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.
New American££sohoMon 12:00-22:00, Tue-Wed 12:00-23:00, Thu-Sat 12:00-23:30, Sun 12:00-21:30Until Mon-Sat 23:00, Sun 22:30
Ross Shonhan's Soho ramen bar on Peter Street in central London, opened 2012, runs late-night tonkotsu ramen, fried chicken bao and a Japanese-American menu.
Try: Tonkotsu ramen
Tip: Walk-up only after 21:30. Counter seats face the open kitchen. The Soho original closes at 23:00; the Bond Street sibling runs to 00:00 on weekends.
Cantonese££sohoMon-Thu 12:00-23:30, Fri-Sat 12:00-00:00, Sun 12:00-22:30Until Mon-Sat 00:00, Sun 22:30
Alan Yau's Cantonese gastropub on Berwick Street in Soho London, opened 2015 in the former Endurance pub, runs Cantonese dim sum and a late kitchen serving.
Try: Late Cantonese dim sum
Tip: The upstairs dining room takes bookings; the downstairs pub-and-bar walks in any night. Closed half an hour 16:00-16:30 daily.
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.