Ramen Dayo

Noodle broth specialists bringing a taste of Tokyo to the West End cobbles.

The 2019/20 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

The team behind the Queen Street branch of Ramen Dayo have boiled down everything they learned from their first venture into this smaller, condensed, richer version of the already super-popular restaurant. Sharing the same ramen-centric menu as its bigger sister, the tonkotsu (20-hour pork broth) is most popular, but you can choose chicken or vegetable instead. Depending on your choice, your broth comes with noodles lurking in the bottom, with piles of individual ingredients at the top, such as sliced pork belly, spring onions and sheets of nori seaweed. You can choose all sorts of added extras – don’t miss out on the ami-taja soft-boiled egg or a dollop of spicy miso paste to rev up the broth. If you’re hungry – or even if you’re not – get some sides such as chicken gyoza dumplings or a special of fries coated in smoky Japanese seasoning with sesame and shredded nori seaweed. It’s a much smaller, cosier, intimate affair than the Queen Street branch, but the interior has the same shabby-chic, slightly ramshackle vibe as well as a great drinks list, cheerful staff and well-selected music.