Tonkotsu

Stepping into Tonkotsu feels like stepping off the streets of Bristol and straight into Tokyo. In a laid-back and edgy setting, students and punks alike rub shoulders as they slurp their way to noodle nirvana.

Tonkotsu carefully crafts each steaming bowl of noodles, inspired by the dinner tables of Fukuoka. Their silky tonkotsu broth is made fresh every morning by boiling pork bones and simmering them for a full 16 hours, resulting in a beautifully rich consistency reminiscent of the city’s ramen bars.

Make like a Tokyo local and tuck into their pork, ginger, and garlic gyoza, or go for panko-fried tofu, cauliflower, and aubergine in a rich curry sauce served with rice.

Their golden guarantee? Homemade noodles, every time. It takes a whole day to make the noodles for a single bowl – cooked for precisely 32 seconds (just enough time to decide what you're going to eat next).

It’s this dedication to their craft that makes this little ramen bar so true to the flavours and practices of a proper Japanese original. Don’t sleep on their standout ramen dishes from the honey miso ginger pork, fiery chilli tiger prawn, to the kakugiri chicken broth with roast pork belly and bamboo shoots.

If that doesn’t quite hit the spot, explore their enormous selection of sauces and condiments. The homemade kimchi is a must-try! From sauces to garnishes (even the pickles on the side) everything is lovingly made in-house. The menu is full of the beautiful blemishes of real Japanese effort, making every visit a uniquely London experience.

Tonkotsu East is nestled in the arches of festival-cool Shoreditch. Just by Haggerston Overground and Kingsland Road, mellow out in this cool little haven amidst dancing leaves and artsy beats.