Akoko | Hidden Gem in London with a Michelin Star

🍚Initially, I had planned to book Akara because Akoko was a bit out of my budget. However, my friend and I accidentally booked Akoko instead. We didn’t realize the mistake until we sat down and saw the prices on the menu. After checking our messages, we burst into laughter. But since Akara is a sister restaurant to Akoko, and we were already there, we decided to give it a try. This was my first experience with West African cuisine, full of exciting unknowns. 🍚Fried Meatballs with Raw Beef Tartare and Banana(?) Chips: The combination of flavors and textures was intriguing. Oysters with Spicy Foam: I’m not a fan of raw seafood, so this dish was a bit too fishy for me, but the spicy foam helped to mask the taste. Scallops with Bread: The waiter joked, “Think of it as bread.” The scallops had a soft texture and tasted somewhat like fish tofu. 🍚Monkfish with Fried Mushrooms: A delightful pairing of flavors. 🍚Caviar with Mini Pancakes: The pancakes were incredibly dense, and when mixed with the caviar, they created a rich, creamy sauce. Beef with Fish Sauce/Carrot/Rice: The rice had a layer of roasted grains on top, smoked with herbs. The aroma of mugwort filled the room each time it was prepared. There was also a sprinkle of finely chopped chives, which surprisingly didn’t taste like chives at all. The rice itself had a tomato flavor. A nearby table of foreigners was so impressed that they licked their plates clean—it was quite amusing. 🍚Pearl Chicken with Roasted Vegetables/Seaweed?: My friend, curious about what pearl chicken looked like, showed me a photo. I’d advise those with trypophobia to avoid searching for it. Lemon Pineapple Cucumber Sorbet: A refreshing palate cleanser after the rich dishes. White Chocolate Ice Cream with a Crispy Wafer (crushed by me) and Crumbles: The perfect ending—sweet without being overly indulgent. #London #LondonMichelin #FineDining