Tamas and Tomoko are the husband and wife chef duo behind Himi. The first Neo-Izakaya to hit London soil, Himi offers a modern taste of Japan. Quite literally, the name melds ‘hi’ (representing Japan) and ‘mi’ which translates to taste or flavour. You’ll find Himi on Soho's cobbled streets, with an interior that is warm, modern and welcoming. The concept of the restaurant revolves around izakaya - a restaurant that serves as a place to stay, drink and settle in comfortably.
Open for lunch and dinner every other day of the week, you'll have the option to eat in the dining room or enjoy counter seating and see the chefs work up close. Using some of the best locally sourced British and European ingredients and produce, the food at Himi changes with the seasons but always focuses on classic izakaya dishes such as namagake, karaage and oyakodon.
Start off with edamame in brown butter and garlic, squid with pollock roe, or kabuki-age Yorkshire beef tartare with celeriac and rice cracker. You can also opt for Torikara which includes two types of crispy fried chicken, or hand-dived scallops with seaweed. From the charcoal robata grill, there are a variety of dishes, including ebi chilli shrimp with squid ink, Yorkshire Wagyu beef with potato and onion, and assorted grilled mushrooms with walnut miso.
Alongside a section with rice and noodle dishes ‘to get full’ guests can expect a selection of raw fish plates like bluefin tuna sashimi with seaweed and mustard and cured mackerel with beetroot and horseradish. Sushi options include temaki hand rolls with sea urchin, bluefin tuna or vegetables. To accompany, there are a variety of sakes and cocktails, including a Zen Martini number that combines sapling gin, noilly prat, vermouth, match and sage.