Congratulations are due to Edinburgh’s Harajuku Kitchen.

The Tollcross venue has been named the UK’s Best Japanese Restaurant at The Asian Curry Awards 2016.

The restaurant was chosen by a team of judges, led by Pat Chapman, editor of the Cobra Good Curry Guide, who toured the country to determine the winners from a shortlist of thousands of entries.

The Asian Curry Awards recognises the best in the industry, encouraging ever higher standards.

AA Rosette

Kaori Simpson Chef Patron of Harajuku Kitchen has said of the win:

‘I am totally delighted to win Best Japanese Restaurant at The Asian Curry Awards 2016. It has been a big year for us; first retaining our AA Rosette and then winning this, is the icing on the cake. For Harajuku Kitchen to be recognised in a UK wide competition as the best Japanese restaurant in the country is such an honour and couldn’t be achieved without the great team I have here in Edinburgh.’

If you want to try the Best Japanese Restaurant in the UK, you can book in with 5pm Dining.

Two people can have a two course lunch or two course pre-theatre meal for £12.95 a head.

The video clip shows Kaori cooking up Okonomiyaki – Japan’s answer to the full cooked breakfast

Smokin’ Bros in Porty

At the other end of town, at The Skylark in Edinburgh’s Portobello, Smokin’ Bros are running a pop-up on Sunday.

The menu for The Skylark will feature slow smoked BBQ brisket and pulled pork – using all Scottish produce from Shaw’s Butchers – along with tasty add-ons such as mac ‘n’ cheese bon bons and zesty slaw.

Empress begins reign

Heading back into the centre of town, it turns out that we were a little hasty announcing the launch of The Empress on Broughton Street last Friday.

We sauntered up in the evening to find the decorators still hard at work.

The doors have opened since then and the operators are treating today as the official opening day.

If you recall last week’s blog, The Empress is a new craft ale and cocktail bar with an American-influenced, casual dining cocktail bar.