restaurants – The Capital Craving

On paper, the anatomy of udon is deceptively simple: flour, water, and salt. Of course, if it were truly that effortless, we’d all be kneading dough in our kitchens. The real magic lies in the precision—the exact ratio of two distinct flours, balanced with just enough fine sea salt to tauten the gluten network. It is this chemical alchemy that yields that irresistible mochi-mochi chew, the hallmark of a truly exceptional noodle. That, and hours of relentless, rhythmic foot-stomping.

Good udon is surprisingly hard to come by in London, so you can imagine how difficult it is to find great udon. In terms of homemade udon that has a good mochi-mochi texture, Marugame’s is good, particularly for the price. The udon at Sushi Show is excellent too, but for me, Koya makes great udon, and there are three Koya restaurants to choose from in London—with Koya City being my favourite. The location means it is the least busy of the three at weekends, and the space feels roomier even though they all have roughly the same capacity.

That isn’t to say I don’t have a soft spot for the Frith Street original, Koya Soho. If you happen to find yourself in central London before midday, their Full Japanese Breakfast Set is an absolute must. A nourishing spread of grilled mackerel, delicate onsen tamago, dancing bonito flakes, kaiso sunomono, pickles, and hojicha—it is a restorative experience I’ve yet to find replicated anywhere else in the city. (Their English Breakfast Udon is also firmly on my radar.)

Further east, Koya Ko in Hackney marches to a completely different beat. Tucked just off Broadway Market, it sheds the bustling restaurant feel for a breezy, casual East London energy with plenty of outdoor seating. The menu may be more concise, but it punches well above its weight. If you’re chasing the perfect equilibrium of umami and acidity, their Triple Pickle is non-negotiable—a dish I spent an entire summer fully addicted to.

Onto the food.

When it comes to the main event, I invariably gravitate toward comfort, and there is nothing quite as grounding as the Kinoko. It is a masterclass in umami—a harmonious collision of salty, sweet, and distinctly nutty profiles. Earthy shiitake, shimeji, enoki, and eryngii mushrooms mingle with charred Hispi cabbage and a rich walnut miso, all swimming in a pristine mushroom dashi.

You face a crucial choice here: hot broth and hot noodles (Atsu-Atsu), or hot broth with cold noodles (Hiya-Atsu). I will always advocate for Hiya-Atsu. Serving the udon cold halts the cooking process, preserving the noodle at its absolute peak of mochi-mochi chewiness, whereas the residual heat of the Atsu-Atsu yields a softer, silkier bite.

We often pitch Koya as a “light” lunch option, but inevitably, the table always ends up with one or two shared sides:

Prawn Tempura: Unquestionably among the best in London—shatteringly crisp, impossibly light, and generous in size.
Kaiso Sunomono: Bright and restorative. The ginger delivers a sharp, creeping heat that acts as the perfect palate cleanser.
Atsu-Age: A masterclass in textural contrast. Sourced from London’s own Clean Bean, this organic tofu is deep-fried to form a protective skin, then finished on the grill. Dressed in leek oil and soy sauce, the crispy exterior gives way to a centre that is soft and silky.

Would I go again?

The question isn’t whether I’d return, but rather how soon. I’ve been back countless times, though I am admittedly guilty of clinging to my favourites. Next time, I owe it to myself to finally explore the rest of the menu.

The Essentials

If you’re planning your own pilgrimage for the ultimate noodle pull, here is a quick breakdown of Koya’s London outposts:

Koya City: Located in the Bloomberg Arcade. The most spacious of the three, highly recommended for a quiet weekend lunch when the City winds down.Closest tube station: Bank, Cannon Street, Mansion House.
Koya Soho: The bustling original on Frith Street. Go early—especially if you want to secure that legendary Full Japanese Breakfast Set before midday. Closest tube station: Leicester Square, Tottenham Court Road, Piccadilly Circus.
Koya Ko (Hackney): Tucked just off Broadway Market. Relaxed and casual, with plenty of outdoor seating perfect for a sunny East London afternoon. Closest tube station: London Fields, Bethnal Green.

