Moi

Tuna Chop Shop

 

140kg Spanish blue thin tuna

Moi in Soho has always felt like a Japanese restaurant that understands restraint. That calm confidence made it the perfect setting for Tuna Chop Shop, a one-off special event that felt less like a themed dinner and more like being invited into a quietly obsessive chef’s personal playground. The menu for the night was centred entirely on a 140kg Spanish blue thin tuna, but not in a predictable “tasting menu flex” way. Instead, it leaned into craft. Cuts were treated with the same respect you’d expect at a serious fish market, but filtered through Moi’s precise, modern cooking. From the first plate, it was clear this wasn’t about luxury for its own sake. It was about understanding the fish fully, from texture to temperature to fat content, and letting each part speak clearly. Relaxed, thoughtful, and quietly confident, exactly what you hope for when a restaurant puts its reputation on the line for a one-off idea.

Tuna collar sliders

Tuna usuzukuri and truffle ponzu

Tuna tataki and shiso

Tuna sashimi

Tuna bone marrow and tomato

What made Tuna Chop Shop outstanding wasn’t just the quality of the tuna, though that alone would have justified the praise. It was the way each dish built a conversation around the fish. One course might focus on pristine, barely touched flesh, cut thick and clean, served with just enough seasoning to underline its natural sweetness. Another would lean into richness, using fattier cuts that melted slowly as you ate, paired with something sharp or fermented to keep everything balanced. Nothing felt excessive. Portions were generous enough to be satisfying but never heavy, which kept the evening flowing easily. There was a clear sense that the kitchen trusted the diner. They didn’t overexplain, and they didn’t hide behind technique. You could taste the decisions instead. Even the more experimental moments felt grounded. A dish that played with smoke or heat never overwhelmed the tuna itself. Instead, it highlighted a different side of it, like turning an object in your hands and noticing a detail you’d missed before.

Grilled tuna with yakiniku sauce

Tuna nigiri

Fatty tuna roll

Tuna steak on the bone, peppercorn sauce

Tuna and pickles rice

By the time the final dishes arrived, the feeling in the room had shifted into something close to collective contentment (and totally full!). Not the loud, celebratory kind, but the softer satisfaction that comes from knowing you’ve spent your time well. As a one-off event, it felt complete, considered, and deeply satisfying, the kind of night you replay later not because it was flashy, but because it was so well judged. In a city where pop-ups and special menus often blur together, this stood apart by being sincere. Every element felt intentional, from the menu structure to the atmosphere to the final, unforced close to the meal. I think as far as t

Food 4/5


Average cost without drinks and services:
£85

84 Wardour St, London W1F 0TQ

https://moirestaurant.com/