
Top Chef
Quick info
About Top Chef
Top Chef runs as a Chinese takeaway on West Ham Lane in London, and unusually for the format it also sets out a small eat-in area of about four tables of four, with room to park a buggy alongside, which suits families with young children who want to eat there rather than carry food home. Orders are placed at the counter without a booking, and box meals pair a meat portion with rice, with egg fried rice among the rice options and sweet and sour chicken on the same menu. The kitchen will make dishes spicy on request and sends the chilli out in a small container on the side, so heat stays a choice at the table. Delivery runs from the same counter for anyone eating off site, and ordering ahead helps at busier stretches. The shop opens daily.
Good to know
- ParkingParking
- Good for kidsGood for kids
- DietaryVegetarian options
Menu & Prices
95 dishes · mains £7–18- Thai Basil Chicken With Rice£14.80
- Thai Basil Beef With Rice£14.50
- Thai Basil Seafood With Rice£15.80
- Braised Pork Rice[Lu Rou Fan]£14.50
- Roast Duck With Rice£13.80
- Roast Duck & Roast Pork With Rice£15.80
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention box meals and set meals, 2+ hour delivery waits, sweet and sour chicken and made spicy on request.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention box meals and set meals, 2+ hour delivery waits, sweet and sour chicken and made spicy on request.
Customer Review Summary
The box and set meals draw the most repeat mentions, described as filling, well priced and generous enough that one reviewer suggests sizing up for leftovers, with a chicken box meal and egg fried rice singled out. Close behind are the aromatic crispy duck, chicken and sweetcorn soup, chicken cashew and honey glazed ribs, while others name the Szechuan beef and Singapore fried rice, and note the kitchen actually delivers on requests to make dishes spicy. The front counter earns repeated praise for staying friendly and helpful through the rush. Against that, several regulars describe delivery going badly wrong at peak times, orders cancelled after long waits, food still not ready for collecting drivers, and phone staff they found dismissive and full of excuses, with one advising against Friday ordering. One reviewer reports a shattered plastic lid leaving shards in an inedible order alongside a bland sweet and sour, and another says the shop itself needs renovating. Regulars point to the queue of delivery drivers outside as proof the food comes out fresh.
Customer Review Summary
The box and set meals draw the most repeat mentions, described as filling, well priced and generous enough that one reviewer suggests sizing up for leftovers, with a chicken box meal and egg fried rice singled out. Close behind are the aromatic crispy duck, chicken and sweetcorn soup, chicken cashew and honey glazed ribs, while others name the Szechuan beef and Singapore fried rice, and note the kitchen actually delivers on requests to make dishes spicy. The front counter earns repeated praise for staying friendly and helpful through the rush. Against that, several regulars describe delivery going badly wrong at peak times, orders cancelled after long waits, food still not ready for collecting drivers, and phone staff they found dismissive and full of excuses, with one advising against Friday ordering. One reviewer reports a shattered plastic lid leaving shards in an inedible order alongside a bland sweet and sour, and another says the shop itself needs renovating. Regulars point to the queue of delivery drivers outside as proof the food comes out fresh.
Featured reviews
- s tee
“X4 table seating area with x4 seats table. Staff front of house are friendly, the shop is spacious enough for a buggy/stroller, and it’s right beside Molly’s. The price is very reasonable and the food is cooked quite quickly. The store is always busy and delivery drivers are awaiting outside so you know it’s a hit with the locals. Very clean, bright and have a good rapport with both customers and delivery drivers. P.s- do check out the menu portion that says box meals as it comes with meat portion and rice which is very filling and worth the price perfect for lunch.”
- Mark
“I’ve been coming to Top Chef for years and it’s easily the most consistent takeaway in the area. The food is always spot on - full of flavour, always fresh, and they don't skimp on the portions. It’s also really well-priced, so you actually feel like you're getting your money's worth. Special mention to the lady at the front who takes the orders. Even when they’re extremely busy and the phones are constantly ringing, she’s always lovely and has a smile for everyone. Pro Tip: They can get very busy (for good reason!), so it’s definitely best to order ahead if you’re looking to eat during peak times. If you're around West Ham Lane and want a proper Chinese meal that won't let you down, this is the one. Highly recommended.”
- Chelsea
“Absolutely shocking experience. Our order took 2 hours and 18 minutes to arrive, and when it finally did, the plastic lid had shattered—leaving tiny shards in the food and making it completely inedible. The rest of the packaging was fine, so this was clearly a packaging issue, not the delivery. On top of that, the food itself was incredibly bland—the sweet and sour tasted like plain chicken with barely any sauce. For the price, it was nowhere near worth it. We were left at 11:35pm with food we couldn’t even eat due to safety concerns. Really disappointing.”
- Elle
“Love this place! I always come here because the food and service is 10/10! The food is good price and authentic. Would 100% recommend to anyone looking for home-cooked food.”
- Jaymini Bragato
“Best Chinese food in London!!!!!!! I particularly love their chicken and sweetcorn soup, the chicken cashew, sweet and sour chicken hong kong style, aromatic crispy duck, the vegetarian spring rolls, ribs with honey glaze, peking style ribs, mixed vegetable fried rice and the chicken vermicelli. But no matter what you order on their menu, you cannot go wrong. I have recommended this place to a lot of friends and family, they particularly love the set meals - there's a lot of food included and it's an amazing value for money. I would advise to opt for the larger portion over the smaller ones, as it's on average £1 extra and A LOT more food - which is perfect for the next day! This place is always busy, there is always a line of delivery drivers waiting to collect food - so you know it's a popular shout and the food is going to be fresh. You can eat in or take away, if you collect your own order to take home with you, it works out to be even cheaper. The woman who works there (Heidi) is absolutely lovely, with exceptional customer service and knows how to explain and recommend food items on the menu. I always ask them to add chilly into my rice and noodle dishes, which they kindly put in a small container on the side so that I can add as much as I want to my meal. I could not recommend this place highly enough, I have been ordering here for 4+ years now, the food is always consistently amazing and full of flavour!!!!! I am very lucky that this restaurant is local to where I live :)”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Popular for dinner
- Popular for solo dining
- Healthy options
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
Amenities
- Parking
- Delivery
- Takeaway
- Good for kids
- Vegetarian options
- Casual
Show more amenities
- On-site services
- Late-night food
- Solo dining
- Groups
- Offerings· 3
- Healthy options
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Dining options· 1
- Dinner
Location
Chinese restaurants near Top Chef
- Canton Take Away4.41080.6 mi£1–15
duck chow mein, beef ho fun, salt & chilli squid
- Golden Sands4.01162.2 mi£1–10
cheap prices £4-6 per dish, chicken fried rice, chicken chow mein
- Gah Shing3.51782.2 mi
chilli salt chicken wings, chow mein, chicken satay
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Chef | 3.9165 | — | — | box meals and set meals, 2+ hour delivery waits, sweet and sour chicken |
| Canton Take Away | 4.4108 | 0.6 mi | £1–15 | duck chow mein, beef ho fun, salt & chilli squid |
| Golden Sands | 4.0116 | 2.2 mi | £1–10 | cheap prices £4-6 per dish, chicken fried rice, chicken chow mein |
| Gah Shing | 3.5178 | 2.2 mi | — | chilli salt chicken wings, chow mein, chicken satay |
The 3 nearest chinese restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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