Tonkotsu Soho — Restaurant in London

My partner and I are big into Ramen and Pho, in fact, it is our go to dish when dining out. Last night Bone Daddies had a long queue and we eat in Cay Tre alot, so standing outside the Vietnamese restaurant we looked across the street and there was Tonkotsu. We thought we would give it a go...

We were greeted by the nicest maître d (Cisco) who made us feel very welcome and we kicked off with the handmade Gyoza, which was lovely.

We opted for the Tonkotsu ramen and eagerly awaited our entre while the chef was pouring what looked like dishwasher liquid into big bowls at his station.... that couldn't be the broth could it...?!

The Ramen came and I was peturbed by the peculiar liquid that my noodles, pork and other bits we're swimming in. Oh, and the taste 🤮...

It had the consistency and colour of milk and the (minimal) flavour of congealed pork fat, (the pork in it may have been microwaved too) which when I questioned the chef on it gave the rather curt response 'this is how we do it bro.' - 'bro, we boil the pork down and then blend it bro.' 'bro, it's all colagen.' 🤮

It was obvious by the fact he had to refer to me as bro five times in a sentance that he was agrieved at my questioning the dish, but I put that down to frustration in having to justify their cooking methods, which probably aren't down to him.

The only redeeming feature of this sorry meal was Cisco (oh, and the gyoza), who was attentive and super lovely. That man is the glue holding that place together (coz it ain't the broth).

No way would I go back there for ramen, because as any ramen/pho connoisseur knows the staple of a good broth is umami.

However if you're looking for a hipster wallpaper adhesive then this is your place - you could ask the chef to come over to your place at the weekend and knock you some up - he...

Good vibes in the kitchen lead to even better flavors on the plate!

Our experience at Tonkotsu, Soho branch is nothing short of spectacular. This is the third consecutive week that we have been frequenting this cozy, bustling haven of Japanese delights and it never fails to impress. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm smile from the charming manager, whose little ponytail and dapper fashion sense brought an instant splash of cheer to the entire space.

The food at Tonkotsu Soho is like a flavour party in your mouth. We have had the prawns and pork gyoza, which were perfectly crispy on the outside, yet juicy and succulent on the inside.

The chicken wings were an absolute hit - a must try. Each bite bursting with savory goodness that left us craving for more. And of course, the chilli chicken ramen - a bowl of comfort. The rich flavorful broth with the tender chicken and just the right amount of spice ( you can add their own made chilli oil to adjust spiciness) made it a perfect bowl of happiness. All items can be customized as per your taste and needs.

What truly makes Tonkotsu, Soho branch stand out is the excellent customer service. Mr. Cisco (who has a handsome smile) and the team are attentive, friendly and go above and beyond to ensure guests had an amazing dining experience, every time we visit.  We can't wait to return for our next bowl of ramen and more delightful treats. If you're in the area, do yourself a favor and pay them a visit - you won't regret it, youl leave with a happy tummy and a big :)

The best part? Everyone else around our table seemed just as enchanted by the food as we were - everytime we visited. The collective mmm's and ahh's were a symphony of approval. Kudos to the entire team at Tonkotsu's Soho branch for making each visit...

Edit: we went back a second time during the same trip to London. Just as good the second time.

Excellent all around! What a nice find in Soho. Thinking this was a small spot quickly named after the popular tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen, we soon learned this was a very respectable UK-based homage to the globally-adored art of ramen. With a good chunk of shops around the UK, and +/- a dozen around London, the Tonkotsu operation actually makes their own noodles with a machine straight from Japan - you can watch them make these noodles at their Tonkotsu East location over in Haggerston. They then send them all around to each of their restaurants. However, the Soho one was their very first storefront.

Onto the food - tried to run the gamut here. The Tokyo ramen (chicken broth with pork belly) was some of the best broth we’ve ever had! Of course the noodles were great too. All around good ramen.

My favorite ramen dish anywhere is a classic tonkotsu, and I feel these folks do a justice to the dish that is their namesake - I got it on a second visit here. I thought the broth was perfectly light and creamy. There are many variations of this classic around the world, but the way they do it here really extra hit the spot for me.

The chicken & courgette (zucchini) katsu curry was above average - really excellent curry.

Lastly, you can’t go wrong with the classic pork ginger & garlic gyroza.

Service was great and atmosphere was all around nice. We sat upstairs which has a nice view of the surrounding street and buildings. Would be...