Popular Japanese restaurant group Tonkotsu has sites all over London, including this popular one in Kentish Town which serves all of the group's beloved dishes, including rich ramen bowls, katsu curries and gyozas. The first Tonkotsu opened in Soho in 2011, but these days the group has spread outside of the capital, opening sites in Brighton and Birmingham too.
The venues all have a similar vibe, with the Kentish Town branch featuring minimalist aesthetics which favour natural materials, highlight exposed brick, wooden panelling and woven seating. From the beginning it's been a big part of Tonkotsu ethos to handmade everything from noodles - which are freshly prepared on site every day - to the broths, katsu curries, gyoza and sides, which are made from scratch.
The menu is split up into several sections, starting with the house speciality, ramen, which comes in pork, chicken and vegan broth, as well as the current special. The Tonkotsu Ramen sounds like one to try with thin-cut noodles, sea salt base, roast pork belly, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts and burnt garlic oil, while the vegan broth is also a fantastic plant-based option with the Chilli Tofu which has a spicy sesame base, plant-based soy mince, crispy-fried Eat the Bits chilli tofu, kikurage and pickled radish.
Elsewhere on the menu you'll find katsu curry with bases of chicken and courgette, or tofu, cauliflower and courgette. We particularly like the sound of the Japanese bread-crumbed king prawn version, though, which also comes with courgette. The sides sound just as good as the mains, with dishes like cucumber and mustard seed pickles and homemade kimchi, as well as homemade gyozas like shiitake and bamboo shoot.