INKO NITO - Soho

"Inkonito’s baked sweet potato, spicy yuzu sour cream and chives is available for delivery. If that isn’t cause to stop everything you’re doing and order some food, we don’t know what is. There are other things from this Soho restaurant that are worth ordering too. Like the chicken karaage. But we’ve also got our eyes on the £19 wagyu cheeseburger. Order here." - oliver feldman, heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, rianne shlebak

"Your friend who works in PR has gotten you on the guestlist for that fancy party. There’s talk of a wristband. Soho spot Inko Nito is the perfect place to hit before a particularly swish night out. Not only is their spacious, counter dining area slick as anything, their Japanese fusion dishes are too. The menu of raw fish, kimchi, and grilled meats and fish will keep you feeling fresh. The sake and cocktails on tap will keep you feeling merry." - heidi lauth beasley, eileen twum

"Sharing is caring. Sharing is also the best way to experience Inko Nito. A loud, proud, and arguably very cool Japanese and Korean-inspired restaurant on Broadwick Street, you’re going to want to commandeer one of their long eight-person tables and load up on whisky-glazed pork belly, panko fried chicken with chilli mayo, and marinated bone marrow from the shiny robata grill at the centre of the restaurant. That being said, know that you definitely won’t want to share the charred coconut soft serve. We repeat, do not share the soft serve." - heidi lauth beasley

"Theme parks are amazing. They’re big, they’re loud, and they’re full of exciting attractions. On paper, this is just what Inko Nito sounds like. It’s a huge restaurant with an open kitchen, a banging soundtrack, cocktails on tap, and a big ol’ robata grill. Plus it’s right in the middle of Soho. Sounds exciting right? Well, not so fast. You need to know whether coming here might feel a bit like preparing for a fully catered weekender at world rollercoaster capital, Six Flags Magic Mountain, only to end up at Drayton Manor on a cold drizzly Tuesday. Sure, you still might ride the Buffalo Coaster, but it’s not quite Tatsu. photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch On first glance, the menu at Inko Nito looks like it’s got few decent rides in store, but the food can be a bit hit and miss. That’s not to say you shouldn’t make the trip here. It’s actually a fine place to go, not least because it’s very cool. It’s a huge space, with a modern, industrial feel, and most of the seating surrounds the shiny grill. It’s an impressive set-up, and all the sizzling and abstract angles of the counters make things feel a bit more exciting than they might if you were judging the place solely on the food. So, while it might not be the best example of Asian cooking in London, it is plenty good enough to get out of the house for. Whisky-glazed pork belly, and marinated bone marrow from the robata are especially good, and both go well with the panko and parmesan crunch of the grilled cauliflower, or some fresh, zingy salads. It’s mostly set-up for small-groups and walk-ins, but it’s at its best when you make a reservation for a group dinner or a messy work meal. The kind where you’re sharing everything, where you can order with freedom, trying a bit of everything, safe in the knowledge that it’s not going to get too expensive. When it comes down to it, you’re going to Inko Nito for the lively atmosphere, and relaxed and friendly service. It’s one of the more casual and fun spots in Soho, and you could do worse than riding the dodgems here. Just don’t expect ten consecutive inverted loops and a triple corkscrew. Food Rundown photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch Black Kampachi Sashimi This is a mizuma salad dressed with pomelo ponzu, and crispy pieces of garlic. It’s zingy, it’s fresh, and it’s really good. Portland Crab Tartare This salad has a fishy kick that you will still be able to taste by dessert. It’s decent, but not a must order. Fried Shrimp These are well cooked, but don’t taste of much. You’ll need a heavy squeeze of lime if you’re going to get excited about them. photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch Panko Fried Chicken Maybe it’s because our expectations of chicken are lower than our expectations of shrimp, but there’s nothing wrong with these crispy chicken strips. Meanwhile, everything about the chilli mayo they’re served with is right. photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch Kimchi Rice, This is a satisfying side, and it goes well with most of the meatier dishes. Bone Marrow This lot served with smoked soy and garlic would make a hunter out of even the most committed meat-hater. Pork Belly The pork belly is glazed in whisky, and there’s a little chilli spice. It feels rich and indulgent. photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch Chicken Wings The menu lists ingredients including ume-boshi, green chilli, mint, and sansho. We thought they’d blow our minds. They didn’t. Not bad though. Grilled Aubergine The garlic and lemon glaze on these with salty soy makes this one of the meatiest, richest non-meat dishes going. It’s brilliant, and your table is naked without it. photo credit: Karolina Kiercigroch Cauliflower A robata grilled cauliflower served with parmesan and panko crunch. It’s an epiphany of a dish. So simple. So satisfying. You’ll never look at a cauliflower and be bored again. Charred Coconut Soft Serve If this was just a cup of soft serve we’d have been happy. But they dressed it up with granola and pocky. It’s worth coming to Inko Nito just for this brilliant £5 dessert." - Sam Collins

"What It Is: A loud and proud spot in Soho serving Japanese and Korean inspired sharing dishes. Perfect For: Small Plates, Quick Lunch, Group Dinner, Before You Go Out Out Inko Nito is a spacious, calming refuge from the madness of Soho. For this first visit, we took a counter seat, and ordered a brace of dishes. A fresh hamachi salad, some nigaki (which is described as something between maki and nigiri), the whisky glazed pork belly and cauliflower with parmesan panko from the robata grill. And some fried chicken. Obviously. Everything we had was good, although only the charred coconut soft serve we had for dessert was legitimately great. The Verdict: Inko Nito is a fun, casual, and relatively inexpensive new spot in Soho." - Sam Collins, Oliver Feldman, Heidi Lauth Beasley, Jake Oliver, Eileen Twum