Kokura

"You finally booked tickets to see that play at the Old Vic on a Wednesday night, but it’s left you a little bit skint on the other side? Yamagoya is just down the road and a great place to hit up for a quick bowl of affordable Japanese ramen. Their signature Yamagoya ramen is a rich, fatty, almost creamy broth, and will set you up for sitting through that long and hopefully interesting play." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, rianne shlebak, eileen twum

"The fake plastic food in the window outside make Yamagoya look like it’s been transplanted directly from Japan; unsurprising, as founder Masatoshi Ogata opened his first ramen shop in Fukuoka in 1969. Once inside, it’s more utilitarian. Grab a drink from the fridge, place an order and take a pager, which buzzes merrily when food is ready. The yuzu kara ramen made with yuzu chilli paste is an interesting change from the classics in spite of, and because of its iridescent green: there are several ramen salads on offer to see diners through any summer heat. Table condiments are plentiful: pickled ginger, shichimi pepper and a hand-cranked sesame grinder all at diners’ service. Save room for the Instagram-friendly raindrop cake – a type of wagashi (Japanese sweet) served with kuromitsu (molasses syrup) and kinako (roasted soybean flour.)" - MiMi Aye