Harajuku Kitchen

Blythe’s Verdict

The Edinburgh restaurant scene is fast moving, so I’m sure this boast won’t last for long, but today marked my completion of the full set of Japanese restaurants that our city holds. Harajuku Kitchen, in Tollcross, was the final piece of the puzzle.

I was joined in this endeavour by regular guest quester Iain. He’d lunched at the Lioness of Leith, most recently.

I’d visited Harajuku’s regular market stall at Stockbridge on a couple of occasions. I’d been impressed so was looking forward to trying dishes from their wider selection.

I found Iain seated at a corner table in their smart and airy dining space. We were promptly attended to by the friendly waitress.

The menu offered a wide range of options with staple Japanese choices matched with some intriguing sounding items. Iain was lured in by the katsudon, a breaded pork cutlet and rice topped with an egg and spring onion omelette, while I opted for the aubergine curry. We shared a portion of pork gyoza to start.

Bowls of miso soup were brought, too. These were excellent and one of the best versions I’ve sampled across all of the Japanese places in the city.

The gyoza were of similarly high quality. Crisped on one side and soft on the other, they packed excellent flavour in their elegant casings.

Main courses continued the standard. Both were very hearty and a very generous lunchtime portion. My dish comprised simple, delicately flavoured rice and profuse tempura aubergine pieces served in a light curry sauce. It was impressively good.

So overall, I really enjoyed our visit to Harajuku Kitchen. It’s right up there at the top of the crop of Japanese places in Edinburgh. I’ll need to come back again soon to try their sushi and sashimi which I suspect will be very good. I’d highly recommend a visit.

Iain’s Questude Verdict

A haiku for you
Harajuku. Inspires a
Tollcross quest for lunch.

Sushi we eschewed,
preferring an adventure
in Japanese mains.

Friendly staff solved the
savoury mysteries, steered choices
to porcine delights.

Katsudon – a bowl
laden with succulent pork,
rice and omelette. Yum!

Aubergine curry
a successful departure
for Lunchquest’s own Blythe.

Pot-sticker dumplings,
deep umami miso soup.
Must try sushi…

…next time!

Scores
Blythe scores Harajuku Kitchen
4/5 for food
4/5 for presentation
4/5 for service
4/5 for setting
giving an overall 16/20

Today’s questers were: Iain, Blythe

We ate: katsudon, aubergine curry, gyoza, miso soup

We drank: water

We wore: tweeds, trainers

Total bill: £25.20