Agedashi Tofu Agedashi Tofu

Deep-fried tofu in a light dashi-based broth, garnished with grated daikon, green onions, and bonito flakes.

Kanpai

Kanpai

8-10 Grindlay St, Edinburgh EH3 9AS, United Kingdom

Sushi • Asian • Chicken • Japanese


"Kan Pai Edinburgh 17/10/2014 After missing September, The Food Club made a triumphant comeback this month. Although short on the usual numbers we enjoyed a fine meal at Kan Pai. We jumped on the train and met at Haymarket before a short taxi trip to our destination. T’was a crisp evening and our taste buds were bubbling with excitement. The restaurant looked great on the outside and even better inside, we were sat with plenty of room in the middle of the restaurant and able to take in the atmosphere of the tables surrounding us. We started by ordering our alcoholic beverages… as is tradition. We got a round of Sapporo Beer and a bottle of Saki on ice, as recommended by the staff. The menu was fantastic with a great variety of sushi and filled with colourful photo’s, making our selection process very difficult. We went for a wide variety and shared very little with our peers, far too good for sharing. A few members found that chopsticks were a difficult obstacle but perseverance is the name of the game. For one such member he was so good with chopsticks that he attempted the Miso Soup with them……. Instant fail. Another member decided using them as spears was a much more effective method…. One chopstick…… ADVANCED LEVEL SKILLS. The soup was very tasty and a warming treat. It was followed with a selection of bright dishes including Avocado Maki, Seabass Nigiri and some kind of fantastic Crab dish. All went down well and accompanied with a delicate tea pot of soy and a plate of pickled ginger and wasabi. More dishes arrived, Teriyaki Salmon, Squid Ngiri Takoyaki Octopus. Flattering octopus balls, delightful in texture and served with what can only be described as tasty saw dust. Again there was no faulting the quality of the food. The smiles were beaming from our faces as we tucked in. We got a selection of larger dishes to fill us to the brim. A couple of Rainbow rolls, beautiful Salmon Tuna married together with avocado and also the Kan Pai Special roll which was King Prawn avocado rolled together. The Saki was delightfully sipped throughout the night from the small cup like bowls and it was both smooth and warming down to the chest. The Sapporo was as good as ever and very refreshing throughout the dining experience. Usually we like a dessert at food club but the only let down (other than a certain members questionable moustache) was perhaps that they only had ice cream on offer but in fairness it would be wrong to expect a chocolate fudge cake after that meal. Between those in attendance, I think we were in agreement that in terms of food quality this venue stole the show and I would highly recommend to anyone. Very affordable and very friendly staff. We drifted to the Grassmarket for a pint seeing The Big Yin, Billy Connolly on our way. The night finished speaking fluent German and discussing another members receding hairline. HEY DU!!! We bid you farewell… until November. AUF WEIDERSEHN SAYONARA"

