Bibimbap -Restaurant Review-

Couple of weeks ago, I went to this restaurant called Bibimbap in Soho (London). I am a big big fan of Korean cuisine (although I am super bad at eating spicy food :P) since it is so delicate and with lots of flavors. 

We weren't supposed to go to this restaurant at first but to one called Nara which was both a Japanese and Korean restaurant... Unfortunately, when we arrived there, my parents and I realized it was closed... as in just gone forever T-T The site was still running and nothing said that it had closed down for good.... 

In any case, we ended up at Bibimbap by accident and it was really good! The place is actually much bigger than it looks, and it gives a very modern and trendy vibe. The waiters were all Korean, and the walls had sooo many polaroids of customers in the restaurant which was really cool. It seems to be a restaurant for youngsters (18 to 35) and my parents were definitely the oldest ones there ;) It seems to be a very popular restaurant because people were actually lining up outside waiting for a table when we left! :O

Food was delicious, although there isn't as much variety as other Korean restaurants, there is enough to chose from. The speciality is of course Bibimbap. Anyways, here are the things we ordered! 

Korean plum wine! Honestly, not a fan... Tastes too strong... 

Japchae! It was pretty good but a little too oily for my taste.

This was SO. GOOD. Kimchi pancake gaaaah. Could have easily eaten 2 plates of those.

My mum and I got Bibimbap. There was one minus point..... is that to get fried egg on top you have to pay 1£ extra -_-
The dish itself was really good but my food stayed hot for soooo long cuz of the bowl I was quite slow at eating :P (I am problems eating hot stuff too. yesh nomster lots of issues here.)

My dad's. He got the bibimbap with raw meat in it. It gets cooked in the bowl... Next time, I am definitely taking that! And you also had the Korean miso and gochujang on the table to add to your dish!

So this was our dinner at Bibimbap! I would definitely recommend it, it's a nice looking place with affordable tasty food and right in the center of London! Must go to!

Click HERE for their site and menu! :D

Yo-yo Kitchen

Today I will be reviewing this place called yo-yo kitchen in West London. It's a Japanese place where you can buy bento (lunch boxes) and other nibbles. I've been going there to get some lunch boxes for the past 4 years now and it's super delicious! 

They have quite different varieties of bento and other take away dishes (Japanese curry rice, gyuu-don, katsudon, gyoza etc). They also have already made sushi and onigiri (the 'little rice bowls' they eat in Pokemon :P). 

They also sell random stuff like Japanese notebooks to practice your ideograms and basic for Japanese cooking (soya sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce, etc). They also have different Japanese drinks and you can even eat instant noodles there (have to pay for the boiled water though I think hehe). 

Anways, you can eat it there or take it back home! My all time favorite is definitely the karaage bento (Japanese fried chicken), sooo yummmzzz! Price is decent (6£ for my favorite bento) so you should really try if you are around! ^^ It's the best way to have real Japanese bento! :D

Leaving the site over here you can check their menu! It's right next to West Acton tube station!

---> http://www.yoyokitchen.co.uk/

Here are some photos of their nom-nomz!  :)

Teriyaki chicken bento

Kara-age bento ><

Inari zushi

Chez L'Ami David

Chez L'Ami David is a French restaurant in West London, and really one of the best ones you could find around concerning price and quality of the dishes. I've been to that restaurant quite a few times (like 5? :P) and it was delicious every time. The chef makes all the dishes himself so there isn't a vast amount of choice. BUT, my parents always say that the smaller the menu, the better the restaurant because it means they make everything themselves and that it is not microwaved food. One of my favorites, for example is the smoked salmon as a starter. You might say 'Smoked salmon isn't really French -_-' but the chef smokes that salmon himself and I can tell you its just ... nom nom nom! Worth trying! ;)

In this restaurant, you can eat simple but tasty french food. This is actually the restaurant where I had my first frogs legs! ^^ The menu also changes depending on the season which is why my parents and I have been a few times (to discover the new dishes hehe :P). This restaurant is a nice way to discover traditional French food, the one eaten during every day life.
Price wise it's pretty affordable (I mean some French restaurants are super snobby -expensive and little food on your plate-) with more or less 18£ for a 3 course menu.

Anyways, the best way to is to check the photos below of some of the dishes my parents and I had :)

Starters:

Avocado  with prawn cocktail salad 

Duck salad

Smoked salmon

Frogs legs

Pate made by the chef himself! With some caramelized onions

Main course: 

Rabbit with a mustard sauce, served with tagliatelle

Had tartare for the first time in a restaurant and I absolutely loved it! Raw meat (something I was a bit skeptical about) but at the end I didn't get sick so it's all good :P

Steak Tartare!

Spinach risotto

Some fish (forgot which :P) with courgette, potatoes and creamy sauce

Pot au feu

Creme brulee

Creme caramel

Somehow, I didn't have many photos of desserts... They had chocolate mousse, citron tart, profiteroles, etc. Good desserts as well :P
Anyways, I say you should definitely try this restaurant out if you are in London and EVEN if it's a bit away from the center.

I will leave their Facebook page over here so you can check more photos and the address if needed :)
https://www.facebook.com/ChezLamiDavid

FUJI: Japanese Restaurant in France

When I was in France mid november, I went to a Japanese restaurant in the city of Rennes (in Brittany, North West of France). I was pleasantly surprised by this restaurant, as it tasted really good and was pretty authentic! My mum had told me that my dad (who is Japanese) had approved so I was very curious to taste them out myself (also because Rennes is a pretty small city). Turns out the owner/chef of this restaurant and his wife are Japanese. I ordered a couple of dishes (we were 5 people) to nibble on for dinner and they were all very good! If you are ever around Rennes and are tired of eating French goodies (but seriously who is EVER tired of French food?!)  then this is the perfect place to go to!

The best way to describe this meal is with photos. So here are some of the dishes we munched that night :3 Enjoy the photos and let your tummies grumbleeee (mine is for sure... T.T) 

Started with some temaki and sashimi of course

Tsukune (chicken meat balls) and yakitori (grilled chicken)

Karaage one of my all times favorites >< (Japanese fried chicken)

Gyoza! (japanese dumplings)

Mochi Ice (mochi with ice cream filling) for desert 

Daifuku (mochi filled with red bean paste)