Bonsai

A small, well-kept Japanese bistro, Bonsai opened back in 2001 offering food that is still fairly rare in the city (Edinburgh did have a branch of Yo! Sushi once but it didn’t take). This establishment keeps a prudent eye on local tastes, so the menu could give you straightforward dishes like vegetable or prawn tempura (deep-fried in a light batter), chicken teriyaki (fried with soy, garlic & ginger), or beef yakitori (marinated & char-grilled, then served on skewers). You don’t have to be that conservative though, in which case out comes the sashimi (raw salmon, tuna, sweet prawn, or squid), umeboshi pickle (plums), tako salad (octopus & tomato) & a piping hot wakame (seaweed & roast sesame broth). Essentially Bonsai is a loveable venue that caters to people who enjoy Japanese food plus their mates who get squeamish at the thought of raw fish. Everyone wins & there’s Japanese beers, green tea, & sake to wash it all down.