Leicester Square is one of London's busiest spots - and one of the hardest places to find a genuinely good meal. Tourist traps line the main square, charging premium prices for forgettable food. But step just a few minutes in any direction, and the picture changes completely.
If you're arriving via a different station, see our Charing Cross and Trafalgar Square guides too.
Skip the square. Head to the side streets.
The best food near Leicester Square isn't on Leicester Square. It's tucked into Chinatown to the north, Soho to the west, and Covent Garden to the east. These are the streets where Londoners actually eat.
Chinatown - the obvious winner
Chinatown is a 60-second walk from Leicester Square station, and it's London's most concentrated collection of Chinese restaurants. But not all of them are equal. Our insider guide to where to eat in Chinatown London breaks down the new wave of regional specialists.
The key is knowing what you want:
- Quick, affordable, flavourful? Look for the smaller restaurants on side streets like Little Newport Street and Lisle Street. These tend to be less touristy and more authentic.
- Specific regional cuisine? Chinatown now has Sichuan, Northern Chinese, Taiwanese, and Cantonese specialists. Don't just walk into the first place you see.
- Halal? This is where options thin out dramatically. Most Chinatown restaurants use pork and alcohol in their cooking.
For halal diners near Leicester Square
If you eat halal, your best option near Leicester Square is The Greedy Sheep on Little Newport Street. It's Chinatown's only 100% halal Chinese restaurant - meaning the entire kitchen is halal, not just a section of the menu. For more nearby options, see our roundup of halal food near me in central London.
The food is Northern Chinese street food - hand-pulled noodle soups, rou jia mo (the 2,000-year-old Chinese "burger"), dumplings, and wok-fried dishes. It's bold, flavourful, and completely different from the Cantonese restaurants that dominate Chinatown. Browse the full menu before you walk in.
What to order at The Greedy Sheep
If it's your first visit:
1. Lamb Noodle Soup - the signature dish. Rich lamb broth, hand-pulled noodles, tender meat. 2. Rou Jia Mo - crispy flatbread stuffed with slow-braised lamb. At a few pounds each, get two. 3. Crispy Chilli Beef - wok-fried with Sichuan pepper and dried chillies. 4. Pan-Fried Dumplings - golden bottoms, juicy filling.
Getting there
The Greedy Sheep is at 8 Little Newport Street, London WC2H 7JJ. One minute from Leicester Square station (Northern and Piccadilly lines). Open 12pm-10pm daily. Walk-ins only - no booking needed.
Come hungry. Leave greedy.
