Harajuku Kitchen
Japanese
Location 10 Gillespie Place, Edinburgh, EH10 4HS t: 0844 625 7750 w: www.harajukukitchen.co.uk
So
Harajuku Kitchen brings an authentic taste of Japan to the Scottish capital. Having trained in Edinburgh, executive chef and owner Kaori Simpson wanted to open a restaurant here that celebrates the fundamentals of Japanese cuisine, including a profound respect for ingredients and their natural flavours.
£18 to
£22
Inside, wooden tables, white walls and contemporary art combine to create a simple and stylish space where it’s impossible not to feel relaxed. The menu is extensive and varied, offering a truly exciting array of beautifully presented dishes. There’s a huge selection of small plates to choose from, including hot dishes like vegetable gyoza, sticky chicken yakitori skewers and tempura sweet potato, as well as cold dishes such as kaiso seaweed salad and tuna tataki. For those looking for a heartier meal, there’s a range of set mains on offer. The award-winning aubergine curry is a scrumptious vegetarian choice, and Open: Mon-Fri the tangy chicken teriyaki goes noon-3pm, 5pm-10pm; perfectly with a bowl of fluffy rice. Sat noon-late; The kitchen is rightly renowned for Sun noon-4pm, 5pm-9pm its sushi too. From the generous futomaki rolls to the smaller nigiri, there’s plenty to choose from. To round off your visit, peruse the selection of traditional Japanese desserts – try the apple gyoza with green tea ice cream, or sample the delicious mochi, which come in an array of flavours.
Shezan
Indian
Location 24-25 Union Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3NQ t: 0844 625 4365 w: www.shezanedinburgh.com e: enquiries@shezanedinburgh.com
CC
Set across the road from the Playhouse theatre, Shezan is a bright, pleasantly bustling modern curry house. One glance at the row of gleaming Scottish Curry Awards trophies positioned along the bar told us to expect something out of the ordinary – and we weren’t let down.
£22 to
£25
‘...expect something out of the ordinary...’ We asked our friendly and knowledgeable waiter for recommendations and he was happy to oblige. We settled down with poppadoms, a selection of six tasty pickles and a glass of Kingfisher beer. To begin, we enjoyed tender and aromatic tandoori lamb chops, and perfectly judged vegetable samosas with crispy exteriors and impeccably spiced filling. Our recommended main courses were the succulent Punjabi garlic chicken masala and juicy king prawn karahi. Both dishes displayed excellent Open: depth of flavour and the spices Mon-Sun noon-midnight were beautifully balanced. We shared a bowl of special rice and some of Shezan’s famous naan breads, which were huge yet unbelievably light. The Peshwari was a particular highlight, stuffed with almonds, coconut and sultanas. For dessert, we cooled ourselves down with scoops of creamy kulfi and an irresistibly sticky gulab jamun – the perfect finale to a truly superb meal. If you like Indian food, you’re sure to love Shezan. Edinburgh Guide 2019
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