#1
Tawa Prawn Biryani
BrigadiersCity of London·$$$
£22.00
Prawns cooked on a tawa griddle, layered with fragrant basmati rice.
Tip: Ask for extra raita on the side — the biryani is well-spiced and the cooling yoghurt helps pace the meal if you're ordering multiple dishes.
#2
Siu Mai (Pork and Prawn Dumplings)
Royal China ClubMarylebone·$$$
£7.80
Open-topped steamed dumplings with pork and prawn, topped with fish roe.
Tip: Siu mai and har gau are the two essential dim sum dishes -- order both to compare. Here, the siu mai are slightly cheaper and more filling than the har gau.
#3
Prawn Cheung Fun
Phoenix PalaceMarylebone·$$
£6.80
Steamed rice noodle rolls wrapped around whole prawns, served with soy sauce.
Tip: The cheung fun is best eaten straight from the steamer. If you let it sit, the noodle sheets stick together. Eat each roll in one or two bites.
#4
Prawn and Beancurd Cheung Fun
YauatchaSoho·$$$
£12.00
Steamed rice noodle rolls filled with prawns and silky beancurd.
Tip: Get this as your 'light' dish in between richer items like the venison puff and crispy duck. The cheung fun texture is slippery — chopsticks can be tricky, a spoon helps.
#5
Har Gau
YauatchaSoho·$$$
£12.00
Classic steamed prawn dumplings in translucent rice flour wrappers.
Tip: Har gau is the dish that tells you how good a dim sum kitchen really is. Yauatcha's are consistently well-made — thin wrappers, plump prawns. Order these alongside the shui mai to compare.
#6
Carabinero Prawns
AmazonicoMayfair·$$$$
£38.00
Giant scarlet red prawns grilled on the robata, bigger than the length of a hand.
Tip: These are a premium item but reviewers consistently say they are the best thing from the grill section. Ask for extra lime on the side.
#7
Yakisoba (King Prawn & Squid)
OkanBrixton·$
£9.50
Stir-fried thick noodles with king prawn, squid, and vegetables.
Tip: The thick noodles have more bite than typical yakisoba. If you prefer softer noodles, ask if they can cook them a bit longer on the griddle.
#8
King Prawn, Kimchi & Squid Okonomiyaki
OkanBrixton·$
£13.95
Premium okonomiyaki with king prawns, squid, and spiced kimchi.
Tip: The kimchi adds noticeable heat and fermented tang. If you're unsure about kimchi, try the pork belly version first.
#9
Tiger Prawn & Cucumber Curry
SingburiShoreditch·$$
£15.00
Whole tiger prawns in a funky, viscous yellow-brown curry sauce.
Tip: The prawns come split in half with shells on for easy eating. Five or six juicy tiger prawns in a nourishing red curry that's funky and bold.
#1098% recommend
Prawn and Pork Wonton Soup Noodles
HOKO Wonton NoodlesSeven Dials Market·$
£13.50
Classic Hong Kong wontons with springy egg noodles in a rich dried-flounder broth.
Tip: The dried flounder in the broth is what makes this authentic — it adds a unique, smoky umami that you won't find in standard wonton soup.
#1197% recommend
Har Gau (Prawn Dumplings)
Dim Sum DuckKing's Cross·$$
£6.50
Handmade dumplings with plump whole prawns in a translucent skin.
Tip: The wrappers are perfectly translucent — a sign of a very skilled dim sum chef. Eat them in one bite to get the full burst of flavor.
#1295% recommend
Otak-Otak Prawn Toast
MambowClapton·$$
£8.50
Prawn and kaffir lime curry paste fried and wrapped in betel leaf.
Tip: Start with this — it's the most recognisable Malaysian dish on the menu and sets the tone for the heat level.
#1395% recommend
Chao Com Prawn Lollipops
Lai RaiPeckham·$$
£8.00
Deep-fried balls of minced prawn on sticks, served with dipping sauce.
Tip: Order double whatever you think you need. Every review says the same thing — you will finish them instantly and wish you had more.
#1495% recommend
Sweet Raw Red Prawns with Stracciatella
MountainSoho·$$$
£8.00
Raw prawns served with fresh stracciatella cheese and minimal seasoning.
Tip: Order this if you want to appreciate raw prawn quality. Eat it immediately — raw shellfish is best at the moment of service.
#1592% recommend
Crispy Fried Wontons
HOKO Wonton NoodlesSeven Dials Market·$
£7.50
Golden crispy wontons with a prawn filling, served with sweet and sour sauce.
Tip: The sweet and sour sauce has a great tang that really lifts the fried dumplings. Great for sharing between two people.
