Kurobuta

Kurobuta Restaurant Review:

Chef/owner Scott Hallsworth, former head toque at Nobu, is behind this fun, casual and noisy restaurant that he calls an “izakaya,” a bit like a pub or after-work saké bar. It’s notably cool with a large counter where a busy team turns out some definitely different Japanese dishes. The menu is divided into sections like Snack, Cold Raw Salad, Robata BBQ, Junk Food Japan, Something Crunchy, Significant Others, Maki and Sushi, so everyone can mix and match. Unlike most other Japanese restaurants, this one uses Western ingredients like fresh salmon and also produces fries. Try porky scratchings with yuzu kosho dip to start, then beef fillet tataki with onion ponzu and garlic crisps, and buns with charcoal-smoked pork belly. It’s open all day so you can have breakfast, too, though perhaps not with any of the sakés on the drinks list. Also located at 251 King’s Rd., Chelsea, 020-3475 4158.