Taka London

TAKA | Japanese Cuisine London

http://www.takalondon.com

TAKA | Japanese Cuisine London

TAKA - London Restaurant Reviews | Hardens

Taka: Japanese Fine Dining in Mayfair

While St James’s Market gains more and more accolades, a new addition to Shepherd Market is a little more humble Smart Japanese restaurant Taka has an unsightly neighbour or two, and is so dark inside that on a winter evening you might well miss it entirely.

A small lidded pot of miso soup with fresh tofu, spring onion and seaweed, alongside a dish of steamed edamame beans with sea salt are an ideal pairing for a starter.

Hamachi and unagi nigiri each come with generous slices of the white fish and eel; wagyu gunkan is a bizarre yet enjoyable combination of beef, sushi and seaweed textures that would otherwise never be put together.

The eponymous Taka is served with thin slices of avocado draped over the top and grilled white fish inside, while soft shell crab rolls pack in the works: tobiko (flying fish roe), an unagi glaze, spicy mayo, and some surprisingly crunchy mustard greens.

Large dishes, like miso-marinated black cod or Chilean seabass arrive carefully wrapped in houba leaves (Japanese magnolia, which resembles something between a chargrilled banana and oak leaf).

TAKA London Review in Mayfair: Eat Here | About Time Magazine

Then you’re going to love TAKA, a new high-end Japanese restaurant in Mayfair.

This is the first TAKA in the UK – run by brother and sister duo Andrey and Anastasia Datsenko, they’ve had a huge success with TAKA in Japan and are now bringing heir high-end Japanese restaurant to London.

The menu is pretty extensive for such a petite restaurant; there’s a big selection of Japanese signature dishes from tataki, tempura and salads to sashimi platters, inside out rolls and yakitori, as well great drinks such as Japanese-inspired cocktails, whiskies and sake.

Their spicy tuna roll is the star of the show, however, with tuna, spicy mayo, cucumber, spring onion and tobikko – it’s just the right amount of spicy, with a nice kick to it.

The quality of the ingredients speaks for itself – the fish is totally delicious, the sushi rolls well conceived and presented, the main dishes so fresh and tasty.

New Bar Spy: TAKA Mayfair London Restaurant News ...

Taka brings authentic Japanese to Shepherd Market | Latest news ...

In a nutshell: Authentic japanese food and drink from Tokyo-trained chefs.

Summing it all up: Shepherd Market, Mayfair's charming 18th century square, has yet another good place to eat and drink thanks to  the arrival of Taka, a Tokyo-born restaurant and cocktail bar with tataki, tempura, and other traditional cuisine on offer, plus sake cocktails in the basement bar, if you can squeeze yourself in... Lucky old Shepherd Market is about to get another restaurant and cocktail bar worthy of a visit, when Taka makes the leap from Tokyo to London with their first overseas restaurant.

The restaurant, which will be spread across two floors, will be rolling out classic Japanese food with a high end twist.

That’ll be upstairs, while downstairs in the cozy basement bar (with standing room for just 16, we hear) there there’ll be lots of sake, Japanese whiskey and liquor cocktails like their Shochu Martini, Courgette and Sake refresher, or a Plum and Thyme Prosecco smash.

“Japanese food and drink have always been particular favorites and I’m looking forward to taking it to the next level,” said Andrey.