Honest Bao

Let's face it, Birmingham isn't Tokyo (or London). While our Second City has an undeniably cracking food scene, when it comes to sushi, the options can feel a little... limited. But fear not, my fellow raw-fish fanatics! As your trusty guide in the culinary jungle, I’ve been on a mission to find the best sushi in Brum, from the proper stuff to the "I'm-so-skint-I-could-cry" sushi. The Proper Stuff: Takumi Japanese Restaurant Sushi and sashimi platter Sashimi Donburi When I'm in the mood for a decent, no-nonsense sushi experience, I head to Takumi. Tucked away in the Chinese Quarter, it's a little slice of Japanese calm amidst the city's buzz. The decor is simple and clean, with a central sushi bar that makes you feel like you're getting the real deal. And the sushi itself? It's proper. The rice is spot on - perfectly seasoned and not a mushy mess like you find in some places. The fish is fresh, the cuts are generous, and the selection is solid....

Another heatwave hits the UK, and my first thought isn't "beach day" but "cold noodles." Specifically, cold udon. I’ve been to Marugame before and was told they only serve it in the summer, which seemed odd. But after trying it, I get it—it's just a bit... average. Japanese Udon Chain Restaurant, image from Marugame I rolled up to the Argyll Street branch on a weekday afternoon, and it was blissfully quiet. Plenty of empty seats, no queues. I ordered the cold udon from their summer menu and loaded up on sides: a soft shell crab tempura, a karaage, a kakiage, and a soft-boiled egg. The total came to £16, which felt pretty fair for a big lunch in central London. Good tempura, horrible udon The cold udon itself was just okay. The noodles had a decent chew, but they were surprisingly coarse and rough, not the smooth, glossy udon I love. Maybe they’re using a different kind of flour? The real disappointment, though, was the broth. The chef seemed to have gone wil...

On a rainy London day, my trusty Google Maps led me to Ngon Ngon for a quick lunch during weekday, a Vietnamese spot with great ratings (4.6) and a lunch menu that promised to be a steal. I arrived in the quiet lull between lunch and dinner, so the staff were enjoying their own meals. This meant a slightly relaxed service, and my pho took an extra-long 25 minutes to arrive. Colourful shop front, from Google Map I started with the prawn summer rolls. The prawns were a bit bland, but the fresh herbs and vermicelli were spot on. The dipping sauce, a unique mix of hoisin and peanut butter (I was expecting the mixed fish sauce), was surprisingly delicious. Perfect season for summer roll The rare beef pho was the main event. The beef was beautifully pink and tender, just as it should be. Mixing the pho with beans sprout and coriander is a must for me, maybe with a tiny bit of chilli as well. The broth was a good, classic beef pho flavour—no surprises, but satisfying. My only letdown was the ...

Finally reviewing this Birmingham signature: San Carlo. Now, I'll be honest, my experience with chain Italian restaurants has been... meh. So, when I heard San Carlo had built an entire Italian empire from its humble Birmingham beginnings, I was intrigued but hesitant. Could a place that successful actually be good? There was only one way to find out. The Scene: The Empire Strikes Back I visited on a busy weekday evening, and the place was buzzing. The energy was high and the decor, with its famous celebrity photo wall, showed some signs of age but still had a classic charm. The staff were excellent—professional, attentive. The Food: A Crisis Averted Hot and crispy  calamari I'm happy to report that the food was a pleasant surprise. The truffle bread was simple but perfect, with a great aroma that didn't feel artificial. The calamari, a true test for any chain, was a triumph. It was crispy, hot, and blessedly not rubbery. For the main, I had the Frutti di Mare seafood pasta...

Matcha, that vibrant Japanese powder, is everywhere. But is the UK chain cafe hype real? I ventured out to find out. Prepare yourselves, it wasn't pretty. The Matcha Mission: Who's In, Who's Out? Here are the most common coffe chain you can find in the UK 1. Blank Street Coffee 2. Caffee Nero 3. Costa  4. Gregg (not sure its right to classify it as cafe) 5. Pret-a-manger  6. Starbucks Not everyone's jumped on the matcha bandwagon. Costa and Greggs? Zero matcha. Sticking to their usual, and honestly, probably for the best. Cafe Nero: The Strawberry & Vanilla Sweet Bomb Strawberry & Vanilla Iced Matcha Latte, Image from Caffee Nero Caffee Nero went bold with "Strawberry &/or Vanilla Iced Matcha Latte." My philosophy: less is more with matcha. Theirs? More is a lot. It was overwhelmingly sweet, even after asking for less syrup. Strawberry and vanilla just clashed with the delicate matcha. Confused taste buds, not zen at all. Rating: 2.5/5. Too sweet, ...

Been to London recently and was craving for some Japanese style grill meant My destination? The ever-reliable Yakiniku Like!! – a spot I've been to a few times now, and one that consistently delivers on its promise of great value. A Speedy Grill, A Patient Wait Store entrance, Google Image Arriving during a busy weekday dinner rush, the 20-minute wait was completely expected. This is London, after all. Yakiniku Like!! is a low-cost chain from Japan, so you know it's going to be a popular spot. While the decor might not be winning any awards for "cosy" – the small tables and compact seating can feel a little snug on a packed night – there's one thing that always impresses me: the ventilation. No more leaving a BBQ joint smelling like a human chimney! My clothes and hair were mercifully free of that smoky aroma, which is a massive plus. The Meat, The Meal, and The Reality Check Great value set in good portion I went for a 3-meat combo set, 250g of meat for a very re...

The internet has been absolutely buzzing about the M&S Strawberry Sando, and for good reason. For those not deep in the world of Japanese cuisine, a "fruit sando" might sound a bit… odd. But in Japan, these delicate fruit sandwiches (not just strawberry!) are a beloved classic. I was genuinely curious to see how M&S, our very British institution, would interpret this subtle Japanese treat. It does taste good, worth a try! Clocking in at £2.80, it's certainly not a budget-friendly snack, especially for its relatively small portion. However, the stars of the show are undoubtedly the "Red Diamond" strawberries. I believe these are M&S's own special variety, and honestly, they're some of the best strawberries you can find in a UK supermarket – juicy, sweet, and perfectly ripe. The bread is a brioche, which lends a lovely extra sweetness and a delightful fluffy texture. The cream is good too; fresh and surprisingly light, not overly cloying. Overa...