Reservations are only available at Koya City..

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Holy Carrot Bistro

By The Capital Craving

On August 7, 2026

In Craving Plant-Based

As with most good things, I discovered Holy Carrot through word of mouth from a friend of a friend who heard it from another friend. It was exciting back then, their pop-up used to be at the Urban Retreat wellness space not far from Knightsbridge station. You’d enter the dining room through a split staircase into a cute space decorated with blue and white patterned plates…

Dishes from the menu at Holy Carrot Knightsbridge Pop-up

Founded by former Ukrainian Vogue fashion producer, Irina Linovich, the original pop-up served only vegan dishes using mostly organic and sustainable produce. The menu was inventive, inspiring, and made me an instant fan. But when we visited, we didn’t realise it was actually their final month. It wouldn’t be until a couple of years later, in 2024, that we finally got to try Holy Carrot again at their new permanent spot on Portobello Road in Notting Hill.

Unfortunately, that visit left me feeling a little disappointed; it just seemed to be missing the spark of excitement and inventiveness of the original pop-up. My friend who had originally recommended them had an even worse experience, finding the food subpar and the service outright rude. While my own experience wasn’t quite that extreme—I figured they were probably just trying to find their feet again—there was definitely room for improvement.

So, you can imagine my excitement when I was recently walking past Spitalfields Market and saw that Holy Carrot Bistro was opening. I immediately subscribed to their newsletter to ensure I’d get an early reservation the moment bookings opened.

In the end, our first visit was a completely spur-of-the-moment decision during the recent heatwave, and we were incredibly lucky to snag a walk-in table. They seated us outside, comfortably out of the glaring sun. But stepping inside for a moment, you can’t help but notice the space—the overall interior design, including the striking hand-painted murals, is by British artist and designer Faye Toogood, giving the bistro a very deliberate, earthy texture. The atmosphere was wonderful; the staff were exceptionally friendly, highly knowledgeable about the menu, and perfectly attentive without being intrusive.

Holy Carrot Bistro in Spitalfields, East London

We didn’t order any drinks this time, though I had initially planned to. I remembered that when we went to the Holy Carrot in Notting Hill, their pre-mixed cocktail menu was curated by A Bar with Shapes for a Name (written as 🔶🟥🔵). I happened to visit A Bar with Shapes for a Name on Kingsland Road one night catching up with an old friend and remembered their cocktails were exceptional and ending up quite tipsy. I just found out, however, that they no longer make the drinks for Holy Carrot, and the newer menu here shifts the cocktail program entirely in-house.

Onto the food.

The kitchen is now led by executive chef Daniel Watkins (ex-Acme Fire Cult), and the menu is wonderfully creative. The presentation of each dish is beautiful.

We started with some lighter dishes to share:

New Season Radishes, Whipped Tahini: A wonderfully simple but vibrant and fresh starter. The radishes arrived crisp with their green tops still on, served alongside a smooth, rich swirl of whipped tahini dusted with black chilli flakes that balanced the peppery crunch beautifully.
New Season Tomato – Pangrattato, Green Goddess dressing and nasturtium: A stunning, colorful dish. Sweet, juicy tomato chunks were drizzled with a bright Green Goddess dressing, topped with a crunchy texture of toasted pangrattato, and finished with fresh nasturtium leaves and a gorgeous edible flower. It tasted just as fresh and summery as it looked.

New Season Radishes with whipped tahini at Holy Carrot Bistro

New Season Tomato - Pangrattato, Green Goddess dressing and nasturtium at Holy Carrot Bistro

For the mains, we ordered a mix of dishes, including two absolute standouts:

