Looking for good restaurant recommendations for Chinese Food, Indian Food and British Food

First, I won't recommend any specific place, but give you guidance so you can find a place that appeals to you.

Can't say I had Chinese food much in London, but it is popular, and there is such a thing as "British Chinese" just like we have "American" Chinese, plus I have seen all types of regional Chinese places, dumpling and dim sum places, Bao, plus Viet and Thai places. There is a Chinatown in London, maybe start there.

For Indian, you will get many recommending Dishoom, they serve good food, authentic? many believe not, it is sort of a "cleaned up and tamed" version of Indian. I think you can eat cheaper, better, and not have to wait in line, by going to more of an old school place. You can go to any number of places in the Brick Lane area that will knock your socks off.

British Food: I'm looking here specifically for places that serve prime rib (rib of roast) plus Yorkshire pudding and the other traditional sides

Specifically what you are looking for is a Sunday Roast, served on Sundays, early afternoon. You will see a variety of meats offered, roasted potatoes, Yorkshire Pudding, and veg. Other than that, you will not see Yorkshire Pudding during the week commonly, but a restaurant that specializes in Roasts, will. For other traditional "British" dishes, a pub might suffice, I have found just about any Fuller's Pub serves above average food, but there are lots of independent gastropubs serving great food. Avoid the big pub chains (Weatherspoons and Stonegate) I even find the Green King pubs vary quite a bit, but usually to the worse. For any of these chains, the name of the chain is usually not in the name of the pub, but is clear on the website.

For all of the food choices you mention a great resource is TimeOut. Search for "TimeOut London Chinese" and you get: https://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/londons-best-chinese-restaurants Updated as of January, same with Indian, same with Sunday roasts, same with Pub Food, Fish and Chips, and I suppose "traditional" British restaurants...didn't look though. Just watch the date the article was updated, something a couple years ols is probably outdated.

We recently enjoyed the Sunday roast meal at the Princess Royal pub/hotel. It is part of the Thomas Cubitt House group of pubs that are well regarded.

For Indian, we always enjoy Punjab in Seven Dials at Shaftesbury and Neal St.

You can go to any number of places in the Brick Lane area that will knock your socks off.

I disagree. The majority of the Indian restaurants in Brick Lane haven't moved on in decades, they're stuck in the timewarp of serving British Indian style dishes that were adapted to British tastes and convenience. There's nothing wrong with that style of cooking per se but you'll struggle to find anything there that will knock your socks off, besides, any restaurant that relies on paying someone to stand outside and pester people to come in with offers of discounts etc isn't relying on their food to bring in the customers.

If you’re in London for a while, it’s worth checking out some specific suburbs - for example, Tooting is very good for Chinese food. No specific restaurant recommendations but just a wander down Tooting Broadway would be good.

For Indian food, it depends what kind you want. I like the unpretentious mostly South Indian buffets in Drummond Street near Euston. I’ve also had good mostly vegetarian Indian food at Chettinad and Sagar just off Tottenham Court Road. And I find the mini-chain Masala Zone good for thali.

The British meal you’ve described is definitely a Sunday roast - midday to mid-afternoon, certain pubs, book a table. Although you could look at Rules, which it serves it as part of their standard menu. Blacklock is another option for heavily meat-based traditional British food.

I think it’s fair to say the “traditional British” is relatively unusual in restaurants. Pubs may serve you a pie and chips, but unless it’s a noted gastro pub, do not expect great food.

I should add that while I’ve eaten at the Chinese and Indian options above, I wouldn’t go out for roast beef so these are based on word of mouth.

For Chinese food, I'd suggest going to Chinatown and looking for a restaurant with predominantly Chinese clientele.

I would also say Chinatown for authentic Chinese. There are numerous places in Gerrard Street and the surrounding streets just north of Leicester Square - some specialise in dim sum at lunchtime. Not smart at all, but real.

For Sunday roast - Hawksmoor, if you are not on a tight budget. Famed for their meat - my son is a chef and goes when he is in London.
https://thehawksmoor.com/food/sunday-roasts/

Depends what you want for Indian. Lots of places these days are actually run by Bangladeshis anyway
You can go for fine dining, or take pot luck in "local" joints.

TimeOut is a good source of "best of" lists. Here is the one for Sunday roasts:
https://www.timeout.com/london/food-and-drink/londons-best-sunday-lunches
I can vouch for William IV in Hoxton. We had a great meal and great service. We took the bus there from Victoria Station, as I recall.
Reservations are needed for most places, and they sell out.
Mother Mash serves sausages and pies with various mashed things and gravy. Not exactly what you asked for, but very delicious. Two locations.

Golden Girl said: "For Indian food, it depends what kind you want. I like the unpretentious mostly South Indian buffets in Drummond Street near Euston. I’ve also had good mostly vegetarian Indian food at Chettinad and Sagar just off Tottenham Court Road. And I find the mini-chain Masala Zone good for thali."

Ooo, Ooo, somebody still does buffets? Vegetarian South Indian buffets? More information please!! We've enjoyed masala dosa and idli meals at two Sagar locations, but it was pre-pandemic.

Thanks!

Thank you so much everyone. These are all great recommendations.