Since the start of this year BigHospitality has reported on a number of Japanese style restaurants that have opened in the capital. These include Hai Street Kitchen & Co. fast casual dining restaurant which opened in March, the Galadari rooftop bar which opens in September, and YO!Sushi's plans to open five more sites in the capital this year. The Yashin Ocean House and the new Japanese Canteen restaurants are supporting this growth of Japanese food in London.
Yashin Ocean House
Located in Old Brompton Road in South Kensington, the Yashin Ocean House is the newest venture from the team at the first Yashin restaurant on High Street Kensington. The restaurant has 70 covers which includes counter seating as well as private tables and an outside terrace area. There are also two private dining rooms downstairs which can be hired for functions.
The menu at Yashin Ocean House centres around seafood and unusually attempts to use every part of the fish it serves, from the roe to the flesh to the skin. The kitchen team plan to differentiate themselves from other Japanese fine dining restaurants by using a wider range of seafood cuts. Dishes served at the restaurant include umami mackerel bone and fish skin, salt koji marinaded grouper, and cod cheek with chilli amazu. The bar serves a range of sakes as well as Japanese whiskies and cocktails.
Yashin Ocean House's chef patrons include Yasuhiro Mineno, ex-head chef at Ubon by Nobu, and Shinya Ikeda, ex-head chef at Yumi in London. Daniele Codini, former chef de partie at Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck has also joined the team as senior sous chef.
The Japanese Canteen
Canteen style Japanese dining restaurant group The Japanese Canteen is opening two new restaurants in London this summer. One will be based near Bethnal Green and is opening in June, while the other will open in Dalston in July. These two new openings will take the total number of Japanese Canteen restaurants in the capital to 12.
The Japanese Canteen in Bethnal Green will be on Paradise Row and have between 60 and 70 covers. The menu will feature tried and tested Japanese and Korean dishes that have worked at their previous ventures, including Korean Bibimbaps and the restaurant's own version of Korean Fried Chicken. The Dalston restaurant will be located on Dalston Square and has 150 covers, offering a more 'speedy' operation.