Coal-roasted Leeks – pepper romesco sauce and almonds: This was easily my absolute favourite dish of the meal. The leeks were perfectly tender with a subtle, smoky char, but the pepper romesco sauce was the real star—rich, incredibly smooth, and packed with flavour, topped with a cluster of crunchy roasted almonds. I wanted to scrape every last bit of that sauce off the plate.
Khachapuri – fermented koji-dough pizzetta: Served warm, pillowy, and incredibly comforting. Breaking into the centre to mix the baked egg and molten cheese with the cracked black pepper was pure heaven. It’s the ultimate comfort food.
Charred Artichoke – carrot and fennel braise, aioli: A lovely, delicate dish featuring beautifully charred artichoke hearts resting on a sweet, braised carrot and fennel base, garnished with fresh dill and carrot slices meticulously cut into little flower shapes.
Celeriac Schnitzel – grilled pickles and herb and caper sauce: A golden-brown celeriac schnitzel with a satisfying crispy bite, topped with a generous dollop of zesty herb and caper sauce, and served with a slice of grilled pickle and a wedge of lemon. This dish, although cooked perfectly, leans a bit too heavy on the sharpness of the vinegar rather then on complex depth.

Coal-roasted leeks - Pepper romesco sauce and almonds at Holy Carrot Bistro

Charred Artichoke - Carrot and fennel braise, aioli at Holy Carrot Bistro

Celeriac Schnitzel - Grilled pickles and herb and caper sauce at Holy Carrot Bistro

While a few of the simpler dishes felt slightly expensive for what they were, you can easily tell that they are sourcing exceptional, high-quality ingredients.

Would I go again?

Absolutely. The creative menu, beautiful new interior, and fantastic service made this feel like a true return to the imaginative spirit of the original pop-up. If you’re looking for exciting plant-based dining in East London, this is definitely one to add to your list.

Holy Carrot Bistro is in Spitalfield, East London.

Closest tube station: Liverpool Street and Shoreditch High Street Station.

Booking is recommended.

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Osteria Angelina

By The Capital Craving

On August 5, 2026

In Craving Itameshi

Whenever someone suggests going out for Itameshi, I always get quite excited. I’m not entirely sure why. Perhaps it’s because the concept of Itameshi—the genius fusion of two of my favourite cuisines, Japanese and Italian—fills my brain with dopamine. Or maybe it just reminds me of the time I tried Spaghetti con Uova di Pesce for the first time at Basta Pasta in New York a few years back: al dente spaghetti tossed with flying fish roe (tobiko) and perilla herbs. Gosh, I’m salivating just thinking about it.

Sadly, on a side note, Basta Pasta has closed its doors for good. However, after a little digging, there is still hope. They wrote on their socials that, “…this is not the end. The spirit of Basta Pasta will live on, and we are already dreaming of what comes next in a new era.” Fingers crossed they decide to cross the pond and open up in London!

The first time I tried Angelina was back in 2022. We had some old friends visiting from Malaysia, and we had booked weeks in advance for the Dalston branch. The vibe was easygoing yet stylish, and we had a brilliant time. I remember the tasting menu being a little hit and miss, with a few more misses towards the end, which was a slight shame. Nonetheless, the company was great, and we enjoyed every minute.

The theme continued with Osteria Angelina. I was super excited to find out they had opened a sister restaurant in Shoreditch. Everyone on socials had been talking about it, so I thought I’d better find out what all the hype was about. We had friends visiting from Singapore this time, so it felt like the perfect occasion. They are super organised and wanted to get dates in the diary as soon as possible, so I made the reservation about a month in advance.

Now, eating out can get quite expensive, especially in London. So, when there’s an opportunity to eat for less, I’m all over it. The app I use is called CODE, which is specifically for people working in the hospitality industry. If you’re interested in signing up, I’ve popped more details at the end of this post.

The space at Osteria Angelina is expansive, with tall ceilings and plenty of natural light. It was all very lovely. The service was friendly and welcoming, and we were seated at the back, away from the entrance, right by the huge windows.

Onto the food.

We were absolutely starving, having just come straight from the gym, and our friends were running a little late. We decided to order some drinks and bread whilst we waited. My goodness, was the bread tasty! We ordered both options on the menu to share between the two of us: the Roasted Plum & Nori Focaccia and the Hokkaido Milk Bread with jam and burnt honey butter. They were unbelievably good. Embarrassingly, our friends arrived exactly as I bit into the last piece of the Hokkaido Milk Bread, leaving nothing but a couple of empty plates and a few crumbs. We just had to order another round.