Obon

Obon

42 Richmond Rd, Kingston Upon Thames, United Kingdom, Kingston upon Thames

Soup • Fish • Sushi • Japanese


"Obon: a petit Japanese udon restaurant that supplies a sense of Japan that cannot be found anywhere else in the whole of the Uk. (5 stars) Location: Obon is located close to the heart of Kingston but the road it’s on is considerably quieter. You must make sure to have a basic knowledge of Kingston in order to find an area to park and to also make sure you leave yourself enough time, taking the unpredictability of the traffic into acount. Even on a week day there can be traffic jams which can put a halt to your plans and due to the small amount of customers Obon can take its important that you not only book but make sure that you arrive at the agreed booking time. With this being said the staff are all lovely so if you are running late, a quick call is all that is required to just give Obon a chance to understand your position. The food: The array of exquisitely prepared sashimi will be sure to create the sensation that you are in a top Japanese restaurant in japan and the flavour of the fish does not fail to match expectations, which will be very high after just one glance at your meal. The fish is delicately seasoned and practically melts on your tongue, this causes a lovely sensation and is genuinely the finest sushi I have tasted in the uk and even matches a lot of the top restaurants in japan. On top of just the traditional types of sushi, which to many is maki rolls Obon also offers many other delicious options such as soft shell crab and even Unagi don, which I must highly recommend due to it consistently being the highlight of my meal. For those of you that were interested in the quality of the basic Japanese dishes such as miso soup or edamame they do not fail to leave you in grand anticipation for what is to come for they are, simply speaking, incredibly good. The miso, in my opinion, is truly remarkable and creates a lasting feeling of warmth throughout your entire body, on top of that it is far superior to other miso’s that I have tasted in all other areas of the world. Overall the quality of the food is something you would expect from a world famous Michelin star restaurant and if you want Japanese food it’s the only place I can recommend. The Restaurant: The restaurant itself is small but authentic in nature and because it only has a enough tables to host around 20 people at the most, the service is exceptionally good and your food is always out quickly so you will not be left hungry for very long. The staff are kind and friendly. And it’s always an enjoyable experience being waves goodbye as you leave the restaurant. You’re also able to watch as they prepare the food, which for some could be entertaining. There are Japanese photos scattered around the room and this further creates an authentic feel. The atmosphere is not lively but it is a restaurant and not a bar so is an ideal location if you are wanting high quality food. With this being said it is still a great place to go with friends and I consistently am able to have a great time no matter the occasion. Price: Obviously, the price of the food is always an important topic to come to and despite the cost of the sushi being slightly higher than you may expect from a small restaurant in Kingston, I would have to say that for the quality of the food it is ultimately a bargain. For three people, you would be spending around £100 so it isn’t cheap but you can go for cheaper types of food such as udon, which is still amazing quality and won’t set you back as much money. Overall: Obon is still my favourite restaurant in the whole of the Uk and is perfect for a special occasion but it isn’t the sort of place you’d go for a casual night out. The food is beyond incredible and thus they can cater for both children and adults by meeting every bodies needs. For anybody that enjoys sushi, I would urge you to give it a go, you won’t regret it"

Jimmy Spice's

Jimmy Spice's

Birmingham, United Kingdom

Full • Asian • Catering • Ice Cream


"In general, I found the chicken to be much better than the other meats. **Chinese Dishes:** - **Mapo Tofu:** This was a bit different than I expected, made with what seemed like agedashi tofu rather than the usual soft raw tofu. Although it was soft, the agedashi style was a fresh twist. It wasn’t bad. - **Beef in Black Bean Sauce:** Unfortunately, the beef quality was poor; it had a questionable smell and tasted like it might be spoiled. The meat was tough. I’ll have to see how I feel tomorrow, but if I do get sick, I’ll definitely blame the beef! I don’t know why I kept chewing; someone help me! - **Szechuan Chicken:** This wasn’t what I anticipated, but it turned out to be good. The chicken quality was great, while the sauce was just okay. - **Mongolian Stir-Fry:** The gentleman preparing the stir-fry did an excellent job! **Thai Dishes:** - **Chicken in Thai Curry:** This was disappointing and lacked flavor. If the chef had tasted it, he might have realized this. **Italian Dishes:** - **Arrabiata Pasta:** It was fine. Nothing special, but acceptable. - **Italian Grilled Chicken:** This was probably my favorite dish. They used real chicken, which seemed to be slow-cooked, making it soft and moist rather than dried out. **Indian Dishes:** - **Chicken Tikka:** The meat was dry and lacked flavor. - **Butter Chicken:** It was okay. The quality of the meat was good, but the sauce was just alright—neither horrible nor superb. **Dessert:** - The ice cream was good. **Service:** The service was hit or miss. It seemed the servers weren't assigned to specific tables, as different people came by to clear my plates. I tried to pay with an American credit card, which meant I couldn't leave a tip on the card. I started to walk out but felt guilty, so I went back in and left a £5 tip after realizing I had some cash. Honestly, the experience wasn’t outstanding, but the last waitress I encountered really made a difference!"