#1692% recommend
Seafood Pajeon
Park's KitchenEaling·$$
£12.00
Traditional savory pancake with fresh seafood and aromatic spring onions.
Tip: The dipping sauce is essential — it has a great tang that really lifts the savory pancake. Best eaten while piping hot.
#1792% recommend
Crystal Prawn Dumplings (Har Gau)
Royal China ClubMarylebone·$$$
£8.20
Translucent steamed dumplings filled with whole prawns in a delicate wheat starch wrapper.
Tip: These are the litmus test for any dim sum restaurant. The wrappers here should be translucent and slightly sticky but not soggy. If yours arrive opaque or thick, flag it -- they should be fresh from the steamer.
#1891% recommend
Banh Cuon (Hanoi Pillow Dumplings)
Cay TreSoho·$
£7.50
Delicate rice flour sheets filled with pork, prawns, and wood ear mushrooms.
Tip: Banh cuon is a rare find in London. Cay Tre does it authentically — wrap the soft rice pancake in lettuce and dip in the nuoc cham sauce.
#1991% recommend
Wonton Soup
Hung's Chinese RestaurantChinatown·$$
£5.50
Delicate wontons filled with pork and prawn served in clear broth.
Tip: The broth and wontons remind many of small Hong Kong eateries — authentic execution at London prices.
#2090% recommend
Red Prawns
Tollington'sFinsbury Park·$$
£18.50
Fresh Mediterranean red prawns grilled briefly with sea salt and olive oil.
Tip: Make sure you suck the heads for the true 'nectar'. These are some of the best prawns you'll find outside of Spain.
#2190% recommend
Assorted Tempura
SetoCamden·$
£14.50
A crispy selection of prawns and seasonal vegetables in a light Japanese batter.
Tip: The pumpkin tempura is the highlight of the mix. It's naturally sweet and works perfectly with the savory dipping sauce.
#2290% recommend
Lor Bak
MambowClapton·$$
£9.50
Pork and prawn enclosed in crunchy deep-fried bean curd rolls.
Tip: These are designed for sharing — order two or three of each starter and enjoy the variety.
#2390% recommend
Prawn Cheung Fun
Royal China ClubMarylebone·$$$
£8.80
Silky steamed rice noodle rolls filled with whole prawns, served with soy.
Tip: The soy sauce it comes in is slightly sweetened, which is traditional. If you prefer it less sweet, ask for plain light soy on the side.
#2490% recommend
Prawn Tempura Roll
KizanaBattersea·$$$
£11.50
Crispy prawn, avocado, and cucumber wrapped in rice with spicy mayo.
Tip: Eat this quickly — the tempura stays crispy for the first few minutes but softens if you leave it. The spicy mayo adds good heat.
#2590% recommend
King Prawn Dumplings
Hung's Chinese RestaurantChinatown·$$
£6.80
Steamed dumplings filled with whole king prawns and pork.
Tip: These are bigger and have more king prawn than the wontons — worth the extra cost for the generous filling.
#2688% recommend
Red Shrimp from the Robata Grill
HIMISoho·$$$
£16.00
Charcoal-grilled whole red shrimp finished with sea salt.
Tip: Eat the fried heads too — they're crispy and add extra flavour. Don't let squeamishness hold you back.
#2788% recommend
Prawn (Ebi)
Sushi TetsuClerkenwell·$$$
£187.00
Sweet, tender prawn cooked sous vide then sliced and placed raw on rice.
Tip: The prawn is served cool, not cold. The texture is firmer than raw but still tender — this is intentional technique.
#2887% recommend
Prawn Malaikari
Darjeeling ExpressSoho·$$
£18.00
Tiger prawns in coconut milk — a mild Bengali curry with delicate spicing.
Tip: The prawn malaikari is a mild, creamy Bengali curry where the prawns are perfectly cooked. The coconut milk sauce is restrained to let the prawns shine.
#2987% recommend
Arroz de Carabineros
Barrafina SohoSoho·$
£16.00
Rich red prawn rice loaded with seafood.
Tip: This is a sharing dish — don't order it as an individual tapa. Pairs well with 3-4 other smaller dishes for a full meal. The rice is the point, not additions.
#3085% recommend
Maeun Saeu
MigaHackney·$$
£16.00
King prawns in fiery gochujang sauce with king oyster mushrooms and courgette.
Tip: This is genuinely spicy—not a heat pretender. If you're not used to Korean chilli, order the yukhwe or another mild dish alongside.
#3175% recommend
Prawn Gyoza
TaroSoho·$$
£5.50
Pan-fried dumplings filled with prawn and vegetables.
Tip: These gyoza are fresh and not too greasy — order them as a starter before your ramen arrives.