It’s a motley crew we’ve got for you this week, and we mean that in the nicest possible way. From steaming bowls of ramen in Soho to Japanese fine dining in Mayfair, it’s all there. Will you be?
Tokimeite, Mayfair (above)
When: Monday 23 November
What: The domain of multi-Michelin-starred Yoshihiro Murata (the man behind three-star kaiseki restaurant Kikunoi in Kyoto), we’re told Tokimeite comes from a Japanese colloquialism meaning a feeling of anticipation or ‘butterflies’, so it’s safe to say they’re going for gold. With that in mind, we have high hopes for the modern Japanese menu and sake offering.
Where: 25 Conduit Street, W1S 2XS
Cubana, Smithfield (above)
When: Wednesday 25 November
What: Coffee, cocktails, Creole and Cuban are on offer at this new space in Charterhouse Street – the first offspring of Cubana in Waterloo, which has been going now for nearly 20 years. Pop in for prawn and mango skewers or slow-roasted pork with black beans, washed down with some moreish Mojitos.
Where: 57-61 Charterhouse Street, EC1M 6HA
Porky’s, Crouch End (above)
When: Thursday 26 November
What: Following in the footsteps of the highly successful Camden, Bankside and Boxpark branches, this N8 shop will be dishing out more of the same smoky porcine pleasures and rocking Tennessee tunes. Warm up with cheesy corn hush puppies, followed by 18-hour cooked pork or spicy fried catfish, then crank it up a notch with a round of picklebacks.
Where: 4 Topsfield Parade, N8 8PR
Kanada-Ya, Soho (above)
When: Open for soft launch from Monday 30 November until Friday 4 December, due to fully open Saturday 5 December
What: One year on from Kanada Kazuhiro’s London debut with Kanada-Ya St Giles, the ramen noodle specialist has set his sights on Soho. Expect bowls of silky pork stock so rich it could probably sustain you for several days, with sticky-yolked hanjuku egg and intense, inky-black garlic sauce.
Where: 3 Panton Street, SW1Y 4DL
More of a pop-up merchant? Check out our guide to this month’s transitory treasures here
This article was updated 24 November 2015