Cantonese££sohoMon-Sat 12:00-23:30, Sun 11:00-22:30Until Mon-Sat 23:30, Sun 22:30
Joy King Lau on Leicester Street in Chinatown London, trading since 1985 as a four-floor Cantonese family restaurant, runs roast meats, congee and dim sum.
Try: Cantonese roast meats and dim sum
Tip: Walk-in any night for the takeaway counter at the front. The roast goose with rice is the marquee plate at £18.
Cantonese££sohoMon-Thu 12:00-23:30, Fri-Sat 12:00-00:00, Sun 12:00-23:30Until Mon-Sun 23:30
Four Seasons on Gerrard Street in Chinatown London, trading since 1996, runs the city's most-cited Cantonese roast duck, served whole or half with plum sauce.
Try: Cantonese roast duck
Tip: Walk-in any night. Take-away roast duck is half the dining-room price. The Queensway Bayswater sibling runs the same kitchen.
Vietnamese££sohoMon-Thu 11:00-22:30, Fri-Sat 11:00-23:30, Sun 11:00-22:00Until Mon-Sun 22:30
Cay Tre Vietnamese kitchen on Dean Street in Soho London, opened 2009 by Hieu Trung Bui, runs late pho, bun cha and banh mi until 22:30 every night.
Try: Vietnamese pho and bun cha
Tip: Walk-in or book a fortnight ahead. The pre-theatre menu at £20 for two courses runs until 18:30.
Taiwanese££sohoMon-Thu 12:00-15:00 and 17:30-22:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-22:30, Sun 12:00-17:00Until Mon-Sat 23:00, Sun 22:00
Bao Soho counter on Lexington Street in central London, opened 2015 by Erchen Chang and Shing Tat Chung, runs late Taiwanese steamed buns and grilled skewers.
Try: Taiwanese bao and grilled meat skewers
Tip: Walk-up only. After 21:30 is the easy slot; weekday last orders at 22:30. The Borough sibling runs to midnight on weekends.
Burgers££south-kensington-chelseaDaily 24 hoursUntil 24 hours, 7 days a week
VQ (Vingt-Quatre)'s 24-hour cafe and diner on Fulham Road in Chelsea London, trading since 1995, runs eggs Benedict, burgers and a full alcohol licence.
Try: All-day diner classics, eggs Benedict and burgers
Tip: 24-hour alcohol licence. Post-club crowd peaks 02:00-04:00; weekday late nights are quieter and walk in without waiting.
American diner££shoreditch-spitalfieldsDaily 24 hoursUntil Open 24/7
The Brick Lane Beigel Bake bakery in east London, trading since 1974, runs 24-hour hand-rolled bagels and salt beef sandwiches, the city's defining.
Try: Salt beef bagel
Tip: After midnight queue runs 15 minutes. Salt beef bagel £6, cream cheese bagel £2.50. Cash or card.