere

The dining room is split across two levels and seats around 70. Soft contemporary décor, dark wood, low warm lighting, with the kitchen pass visible from much of the main room. The space feels modern and intimate, designed to centre the food rather than compete with it.

Service is led by Andrew Wong’s wife Nathalie Wong (who runs front-of-house) and is warm and conversational. Senior staff explain dishes’ regional origins, which is a defining part of the experience — eating here is also a small geography lesson.

The Menus

Touch of Heart Lunch (£68)

The dim sum tasting lunch is the kitchen’s most-loved offering and the most accessible entry to two-star Chinese cooking in London. Ten dim sum across two waves: Shanghai xiao long bao with pork and crab; scallop puffs with XO sauce; pillowy char siu buns with iberico pork; prawn cracker shells with seaweed and dashi; cuttlefish with squid ink; and a final dessert dim sum.

Collections of China (£175)

The signature dinner tasting — 10 courses drawing from across the 14 provinces. Recent menus have featured Sichuan dan dan noodles with peanut and chilli; Yunnan steamed rice with mushrooms; Shanghai braised pork belly; Cantonese roast suckling pig; and a Beijing-style duck course finished tableside.

Wine

The wine list is unusually thoughtful for a Chinese restaurant — strong Riesling and Pinot Noir representation, sake selection, and Chinese rice wines. Pairings start at £85.

Pricing & Value for Money

A. Wong is by far the best-value two-star restaurant in London. The £68 Touch of Heart lunch is genuinely remarkable — under £100 for ten dim sum at two-star level. The £175 Collections of China dinner sits below most one-star tasting menus in the city. Wine pairings at £85 are the lowest at this Michelin tier.

What Diners Actually Say

TripAdvisor 4.5/5 from 1,900+ reviews; The Infatuation calls it “the most exciting Chinese restaurant in London”; Hardens scores it among the top 10 London restaurants; Andy Hayler awarded 17/20.

What Diners Love Most

1. Touch of Heart dim sum lunch. Ten dim sum at £68 — the value of the year at two-star level.
2. Shanghai xiao long bao. The pork and crab dumplings are genuinely the best in London.
3. Regional breadth. Drawing from 14 provinces, the menu offers dishes you cannot find elsewhere in the West.
4. Iberico char siu. The kitchen’s signature reimagining of Cantonese roast pork using iberico shoulder.
5. Service warmth. Nathalie Wong’s front-of-house is among the warmest in fine dining.
6. Educational quality. Each dish comes with regional context.
7. Wine programme. Riesling and sake pairings work beautifully with Chinese flavours.
8. Best value at two-star tier. Touch of Heart at £68 is unmatched.

Areas for Consideration

1. Booking is extraordinarily competitive. 8-10 weeks lead time for weekends.
2. Pimlico is not Mayfair. Some celebration diners prefer the central glamour of West End restaurants.
3. Spice levels can climb. The Sichuan and Hunan courses are not toned down for Western palates.
4. Vegetarian menu is limited. Available with notice but not the kitchen’s strength.
5. Cash machines occasional. The bill always lands as a single number — be prepared.

Who Is A. Wong Best For?

✅ Particularly good for:

• Lovers of Chinese cooking willing to engage with regional breadth
• Dim sum enthusiasts — the best in London
• First-time two-star diners (Touch of Heart at £68 is genuinely accessible)
• Wine lovers curious about Riesling and sake with Chinese flavours

⚠️ Less suitable for:

• Diners who prefer Cantonese-only Chinese cooking
• Last-minute bookings
• Vegetarians (limited focus)

Booking & How to Visit

1. Book direct at awong.co.uk or by phone (+44 20 7828 8931).
2. OpenTable lists shorter-notice availability.
3. £50 per person deposit; refundable up to 48 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions about A Wong Pimlico

How many Michelin stars does A Wong Pimlico hold?

A. Wong holds two Michelin stars. It earned its first in 2017 and its second in January 2021 — the first Chinese restaurant outside Asia to hold two stars.

How much does dinner cost at A Wong Pimlico?

Touch of Heart lunch £68 (10 dim sum). Collections of China dinner tasting £175 (10 courses). Wine pairings from £85.

What is the signature dish at A Wong Pimlico?

Shanghai xiao long bao (pork and crab dumplings) and the iberico char siu are the most-named signatures.

Who is the chef at A Wong Pimlico?

Andrew Wong, third-generation London restaurateur. He took over the family site in 2012 and named the restaurant after his parents.

How far in advance should I book A Wong Pimlico?

4-8 weeks for weekday dinners; 8-10 weeks for weekend dinner. Touch of Heart lunch slots are easier to secure.

Is there a vegetarian menu at A Wong Pimlico?

Yes — vegetarian dim sum and Collections menus available with 24 hours’ notice. Spread across regions but limited compared to omnivore offerings.

How do I get to A Wong Pimlico by Tube?

5-minute walk from Victoria station (District, Circle, Victoria + National Rail). Pimlico station 7 minutes south-east.

Is A Wong Pimlico the best Chinese restaurant in London?

By Michelin tier, yes — it is the only two-star Chinese restaurant in London (and outside Asia). Other strong London Chinese restaurants include Hakkasan, Yauatcha, and Park Chinois.

London Reviews Verdict on A Wong

A. Wong is the most distinctive restaurant on London’s two-star list and arguably the best-value. Andrew Wong’s commitment to all 14 Chinese provinces produces a menu unlike any other in the city, and the Touch of Heart dim sum lunch at £68 is genuine value at this Michelin tier. The Shanghai xiao long bao deserve their reputation as the best dumplings in London.

Booking is the only real difficulty — demand consistently exceeds supply. For first-time two-star diners and anyone seriously interested in Chinese cooking, this should be the priority booking in London.

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• Dishoom King’s Cross Review — Indian Restaurant
• Sketch Lecture Room Review — 3 Michelin Stars
• The Ledbury Review — 3 Michelin Stars
• Core by Clare Smyth Review

Summary: Our A Wong Rating

Disclaimer: Cross-referenced from Michelin, Andy Hayler, AA, TripAdvisor, The Infatuation, Hardens. London Reviews accepts no payment from venues.