Ravinder Bhogal to open first London restaurant Jikoni

Jikoni – which means ‘kitchen’ in Swahili – will serve up classic dishes with a twist when it launches on Marylebone’s Blandford Street in September.

Bhogal, who has previously run residencies with Mark Hix at Selfridges and at the Sethi sibling’s Michelin-starred Trishna, said her first solo project was dedicated to the maternal figures in her life.

“The food at Jikoni is simply the kind of food I love to cook and eat with friends and family at home,” said Bhogal.  

“I am so excited to welcome guests to Jikoni and what I hope will just be an extension of my kitchen.”

Dishes will include Prawn Toast Quail Scotch Egg with Banana Ketchup and Pickled Cucumber; an Indian take on American Sloppy Joe’s; a ‘spiced up’ Shepherd’s Pie; and a daily changing Rice Plate celebrating the world’s best curries.

The chef has secured a 1,733 sq.ft site near Chiltern Street and Marylebone High Street, with Guy Marks at Restaurant Property advising on the deal.

“We are looking forward to being part of the Marylebone neighbourhood – so many restaurateurs I respect a great deal have been here for years,” said Bhogal.

“I have had residencies at both Trishna and Carousel on Blandford Street and could not have imagined that one day I would be opening my own restaurant amongst them.”

Bhogal found fame when she won a competition to find Britain’s new Fanny Cradock on Gordon Ramsay’s The F Word in 2007, before publishing her first recipe book Cook in Boots.

Her television credits include Channel 4’s Food: What Goes In Your Basket, and Ravinder’s Kitchen on TLC.