Asakusa

Asakusa

Mornington Crescent tube station

Maguro nuta. If you are not a fan of maguro (raw tuna), do not be afraid to try this dish as I have friends who love it even though they are afraid of raw fish and hate tuna. For people who are afraid of the slightest fishy taste, the tasty, salty soy bean paste completely removes that and makes the tuna really palatable. I never fail to order this dish for my friends when I bring them there as I am very confident that they will learn to love it.

Tonkatsu (fried pork) was very crispy and I especially love the bread crumbs. I do feel a little fat after eating it though as the pork is quite fatty I think. The salad and lemon managed to alleviate the queasiness and makes this this acceptable for me. The pork still tastes good especially with the special black sauce served with it. It would be my favourite if I go in with a famished stomach.

Tori karaage (Fried chicken). It’s quite interesting to see this dish with the bone on it as the bones are usually removed prior to deep frying. This dish was also interestingly not too oily and I quite like it.

Tombo

Tombo @ South Kensington station

Green Tea tart

Green tea Gateau

Ebi sushi

You know it’s gonna be a Japanese restaurant when there’s a green tea overdose. Indeed, Tombo is a modern Japanese cafe in the Kensington area. It serves bento, sushi, dessert and has a range of fragrant latte to choose from. Had the bento before and it tastes really like a home cooked Japanese meal. Somehow, I have a penchant for home cooked food as they taste genuine, free of MSG and is usually less oily. They also do take away bentos whereby the dishes are separated nicely in a bento box, just like what you get from a convenient shop (benri ten) in Japan.

The green tea cakes there are marvellous. They are actually supplied by Lanka. If you stay too far from Primrose hill (where Lanka is), Tombo would be a perfect alternative. The green tea tart is thick, dense and every bite is really satisfying. Though it’s quite dense, you don’t get queasy or sick from eating the whole tart. In contrast to the green tea tart, the green tea gateau is lighter, fluffy and a little sweeter. A perfect choice if you are in the mood for a lighter dessert. I never fail to order this cake whenever I pass by this shop.

Had a fried ebi sushi one day. I always have qualms about its sushi as they are already wrapped up and left near the counter for you to choose. was afraid that it may not be as fresh and the fillings and sushi rice may have turned soggy. But, they don’t actually as their fried ebi was still relatively crispy by the time I got home. Though it’s just a small little sushi, they still bothered to decorate it meticulously with boxthorn, sesame and a small leaf. Don’t really know why the rice is purple in colour but that somehow made the whole sushi less plain as compared to a pure white one that we usually get in restaurants. Yes, so do drop by this place if you are craving for some home cooked Japanese bento and dessert!

Ittenbari

Ittenbari @ soho

Ittenbari is a sister branch of Ryukishin in Osaka prefecture of Japan. Knowing that it has some relations with Japan, I was convinced to try this shop. It is not the best ramen (definitely not as good as Japan) that I’ve had before given that the ramen culture in London isn’t as strong as in Asia. However, it can still satisfy my craving of a bowl of hot, fragrant ramen. The noodles are springy and char siew slices are of a reasonable size. Soup is also fragrant and tastes like it has been boiled a while with pig bones. However, the char siew crumble a little too easily and the egg isn’t half runny. A good Japanese egg should be one that has its yolk half runny. I would also prefer my soup to be more creamy as that makes it more fragrant. Despite it not being able to match the standard of Asia, it is still a recommended place to go to if you are craving for a bowl of hot piping ramen on a cold wintry day. Also, you can order a small bowl of char siew don (rice) if you are not full!

Atariya

Atariya

Next to Bond Street station

One of the better sushi restaurant, Atariya not only serves really fresh sashimi and sushi, their prices are also reasonable. The fragrance of their shoyu and the usual clamour of the Japanese chefs will bring you back to tokyo. It’s somewhere that you will go to even after you have finished your lunch if you are around the area. Quite a small restaurant and most people do take aways for lunch or dinner. Feels enjoyable even when you are waiting for your food as you can have a good view of the chefs preparing your sushi!

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London Food Festival

London Food Festival

Cha Soba saladHave already forgotten what I had there but I just know they are marvelous. Do attend if you have the chance! Will definitely not be disappointing.