Duffield, Japanese Restaurant Guide

“Continuing to provide high-quality Japanese food, if a bit limited in range, for very reasonable prices in something resembling a Tokyo cafe but in the middle of the north Midlands ... Why? It’s just down the road from the Toyota factory!”

“Everything is exquisitely conceived and executed… not to mention supremely tasty!” at this “unique and creative” Japanese-inspired destination (which received a boost in October 2022 when Jay Rayner of The Observer declared it his ‘restaurant of the year’). “Hidden down a backstreet”, “the compact (hard to get a booking) cool dining room is a surprise discovery after the unprepossessing external building” but “while it may be small it produces the best food”: “delicious tapas-style Japanese dishes, each one tastier than the last” (“we get everything on the menu because it’s too hard to choose!)”. It was the most commented-on venue in the city this year in our annual diners’ poll.

The “best fusion ramen” is the focus of this new noodle specialist from the crew (including MasterChef finalist Pete Hewitt) behind food truck Homeboys; the “very good value” spot also adds charcoal grills, Asian small plates and a hip hop soundtrack to the mix.