Jidori

Yakitori in Covent Garden

Tsukune: Minced chicken and egg yolk

When you think of Japanese food, you most likely will think of sushi and ramen right away, but there are so much more than that. Yakitori is a type of Japanese grilled style of cooking, using a range of sauces such as soy sauce and teriyaki sauce for marinating meats or vegetables. Yakitori is a popular choice to pair with beer and sake back in Japan. Located in Covent Garden, Jidori is a Yakitori specialist by Brett Redman, who is also the founder of the brilliant British restaurant Elliot. The menu has a selection of Japanese small eats, ranging from raw seafood to comfort food such as fried chicken, or with an injection of an Asian twist. The main event is the yakitori skewers, with a heavy focus in the chicken.

Sashimi

Tuna and salmon tostada

Katsu curry scotch egg

I was a big fan of the tuna tostada, which contained raw tuna with avocado, creamy but fresh, it was a fusion dish that contained Asian and South American element. The deep fried chicken wing was another solid dish, the use of sake and ginger lighten up the oiliness of the chicken, it was also well seasoned and tender, it was a great chicken dish indeed. I tried out every single skewer from the menu and the minced chicken impressed me the most. The chicken was filled with lovely savoury taste, the egg yolk soy delivered another layer of richness and creaminess, it was comfort food at its best. In contrast, the duck breast was rather average. The meat was chewy, and the orange sauce kind of dominated the whole dish. 

Koji fried chicken, nori salt and lemon

Seared beef, soy, mirin

Duck breast, orange

There are plenty of Japanese restaurants in London, but generally not a lot of top quality ones around. While at Jidori, nothing was truly outstanding, or anywhere authentic, it has managed to deliver good solid comfort food that I really enjoyed, the kind of food that worked so well with a glass of cold beer with a group of friends. On the other hand, if you look for a 3-course affair with proper table service, this is not the place for you.


Food 2.5/5

What I paid: 

£35 pp with wine

Average cost without drinks and services:
£30


15 Catherine St, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5JZ

https://www.jidori.co.uk/