Tonkotsu Stratford — Restaurant in London

Went there for the soft launch, first time in Tonkotsu, and we had a great time. The restaurant is well presented and looks very nice. The outside space is great during the summer as a roof can be deployed if needed. Inside the decoration is quite nice and offers different atmospheres in front of the kitchen or on the main floor. Toilets are for everyone, i.e. unisex. The sinks are slightly small but do the job, they just make you feel like you've got giant hands. The staff is very, very patient, friendly and agreable, maybe one of the best service I had in the area.

For starters, we tried gyoza, some with chicken, pork, mushroom, and my favourite prawn. Those gyosa are the best I had in a long time. We also had edamame beens The crab crokets were not to my taste but someone else enjoyed them. The chicken Kara-age was a success with everyone. The prawn katsu were also very good.

For mains, I took the seafood ramen. The presentation and taste were excellent but I would have expected something slightly different. The broth was very flavourful and the noodles were close to perfect. I tried the duck salad, which was OK but the duck was too dry. Someone had the Tonkotsu ramen and didn't enjoy the creaminess due to the presence of lard. I personally like the taste of the broth. The Tokyo ramen and seafood salad were both successful.

For deserts, I had the Mochi trio which was perfect: light, refreshing and tastefull. The miso caramel ice cream was quite salty, even for me who enjoy salted caramel. The taste was still great but be prepared. The malty ice-cream was successful.

Overal, a great place with fantastic staff, the food is good but not exceptional appart from the really good gyosa and the chicken Kara-age. Count £25pp for a full meal. I personally prefered this ramen than the one I had in Pho, so I'll definitely go back...

I went into Tonkotsu with an open mind, that perhaps this beautifully decorated (but very much Western-designed) restaurant would have at least somewhat decent Japanese food. Perhaps I have gotten used to the Japanese restaurants where every staff members greets you cheerfully as you first walk in, because the silence was almost deafening as the hostess quietly brought us to our table. It should've been a red flag before we ordered our food when we asked the waitress what aonori was and she didn't know how to answer us. My friend ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen whereas I ordered the Chili Chicken Ramen. We also ordered Pork Gyoza and the Baby Shrimp and Octopus Calamari. The Calamari came first and it was just, alright. Nothing special, lacking in flavour. I think a creamy sauce or better seasoning would've helped. Next the Gyoza came and it was not very impressive either. The pork filling was almost non-existent and the only bits of pork we could actually taste was so inoffensive in its' flavour that it just felt like I was eating mush. Lastly, our ramen came and admittedly it was presented rather nicely, but much like the decor of the restaurant, it was style over substance. You couldn't choose your noodle texture or thickness, so you just had to trust whatever it is they serve you will be decent. What we got were soggy, textureless noodles in the most tasteless broth ever. My chili chicken ramen barely had any spice in it and I almost forgot there was chicken in there because it didn't seem like they bothered to season the meat. The only redeeming factor was the soft boiled egg and bamboo shoots, but if they had gotten those two simple things wrong, the whole bowl would've been an absolute waste. Needless to say, I won't be...

Probably our favourite restaurant in the Westfield Stratford City area. It's located on the outskirts of the shopping centre, about a 10 minute walk from the main area, and because it's off the beaten path, you can usually be sure of walking straight in without queuing, even on a Saturday lunchtime, which is when we tend to visit.

There are plenty of tables inside, the restaurant is nice and airy and there's a cool vibe. Though never packed, it's busy, which is always reassuring. Service is friendly and efficient. The servers are quick to recommend dishes in a personable and likeable way.

We ordered two Tonkotsu ramen bowls. They came with half an egg, but we are greedy and added an extra half each. The ramen is lovely. It doesn't quite reach the giddy heights of Bone Daddies or Kanada Ya, but the broth and pork is very good, generous, and their noodles, made in-house, are epic. We also ordered some kimchi - a milder variety that paired well with the ramen - and some chicken karage, which was cooked perfectly and a wonderful 'bar snack' while we waited for the noodles.

The restaurant is quick turnaround, we were in and out within an hour. Our food, plus a beer and tea, came to £sixty for two. Tokotsu is a reliable, tasty, and convenient stop for lunch if you're in the area. If you're reading this while queuing up waiting to get into Wahaca next door, do yourself a favour, run away, and come...