If you’re after a late night feast, head to this no-fuss, late-opening Hong Kong style diner in Chinatown.

The Venue
With its simple decor of white walls and wooden tables, H K Diner feels more modern and young than a lot of its Chinatown counterparts. Its location in Wardour Street makes it ideally placed for nightowls to stop in for a bite to eat as it stays open way into the early hours. Of course, it’s open in the daytime too, and the fast service makes it just as good a place to grab a quick lunch too. You may have to wait for a table though: it’s a very popular venue and there are often queues.

The Atmosphere
Generally lively and busy at any time of day, H K Diner attracts groups and couples of all ages, as well as a post-party crowd. It’s a bit noisy but not rowdy or cramped. The service is very efficient - slightly less brusque than other Chinatown restaurants - and staff are willing to offer suggestions or go off-menu. And they won’t try to kick you out as soon as you put your chopsticks down.

The Food
HK Diner’s menu includes all the standard set menu fare you’d expect, as well as dishes listed according to meat, fish and vegetable categories, and specials. The noodle dishes are well worth trying. Not because they’re adventurous, but because they’re packed with fresh ingredients and, at £5 to £7.50, they’re also great value, with portions that are generous by any standards.

Seafood crispy noodles (£7.50) are served on a huge platter: a bed of thin, crispy fried egg noodles and a sizeable, saucy mound of squid, prawns, scallops, baby sweetcorn and mangetout on top. The squid, sliced into criss-crossed rolls, is really tender and perfectly cooked; the prawns are juicy, pink and plentiful. Plump white scallops have a nice delicate flavour. In the middle of the nest, the noodles are softened in the thick broth, while the edges are crisp, crunchy and charred. Although it’s not on the menu, wonton noodle soup is good too (about £5), served steaming hot and full to the brim with lots of fresh prawn dumplings and a meaty clear broth, but the buckwheat noodles are a bit hard.

The Drink
H K Diner offers a selection of teas by the pot, beers (£3.30) and wines (from £11 a bottle). A choice of soft drinks and juices are also on offer.

The Last Word
You could do a lot worse in Chinatown than H K Diner. And you could do a lot, lot worse after closing time in central London. Head here if you want an authentically Hong Kong midnight feast that’ll neither break the bank, nor leave you regretting it in the morning.

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