So Restaurant is in Shoreditch, East London. It’s a short walk from both Aldgate and Aldgate East tube stations and is one of two branches in London; the other is in Soho. The menu features sushi alongside a range of modern Japanese dishes.
Sushi options are focussed. The range of maki rolls are salmon and avocado, spicy salmon, spicy tuna and prawn tempura. Maki sushi options are cucumber, avocado, tuna and salmon. There’s also omakase nigiri sushi (five pieces for £20) and omakase sashimi (three pieces of each of three types, £25).
The rest of the menu is equally tight. Smaller plates include seaweed salad, organic agedashi tofu in broth and fried Tebasaki chicken wings. Elsewhere, you can choose from larger dishes. Highlights here are the grilled eel una ja, Angus beef gyudon and chicken katsu curry, all of which are served with rice. There’s also king prawn, vegetable or soft shell crab tempura and organic tofu steak.
Several dishes are grilled over yogan lava rocks imported from Mount Fuji. These release a gentle steady heat, enhancing texture and umami flavours. All dishes using this cooking method have a mountain symbol next to them on the menu.
Dessert takes two forms: ice cream or matcha cake with organic soy crunchies. This can be accompanied with teas, coffees or digestifs. Tea options are green tea kabusecha, hojicha roasted green tea and genmachia roasted brown rice tea. Those opting for digestif can choose from Suntory toki or yamazaki whiskey, umeshu (plum wine) and yuzushu (citrus liqueur).