sohoUntil 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 from 11:00 until late.
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.
sohoUntil 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.
sohoUntil 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.
sohoUntil 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 until 23:00.
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.
hackneyUntil Wed-Sun 23:30
Charlie Mellor's Modern European wine bar on Hackney Road in east London, opened 2017, runs the city's most-trusted late kitchen with small plates until 23:30 Wed-Sun.
Try: Modern European small plates
Tip: The downstairs wine cellar takes walk-ins any night. Closed Mon-Tue. Last orders for kitchen at 23:30 sharp.
shoreditch-spitalfieldsUntil 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 late-night cheap eat.
Try: Salt beef bagel
Tip: After midnight queue runs 15 minutes. Salt beef bagel £6, cream cheese bagel £2.50. Cash or card.