Lifestyle: Lists

Top 10 Asian

6/7/21

  • Apothecary Izakaya

    The ‘stay-drink-place’, Shoreditch

    Taking over the spot that was previously Merchant’s Tavern, this 130-cover izakaya will be serving small plates like skewers, sushi, sashimi, and hirata buns, with sake served in taster sizes and tunes by Spiritland DJs.

    @apothecaryeast

  • Temaki

    Hand rolls in a chic space, Brixton Village

    Brixton is on a roll (sorry), and this place in Brixton Village is supposedly London’s first hand roll bar. They also have small plates (sashimi and tataki) and Japanese drinks.

    @temakihandrollbar

  • MARU

    20-course omakase, Shepherd Market, Mayfair

    We are very excited about this one. From the team behind the excellent TAKA comes MARU, serving a 20-course omakase farm-to-table menu in a small, intimate, six-seater space. The focus is on British ingredients via a Japanese lens.

    @marulondon

  • BAO Noodle Shop

    Their first noodle shop, Shoreditch

    Taking inspiration from noodle shops in Taiwan, here you’ll find two versions of beef noodle soup, dan dan tofu noodles and kelp soup noodles, three new BAO buns, interesting starters, and BAOBING, a Taiwanese ice dessert. The design here looks fresh-trad and they will have entertainment rooms downstairs (from 20 July) for karaoke TV, too.

    @bao_london

  • Humble Chicken

    Bird is the word, Soho

    People are already loving this one, and we’ve always liked this dining room (ex-Barrafina, ex-Freak Scene). Rock-n-roll yakitori skewers from chef Angelo Santo with a focus on comb-to-tail (eating the whole bird). It looks fun, too – if you’re veg or pescatarian, you might have to focus on starters, dessert, and vibes!

    @humblebirduk

  • Kurisu Omakase

    Chris knows, Brixton

    This spot looks just right. Chef Chris Restrepo is young, innovative, seems hip, trained with the masters, and serves an 18-course omakase menu out of his parents’ restaurant Ichiban Sushi. The only issue is getting a reservation. Watch his social for pop ups, additional dates, special events and more.

    @kurisuomakase

  • Junsei

    Yak it to us, Marylebone

    And we’re back to yakitori. Here things are grilled over Binchōtan, a white charcoal using Japanese oak that is said to cook from the inside out, so juices are locked in, and it’s not smoky. There are over 20 different yakitori skewers, with veg ones too, as well as an eight-skewer omakase.

    @junsei_uk

  • Mao Chow

    Vegan Szechuan, Boxpark Shoreditch (coming soon)

    We think this looks like one of the best menus (and vibes, with smiley rave stickers on roll ups) in London. They have dumplings and dan dan noodles, as well as things like twice-cooked rice cakes, green chilli noodles, and chongqing cauliflower. All dishes are vegan, and their Boxpark location is opening soon!

    @mao_chow

  • Hackney Coterie

    Powerhouse team, Hackney Downs

    From Anthony Lyon (of Lyon’s in Crouch End) comes this ‘warehouse brasserie and wine bar’. The head chef is ex-HIDE, and the menu focus is on ingredients and flavours they like (a lot of which are Asian) rather than a specific type of cuisine. We love! Things like kombucha-glazed pumpkin, pickled shimejis, wasabi leaf and kisaichi-pickled watermelon stand out.

    @hackneycoterie

  • Hot Stone Fitzrovia

    Hot stone cooking, Fitzrovia

    Here it’s all about – you got it – cooking over hot stones, and their signature ishiyaki menu has Kobe, Wagyu or black tiger prawns, cooked on 400℃ stones brought to the table. Exclusive to this new Fitzrovia location is the Wagyu and uni don, and you can also, of course, get sushi, maki, sashimi, and sake.

    @hotstonelondon

  • The Ivy Asia

    New, Chelsea

    Opening 30 July on the King’s Road, this is the second Ivy Asia (with Ivy vibes and an Asian menu), and it has a quite reasonable daily tasting menu from 12-3), too.

    @theivyasiachelsea

Originally published on
5th July 2021

WANT MORE?

Then subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter here: