Hotori — Restaurant in London

If you’re looking for an authentic Japanese yakitori restaurant in London, this is the place for you.

It may just be another restaurant on your checklist, but if you take the time to understand their concept and the chef’s dedication to delivering classic comfort food to their customers, it is absolutely admirable.

Menu is extensive and they have a decent selection of small bites, skewers, and mains. However, what really stood out to me were the unique cuts that they serve. Hotori offers a 17-course Beak to Tail menu (preorder 48hrs in advance), where the preparation work involves delicately dissecting the chicken and extracting 17 specific parts, and serving them in the best ways possible. It takes at least 2hrs to prepare a single order for this, hence the preorder, so make sure you get your orders in in advance!

If you are not doing the omakase, you can still order ala-carte. They have a bunch of skewers set for you to choose from; or you can just order single individual skewers.

I visited the restaurant with a bunch of friends where we ordered several small dishes and skewers to share - food was absolutely delicious. What stood out to me was really the classic simple dishes which were so well prepared.

Agedashi tofu: tofu was perfectly fried, with no lingering oil taste. The dashi stock/sauce which is commonly overlooked, the team took at least a couple of hours to extract the taste of it from scratch.

Mixed tempura: tempura batter was so thin and well fried.

Tsukemono: assorted pickles, again, it could have been really easy for the team to buy them ready-made, but they prepared this so well in-house. Pickles were crisp and crunchy, and super fresh!

Skewers: absolutely well prepared, a right amount of smokiness and char to the meat. The menu also offers a great selection of textures (thighs, wings, oysters, cartilage, knee etc), and they also offer unique off-cuts (gizzard, heart, liver etc), which is really interesting and hard to come by outside of Japan/Asia. The tsukune (minced meat skewer) with the cured egg yolk was my absolute favorite.

The drinks and alcohol menu is very well curated as well, you definitely need a beer, sake or glass of wine to pair with your skewers!

This restaurant is going to be one of the hottest new restaurants in town, so be sure to check them out if you’re around the area! Perfect for a date night, outing with family, friends, corporates and/or social events...

I visited Hotori for a solo dinner on a Wednesday. I hadn’t booked ahead but arriving at their 6pm opening time they were able to offer me a space at the 8-seater counter, albeit only for 1h15m as they were quite booked up.

I always enjoy a good counter, but seating here was at a lower height versus the kitchen so it was a rather obstructed view (see attached pic). I ordered the 4 piece set yakitori (4 cuts of chicken), the miso aubergine, black cod and some rice. All the food was enjoyable but the yakitori chicken was definitely the highlight, these were excellent and reminded me a bit of the original version of Humble Chicken. The black cod and aubergine were on a par with various other decent Japanese restaurants in town, yes they were good but also quite familiar - in hindsight I wished I focused more on the yakitori. I did try to order a few more items towards the end but was told they needed the table back.

On that note service was a bit slow, considering I was the first order of the evening. Communication was a challenge at times as a few of the serving staff didn’t speak much English, which did feel a bit odd in central London! As the kitchen got busier it also became apparent that their extraction system was woefully inadequate, as the whole restaurant became quite smoky (the counter area even more so), this was despite both the front and back doors being purposefully kept open.

The bill for my solo meal came to £99, of which £18 was spent on drinks. This did feel quite pricey given I was still a bit hungry at the end of it. Right, that’s enough with the negatives! Clearly a few things they need to work on in this newly opened venue, but of most importance the food was very good, and I could see myself returning in future by which time some of these teething issues are...

Hotori: A Taste of Authentic Japanese Yakitori

Nestled in the heart of Chancery Lane, Hotori offers an authentic Japanese Yakitori experience that is sure to delight. Conveniently located near Chancery Lane on the Central Line and serviced by various bus routes, this restaurant is easily accessible for both locals and visitors.

Hotori offers a unique dining experience where you can customize your Yakitori selection. For those who prefer non-offal cuts, the Izakaya set is an excellent choice. This set includes tender breast, juicy thigh, flavorful wing, and a delectable chicken meatball served in a cured soy egg. Each skewer is expertly grilled, resulting in a perfect balance of smoky flavors and juicy meat.

Beyond the Yakitori, Hotori also offers a range of other Japanese delicacies. The tempura is a standout, with its light and crispy batter perfectly complementing the fresh prawns and vegetables. The Salmon Mi Cuit, served with a zesty lemon compote, is another must-try dish.

The restaurant's ambiance is equally impressive, with its relaxed and dimly lit interior creating a serene and inviting atmosphere. The friendly and attentive staff further enhances the dining experience, providing warm and accommodating service from beginning to end.

Whether you're seeking a sophisticated business lunch or a romantic dinner, Hotori is the perfect place. Its authentic cuisine, impeccable service, and elegant ambiance make it a standout destination in the...