West Lake

There’s a lot of turnover with Chinatown eateries – many come and go, replaced by newcomers riding the latest trends – but when a place has stuck around this long, you know it must be doing something right.

West Lake has been going strong since it first opened in 1982, serving Cantonese cuisine to homesick expats and food-loving locals alike. There’s yum cha until 5pm, while the kitchen churns out classic dishes until well past midnight.

An order of peking duck is rolled out on an ornate trolley, with staff slicing the meat and rolling it in a steamed pancake tableside. For something more low-key there are a la carte dishes such as scallops in XO sauce and stir-fried vegetables (the West Lake special also features lap cheong).

The main dining room is sparsely decorated, with mirrors and photos of menu items along the red and white walls. There’s another one upstairs, and along the stairwell you’ll find photos of famous Chinese visitors through the years. If this restaurant is good enough for Jackie Chan, you know you’re in good hands.