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Harden's survey result
Summary
“Quite unique!” – Jeremy Chan and Iré Hassan-Odukale have won renown (including two Michelin stars and the 2nd highest score in the UK on World’s 50 best 2024) for their transformation of West African culinary traditions into an “incredible” and groundbreaking haute-fusion mashup; and a meal at this copper-shaded and minimalist venue (relocated a couple of years ago from St James’s) is acclaimed in a majority of reports as an “exceptional” and “creative” all-round experience. Even fans, however, often note that it’s also become a “very, very expensive” one, while for a significant minority it’s a “disappointing” or even “joyless” one too. Chief concerns are cooking that can seem “too complicated” or “unmemorable (and I was longing to try it!)”; “robotic” staff “not engaging with customers and barely explaining dishes” is another repeat complaint.
Summary
Iré Hassan-Odukale and Jeremy Chan have won huge renown for their ‘haute’ interpretation of West African culinary themes, but this year saw very unsettled reports. Perhaps, in part, this owes to the disruption of a move to 180 The Strand, although the copper-hued, minimalist design there isn’t wholly at odds with the look and feel of the former location in St James’s Market. But to a large extent, this year’s themes are a continuation of last year’s; and complaints that seemed to set in after they jacked up their prices following all the Michelin and ‘World’s 50 Best’ accolades. True, some reports do acknowledge an “outstanding gastronomic experience” from the blind tasting menu which sees jollof rice and plantain jostling with luxury ingredients, foams and emulsions. But too many are mixed: “we had a couple of stunners, but a dish that was so bitter it was unpleasant. So expensive and given the unpredictability it makes Core look like a bargain…”; “really did not enjoy this. Dull atmosphere, combinations of food which just did not work and service not firing on all cylinders. First time I’ve ever not enjoyed a two-star restaurant…”; “was expecting something so special: it wasn’t!”
Summary
“Flavours not experienced before” – “inventive haute cuisine takes on West African dishes using ingredients like plantain and sorghum” – continue to propel Iré Hassan-Odukale and Jeremy Chan’s St James’s trail-blazer to ever-greater heights of fame, as confirmed by the restaurant’s further promotion by Michelin in January 2022. “With the second star comes the elevated price tag” however, and formerly stellar ratings here have sagged under the heightened expectations. Many “masterpieces” are still reported amongst meals, but a worrying new vein of bitter disappointments has also crept into diner commentary (“I was excited to try Ikoyi and discover its new approach, but hand on heart it was not worth the money…”; “we were angry and so disappointed, the food was really average, massively over-spiced and too hot”). Perhaps it’s no coincidence that shortly after our diners’ poll ended, Chan and Hassan-Odukale announced they were putting the original St James’s Market site on the market with a view to moving to an upgraded site (with options mooted including a move to the 180 Strand building).
Summary
“Truly surprising African ingredients and flavour combinations, showcased with stunning presentation” have rightly won culinary renown for Iré Hassan-Odukale and Jeremy Chan’s “serene and calm” venture in the swish but slightly soulless St James’s development, near Piccadilly Circus.“You will not find anywhere else a West African contemporary fusion tasting menu quite like this, with flavour combinations to die for: superb and exciting in every way”. “Excellent wine pairings, too”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Ikoyi?
180 The Strand, London, WC2C 1EA
Restaurant details
Ikoyi Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Excellent but diminishing returns: a bit too long and too much food. "
"Was looking forward to this occasion so much…..but was ultimately disappointing. Service was robotic and unengaging: lots of staff, all very busy, but found it very stiff and unfriendly. Once we asked to be moved, had a lovely table, so we could watch the amazing work going on in the kitched. Food was very very clever. Some of it was a taste sensation but some were not the wow factor we expected. Some of the meat/fish wasn’t melt in the mouth, and some dishes had zero texture. Overall, dishes were very rich, and whilst that can be wonderful, it isn't when it’s one after another. We had matching wines and that was a challenge. Before the food, most wines were very good, but because most dishes had 4/5/6 strong tasting elements, it was hard to appreciate what the wines were trying to complement……mostly, every wine after the food just tasted bone dry. Really disappointed to write this review…….expectations were so high."
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £0.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £0.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
180 The Strand, London, WC2C 1EA
Opening hours
| Monday | 6 pm‑8 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 pm‑8 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑1:30 pm, 6 pm‑8 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑1:30 pm, 6 pm‑8 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑1:30 pm, 6 pm‑8 pm |
| Saturday | CLOSED |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
