Gordon Ramsay opens the second branch of his Japanese-themed Lucky Cat restaurant in Manchester next week, as his empire embarks on a year of rapid expansion. Said to be inspired by the drinking dens of 1930s Tokyo, Lucky Cat is set over three storeys in a grand Art Deco-style former Midland Bank building designed by […]

Continue reading


Birmingham ramen specialist Koba-Ko is to open its first permanent shop in Kings Heath, south of the city centre, later this year following a successful crowdfunding campaign. The fundraiser sailed past its £10,000 target this month, ensuring the project’s future. Co-founder Sam Hill had already secured the venue, just off Kings Heath’s main drag, and […]

Continue reading


Kibako, billed as a ‘modern Japanese restaurant’ featuring presentation boxes of exquisite small dishes, opened this week in Windmill Street, Fitzrovia. Taking over the site formerly occupied by Rai, Kibako is from the team behind Hot Stone in Islington’s Chapel Market, highly praised in the 2023 Harden’s Guide for its “high-quality Kobe beef, sushi and […]

Continue reading


Luke Findlay is launching a second branch of his ‘traditionally inauthentic’ ramen concept Supa Ya today, in Peckham’s Rye Lane. The former Berber & Q head chef developed the idea as a supper club in his Hackney flat, mixing Japanese ramen with classic British and European flavours, before road-testing it as a pop-up and opening […]

Continue reading