Restaurant of the week: Harajuku Kitchen, Gillespie Place, Edinburgh

Harajuku is a trendy neighbourhood in Toyko, Japan’s capital and largest city. Known for its fashionable stores and quirky boutiques, the area is particularly popular with young people..

Location

The small eatery is just a few minutes away from the King’s Theatre. Perfect for a quick bite before or after a show.

First impressions

Exposed brickwork, chunky wooden furniture and original cornicing bring old and new decor together in this simple and sophisticated dining room.

Service

We arrived after watching the matinee performance, when the restaurant was still quiet, so the solo waiter was very attentive. However, we didn’t feel rushed to order and vacate our seats, even when it started to get busier.

Menu

Lovers of noodles, tempura, sushi and dumplings will find plenty to satisfy their appetite at Harajuku Kitchen. The traditional recipes have been passed down through three generations, and there are options for vegetarians and vegans, too. Two of our group opted for the pre-theatre menu (available Monday to Friday, 12pm to 3pm and 5pm to 6pm) while the rest dined a la carte.

Taste

We ordered a good mix of dishes, and sampled a little from each others plates. For starters we ate vegetable dumplings and tempura, and seaweed salad, all of which were delicious. When our mains arrived, the presentation was so lovely, the dishes looked almost too good to eat! The teriyaki tofu was particularly delicious – just the right amount of sweet, spicy and savoury. We also loved the special cocktail Matcha Do About Gin.

Price

For a group of four our bill came to just over £100. The healthy portions, tempting tipples and great service made our meal worth every penny.

Ambience

Relaxed, friendly and welcoming atmosphere, which would suit date night as well as family gatherings.

Toilets

Absolutely tiny! But clean and well-stocked. Disabled loos available.