LONDON
Alright people, no foolin'. If you're hustling around London's Soho and you decide you need some yourself some sushi, there's no shortage of options. The usual suspects are all representing - YO!, Satsuma, ITSU etc. Although their food is on the whole super tasty, I find its not often worth the premium $$$. All the conveyor belts and fancy packaging are not enough to sway me.
But as is so often the case, when delicious and reasonably priced eats are the order of the day, Soho got you covered.
There Are Two Taro's
Taro 1, the OG joint on Brewer Street was where I had my first taste, but its Taro 2, a few minutes away on Old Compton Street, that gets the most of my coin.
The location's not as hot, but the lovely mezzanine interior and full length window make the clean wooden lines of the eating area light, airy and welcoming. Service is hell of fast, and the food is priced low making this a go-to spot for when you're done pounding beers in the west end. The other big plus is the awesome life-size bust of Taro-san which greets you at the door.
Those that know Soho also know that it is a generally awesome part of London for the eats; I usually have one favourite dish in each place I frequent, so when I consult my tum for what is needed, I know exactly where to head. Taro was the place where this personal menu system was born, and the dish that did it is this:
Chicken Teriyaki Don @ Taro
Holy holy holy. The first question I ask myself is: "Am I hungry?" If the answer is a resounding Hell Yes then Chicken Teriyaki Don jumps up the list pretty damn fast. For £5.90 you get succulent strips of chicken with the skin crisped up in teriyaki sauce, all sitting pretty on a bed of delicious sticky rice mixed with the usual fare, beansprouts, peppers etc...
It will not break
A key word for this dish is SUBSTANTIAL. Just look at how it holds its shape in the fun plastic box in which it is served. A great base if the rest of the night will involve beer, I like to get started with an Asahi on the side (they serve both the original 'dry' and the syrupy treat that is Asahi Black). The mix is simple, allowing the bold flavour of the ingredients to shine like a light into your grinning, hungry face.
Gyoza on the side
Today, we rounded this dish off with some simple gyoza. I usually make a point of trying the gyoza in any restaurant that will serve it to me, and Taro's doesn't disappoint. The pastry is not as crisp as some places, but since its all about the filling, this is not a downside in any way. The slightly liquid texture is quite satisfying and allows for more soy sauce take-up than you might usually get.
You can get in and out in under 20 minutes if you wish, and for under £10 you can easily pack enough food in to leave you bursting, if that is your style. Taro also excels at the standard sushi (rolls and sashimi), bento boxes and curries that you would expect, and they are very accommodating if you have any requests for authentic Japanese food not featured on the already varied menu. There is no point booking as the table turnover is really fast, although you will never feel rushed. Just roll up and get your roll on.
Taro 2
10 Old Compton Street
LONDON W1
020-7439-2275
There are literally not enough stars in the sky to even bother giving this place a score. Imagine the whole entire planet as giant smiley face and have done with it.
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