The new London eatery every gentleman needs to try

If there’s one thing that is at an all time high right now and a firm favourite among city dinners, it’s Japanese Fushion. Bao buns, sashimi pizzas – you name it, London’ll have it. Joining them and in the hope of putting a modern spin on homemade Japanese cuisine is Covent Garden’s newest eatery- Gyoza Bar.

With sister restaurants in both Paris and the US, this little gyoza spot is beginning to multiply at a quick rate. By positioning themselves right next door to one of the West End’s most popular Japanese restaurants, Murukami, it aims to give diners’ pallets a taste for the Far East with a variety of small plate options to offer alongside the more traditional ramen.

Situated amongst stripped back and rustic interiors across two main rooms, it’s clear to see that the main focus of the restaurant is their food, which is prepared and cooked in plain sight of diners seated around the kitchen. Filled with an expectant group of after-work diners and touristy newcomers, it’s an eclectic and casual atmospheric mix which boasts an open plan ambience. Practical and intimate seating arrangements aren’t for everyone, but the wooden seating blocks and closely placed tables all tied in with the natural and earthly feel make it perfect for a quick bite to eat after work or weekend catchup with friends.

Accompanying the food were an incredible choice of cocktails, which looked more innocent than they taste. The ‘Pink Mojito’ was a particularly incredible tasting one, which started off sweet on the tongue then followed with a strong kick of tequila. Also up for grabs were a selection of tradition Sake and the usual choice of spirits – all starting from a reasonable price of under £10.

The food was served at a speedy rate shortly after our order – which is always a bonus. The top recommended dishes to start us off were the crispy deep fried lenkon chips (lotus root) with a side of spicy mayonnaise — closely followed by a selection of panfried gyoza, with different fillings ranging from pork to salmon on a sharing platter and the Bao steamed pulled pork buns, which were an incredible mix of both texture and flavour.

If you have a more filling and hearty meal in minds, go for the incredible tempura ramen, which is a dish packed with plenty of flavour – to say the least, To end on a sweet note, the addictively delicious fried ice cream was a definite winner! Alternatively, the apple cinnamon dumplings were a close second and also worth a try.

The average vegetarian dishes are set at a reasonably affordable price averaging between £3-£7, whilst the meat filled plates are slightly higher with a price range from £4-£9. The ramen is the highest priced dish on the menu but still remains humble, falling between £8-£11. If affordable dining is what you’re after, Gyoza Bar is the place to go!

Afterwork catch up with friends, informal dates or weekend dining.

For more information, visit here.

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