The crudos arrived first. The Hamachi (yellowtail) with truffle soy and furikake crudo was an absolute delight. The truffle wasn’t overwhelming; it just added a beautiful depth and umami. We could have easily ordered another plate of this. The Tuna with house ponzu and wasabi crudo was nice and clean, though the ponzu and wasabi flavours were perhaps a little overpowering for the delicate, sweet profile of the tuna.

Next came Usman’s Magic Tomato Salad. We just had to try this one—if only to find out the story behind the name! The dish consists of sliced heirloom and heritage tomatoes drizzled with a savoury umami dressing, topped with a salsa verde granita, and garnished with finely shredded nori seaweed, shiso leaves, and a sprinkle of toasted white sesame seeds. The refreshing contrast in temperatures, textures, and rich umami flavours truly was magic. I would absolutely order this again.

For the pasta course, the menu recommended we order a couple to share as it’s their speciality, and it was a good job we did. We opted for the Tagliolini with Tuna, Mentaiko, and Kombu Cured Caviar, alongside the Tortellini with Truffle & Kombu. The Tagliolini was easily my favourite. The savoury mentaiko, the delicate melt-in-the-mouth tuna tartare, and the sharp, salty pop of the caviar, all wrapped up in perfectly cooked pasta, was comforting, satisfying, and genuinely exciting. If you love truffle, you will probably adore the Tortellini. For me, the truffle was a bit too intense—when it comes to truffle, I prefer a more subtle profile—but I can completely see why so many people praise this dish as a standout.

Other dishes worth mentioning from the sides are Ikuko’s Aubergine, the Miso Braised Onion & Fontina, the Namayasai Greens, and the Burrata, Miyagawa and Plum Ponzu. They were all delicious.

We also tried the Church Hill Chicken; Delice Pumpkin, Sage & Wakame; Ox Tongue with Kizami Wasabi; and the Spring Onion Tempura & Black Garlic. Honestly, I would probably only order these as fillers, and even then, I might just pick one and try another pasta dish instead. While they were nice, they simply weren’t as special as the other plates we ordered.

Osteria Angelina has a lot of exciting and satisfying dishes on the menu, though much like its sister restaurant, it can be a little inconsistent in places.

Would I go again? Yes, but I would skip the Grill and the Fritti sections entirely. Instead, I’d focus just on the Insalate, Crudo, and Pasta options, alongside a few of the Sides. And next time, I’d definitely leave room to try a few things from the Dolce menu.

A Quick Note on the CODE App

As mentioned earlier, I used the CODE app to save 50% off on our food at Osteria Angelina. If you work in hospitality or F&B and eat out a lot, it is well worth joining. There is a huge variety of restaurants on the app offering up to 50% off the total bill (though sometimes this excludes drinks). You simply find a participating restaurant, check their offer, make a reservation, and mention you are using the CODE app when booking.

There are a few restrictions to keep in mind, such as the specific times and days the offers are valid. For example, at Osteria Angelina, the offer is only valid on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 12:00 and 14:30. Over at Angelina Restaurant in Dalston, you get 50% off the tasting menu, but only between 18:00 and 23:00 on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays.

Offers range from 25% off the total bill in places like Hoppers and Humble Grape, to 30% off at Bubala, Allpress Coffee, and Haidilao, right up to 50% off at Bancone, Hawksmoor, and Som Saa. At the moment, most venues seem to be located in London with only a few outside the central area, but they seem to be adding more restaurants every week.

Signing up is pretty straightforward. You just need to use your work email as proof of employment. If you don’t have one, you can upload alternative proof, such as a letter from your manager or HR, or a copy of your contract. The membership costs £39.99 a year, but you easily make that back after just a couple of meals out with friends.

If you use my referral link below, you get a one-year membership for just £20, and I get a month for free!

Apply for a CODE app membership here.

Osteria Angelina is located in Spitalfields / Shoreditch.

Closest stations: Liverpool Street and Shoreditch High Street Station.

Booking is recommended.

