Is Shanghai Family good for children who have not tried Chinese food before?

Yes — the shared dishes format means children can taste many things before committing, and familiar items like dumplings and noodles are always on the menu.

What is the best time to visit with children?

Dim sum lunch is the most family-friendly option — lighter dishes, lower prices, and a casual atmosphere that suits children well.

Yes — the restaurant is popular with both local families and regular diners. Book ahead, particularly for weekend meals.

Shanghai Family

Name: Shanghai Family
Address: London, UK, US
Telephone: 020 7631 4538
Rating: 4.6

Rating

4.6(1,239)

Family of 4

USD 64–102 (approx GBP 50–80) for a family meal with soft drinks

Duration

1.5–2 hours

Best Ages

5–17

About

Shanghai Family is a well-regarded Chinese restaurant that delivers the kind of authentic, family-style Shanghai cooking that is genuinely hard to find at this quality level in London. The menu covers dumplings, noodles, braised dishes, and Shanghai specialties in a format built around sharing — large portions arrive at the table for everyone to take from, which is a dining style that works naturally and enjoyably for families. Children who eat Chinese food regularly will immediately recognize favorites on the menu; children trying it for the first time often discover new dishes they love through the process of tasting from multiple plates.

The restaurant has a warm, unpretentious atmosphere with the kind of energy you find in genuinely family-owned establishments. Service is friendly and the pace is comfortable without being rushed. It is popular with local Chinese families as well as the broader London dining crowd, which is always a good sign of authenticity.

The dim sum lunch service offers excellent value and is a particularly good introduction for children new to Chinese food — small bites of many different things at a low per-dish cost. Booking is recommended, especially for weekend sittings, as it fills up with regulars.

Age Suitability

Infants (0-1)Toddlers (1-3)Little Kids (4-6)Big Kids (7-9)Tweens (10-12)Teens (13-17)

Parent Logistics

Kid Meals

The menu is Chinese family-style — dishes are shared and portions are generous; well-suited to families

Setting

Rainy Day

Great option!

Plan Your Visit

Best Time to Visit

Early lunch or early dinner — book ahead

Wait Times

Booking recommended; popular with local families

Nearby Food

The surrounding area has further Chinese and Asian dining options if Shanghai Family is unavailable

Why Kids Love It

Shanghai Family serves excellent Chinese food in a format that is perfectly suited to families — shared dishes brought to the table for everyone to help themselves. Children who have tried Chinese food before tend to find multiple dishes they love immediately, and the communal nature of the meal encourages even picky eaters to try new things when they see everyone else enjoying them.

Pro Tips from Parents

Order dim sum at lunch for the best value and the widest range of tastes for children to explore.
Let children choose one dish each from the menu — it gives them investment in the meal and encourages trying things they selected themselves.
Ask the staff for recommendations on what is best that day — the kitchen's strengths vary and the team is happy to guide.

What to Bring

A booking, especially for weekend sittings
An open mind about sharing food — the communal style is integral to the experience
Chopstick curiosity — children enjoy the novelty even if they end up using a fork