Tonkotsu Bankside — Restaurant in London

Having been with a Japanese friend a few times, I can confirm that the ramen is very authentic! The options are limited if you can't eat pork, but the chicken option doesn't fail to disappoint. The prices are reasonable at about £12 per bowl (not including any service charges), although, unless you add some extras, the portion won't be sufficient if you are very hungry. Adding extra eggs is rather pricey at £1 extra for half a ramen egg or £1.50 extra for a whole once.

Their homemade chilli oil was a lovely little discovery. It's delicious, with a very clean and pure taste compared to Chinese alternatives. I now use it spice up all sorts of dishes, and I strongly suggest any visiter to pick up a jar!

Where Tonkotsu Bankside has really shone is with regards to integrity. I mistakenly left an expensive camera in the restaurant. In a state of panic, I called up to ask if they had it. Not only did the manager describe the camera and confirm that it was picked up, but reassured me that it was kept in a safe and that I was free to pick it up anytime during opening hours. It had been a very long day so I wasn't able to pick it up until the next day. The next also panned out the be very busy, however, upon calling the restaurant, the manager confirmed that I could pick up the camera shortly after closing hours as long as someone was in. Collecting the camera was a very simple process - I simply walked into the restaurant and asked for it; the waiter immediately went to fetch it.

All in all, I highly recommend Tonkotsu Bankside, whether it's for the authentic ramen or even just the...

Situated amongst multiple business buildings, this little eatery serves up decent food (for UK standards) at a reasonable price, with fast friendly service.

I had the basic Tonkotsu Ramen, which was served with pork belly chashu, bamboo shoots, half a flavoured egg, and spring onions. The broth was not very flavourful, but passable. I'm not sure if this is to cater to local tastes, but a more authentic preparation would require longer simmering times for the pork bones which creates a thicker broth.

The chashu was average. It's what one would expect from a slice of pork belly, but that's about it. They seem to have done the flavoured egg correctly however: well-seasoned firm whites with a nice runny yolk.

On the table you will also find a dish of their homemade chilli 'sauce' (more a thick puree) which I really enjoyed. The main ingredient I was able to discern in this (well, aside from chilli) was vinegar. This complemented the ramen and broth very well, and I found myself heaping spoonfuls of it into my bowl. I believe you can buy this sauce separately too, should you wish to.

Service was decent: waiters/tresses are attentive, extremely polite, and quick to replace empty jars of water. There isn't much of a wait for your food to arrive too, making it perfect for the lunch hour. You can expect to wait no more than 10 mins from time of order for your ramen to arrive.

At only £11 average for a bowl of ramen, this is quite the bargain. I believe many who haven't tried better elsewhere will find themselves coming back here often as it is indeed, pretty good value...

Let me start by saying that I am absolutely livid about the katsu curry I ordered from Tonkotsu Bankside. I cannot believe that a restaurant of their supposed caliber could serve such a dismal excuse for a meal. The chicken was absolutely pitiful - it was so small that I could barely see it, let alone taste it. And to add insult to injury, the quality was mediocre at best. Instead of using proper chicken breast, they cheaped out and used small, flattened chicken thighs. What a joke.

And that's not even the worst of it. The entire portion was small, as if they were trying to skimp on the food and charge an exorbitant price for it. The katsu courgette was also minuscule and undercooked, which made the whole dish even more unappetizing. And don't even get me started on the sauce - it had no substance or taste whatsoever. It was as if they had just thrown together some random ingredients and called it a day.

Speaking of price, the 15£ they charged for this disaster of a meal was absolutely outrageous. I cannot believe that they would have the audacity to charge such a steep price for such a small and underwhelming portion. It is a massive ripoff, plain and simple. My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.

In conclusion, I would strongly advise anyone considering eating at Tonkotsu Bankside to think twice. If this katsu curry is any indication of the quality of their food, then it's not worth your time or money. Save yourself the disappointment and order...