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Guru Guru Sake. Sushi. Sakana

By The Capital Craving

On August 3, 2026

In Craving Sushi

My partner and I eat out a lot. Partly due to being too lazy to cook at home, but mostly because we simply enjoy eating good food made by people who love it as much as we do.

After a while, though, we found ourselves going back to the same places again and again. Not that that’s a bad thing—we have our favourites—but you know the old saying about too much of a good thing. I think there is also a genuine fear of wasting a meal. We only get three a day and each one has to count. You have to truly enjoy what you choose to eat, especially in London where it can cost quite a bit.

To break the habit, we started playing a game where we pick a random Japanese restaurant. The only rule is that it has to be somewhere we’ve never tried before, and once you pick it, you can’t back down. There have been a handful we totally regretted and will never return to, but a few have been added straight to our list of favourites.

This is how we found Guru Guru Sake. Sushi. Sakana.

Guru Guru is a retro Japanese listening and sushi bar tucked between what looks like a beauty school and a Korean cocktail bar, offering authentic Japanese dishes. The menu, although not huge, provides a nice variety without making you feel overwhelmed. The vibe is relaxed and friendly, and the food is fresh and affordable. What more could you want? Now and then, the quiet background chatter is interrupted by giggles as guests make their own Hojicha Kakigori with a cute yet slightly creepy bear-shaped ice-shaving machine.

Our first visit completely won us over. We ordered a sushi set each, alongside a few smaller dishes to share. I really enjoyed the Toro Taku Otsumami and the Grated Yam and Tuna Temaki.

Fast forward a few weeks, and here we are again. This time we brought a couple of old friends with us and ordered a whole lot more.

The Toro Taku Otsumami was the standout dish. It’s 80g of premium bluefin tuna, finely chopped and mixed with tangy daikon radish (takuan). It comes with four sheets of nori seaweed so you can wrap the fatty tuna mix yourself. The contrasting texture of the melt-in-the-mouth toro and the crunchy acidity of the pickle is beautifully balanced and so satisfying.

Karaage, Ohitshi - Guru Guru Sake Sushi Sakana

We also ordered a few sides: the Tosazu Salad, Yuzu Daikon, Ohitashi, and the Karaage, all of which were lovely. From their specials, we just had to order the Grated Yam and Tuna Temaki again.

For something a little less traditional, try the Guru Guru Roll, made from seven different types of selected fish all rolled into one futomaki. Somehow, the combination just works. If you love tuna, the Crazy Tuna Roll is packed with a generous, thick-cut load of fresh fish featuring different fatty levels of tuna, making it incredibly rich and savoury.

Guru Guru Roll - Guru Guru Sake Sushi Sakana

Crazy Tuna Roll - Guru Guru Sake Sushi Sakana

Aburi Saba Bosushi - Guru Guru Sake Sushi Sakana

The Aburi Saba Sushi is another favourite. Authentic, high-quality Aburi Saba Bozushi (pressed sushi with lightly flame-seared mackerel) is incredibly hard to find in London restaurants, and this certainly does not disappoint.

Grated Yam and Tuna Temaki for everyone - Guru Guru Sake Sushi Sakana

Grated Yam and Tuna Temaki - Guru Guru Sake Sushi Sakana

I absolutely love this place. The vibe is laidback, and the quality and freshness of the fish are excellent. When you’re with friends having a great time, you can easily spend hours eating and chatting, letting time just slip by. I can’t wait to go back.

Assorted Sushi Set - Guru Guru Sake Sushi Sakana

This brings me to the one thing you should be aware of: expect to spend quite a bit of time here, as the service can be a little too laidback at times. It does affect the mood of the place slightly, and we did notice other tables getting quite annoyed at the long waits. In our case, we had to remind the waiter that we still had two more dishes to come when he came over to ask for our last orders. We ended up waiting over an hour for those final two plates. Perhaps they just saw we were deeply engrossed in conversation and didn’t want to interrupt, or maybe they genuinely forgot about us, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind if you’re ever in a rush.

Guru Guru Sushi. Sake. Sakana is in Angel, Chapel Market.

Closest tube station: Angel.

Booking is recommended.

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