Japanese-Peruvian concept Amaru to open in London

Amaru, which means ‘fertility’ in Peruvian and ‘abundance’ in Japanese, will serve ‘light and healthy Japanese cuisine with a Peruvian twist’. 

The concept will have a strong focus on takeaway and delivery to the local area, though it will also offer seating for up to 15 customers and alfresco dining in the summer months. A number of ready-made dishes and juices will be available for grab-and-go meals.

The restaurant is the latest concept from the team behind Spanish restaurant Bravas Tapas, restaurateur Bal Thind and chef Victor Garvey.

Thind said: “We feel there is a real demand in London for high-quality but affordable takeaway dishes.

“We have worked to develop the menu to offer healthy and delicious food which is perfect for lunch, a light dinner, picnics, and sharing at dinner parties.”

Amaru’s interior design will be reminiscent of an ‘izakaya’ (a Japanese gastropub) and it will be an ‘intimate’ space with a living moss feature wall along the back of the store.

The menu​

Amaru’s menu will be centred on salads, ceviches and tiraditos. There will also be a focus on sushi dishes and the restaurant will use fish delivered daily from boats stationed mostly in and around the British Isles.

Its signature dishes will include prawn ceviche with coconut, mango, rocoto pepper and red onion (£8), and toasted sesame crusted tuna with avocado, spicy sesame dressing, truffle and umeboshi plum (£9). Sushi (priced between £4 and £6) and sashimi (priced between £9 and £12) options will consist of a mix of salmon, yellowtail, tuna and vegetarian Buddha’s delight maki.

Desserts available will include white miso cheesecake, green tea tiramisu, mandarin and wasabi chocolate mousse, and homemade lychee and Valrhona gran crus chocolate truffles.

In terms of drinks, Amaru will serve freshly squeezed juices in flavours such as watermelon with yuzu and carrot, and apple and ginger. It will also serve a range of coffees including matcha latte.