African & Middle Eastern Asian Fusion at Jikoni // London, England
Asian Fusion is currently my favorite category of food, and Jikoni, a restaurant listed in every “What to eat in London” article I’ve read in recent months, does Asian Fusion with British, African, and Middle Eastern flavors. How could I say no?
The restaurant, located in the heart of Marylebone, was started by chef Ravinder Bhogal, a British restauranteur who was born in Kenya to Indian parents who grew up in London. It has won the AA Rosette Award, been a finalist in Time Out London’s “Best Restaurant” category, and featured in the Michelin Guide.
And when we decided to go, we found that we could just walk in on a Saturday for brunch. Amazing.
Ambience
As soon as you step into Jikoni, you’re struck by the warm and inviting atmosphere. The restaurant is cozy and intimate, vibrant and well-lit, with an eclectic mix of furnishings and décor that perfectly complement the diverse and multicultural menu.
They feature wall-decor, napkins, tablecloths, chairs, and cushions of myriad prints and patterns that really reminded me of Southeast Asia and Africa simultaneously.
Drinks
Kenyan Tea
The tea had good spices that were brought out with sugar, but in general was not as strong as the tea we typically enjoy. The milk was high quality (to be expected in London), and I love a good sugar cube (especially when given both white and brown sugar). (14/20)
Food
The first thing I have to say is that I LOVE when a restaurant introduces ingredients and dishes I am unfamiliar with. And this menu was decorated with them: “Handvo,” “Kuku Paka,” “Moilee.” I haven’t eaten much African/Middle Eastern food, and I can’t wait to eat more of it in London.
We were trying to be healthy (aka avoiding fried foods), otherwise we would have 100% ordered the prawn toast (Michelin says this is a must, and we’re on a shrimp toast kick), and the pancakes (available at brunch). Both of these looked fantastic.
Jikoni Pickled Vegetables
They brought us some pickled vegetables because the kitchen was taking longer than expected, which was a lovely gesture. We wished it had more pickles and radishes vs. onions, but it was tangy and tasty. (14/20)
Kuka Paka, Sukuma Wiki, Saffron Rice
This chicken was so tender — it fell right off the bone — and was served in a good coconut curry. And look at that egg! It is so vibrant and orange. A proper British, farm-fresh egg. I wish the dish had come with more rice, though.
Unfortunately, this dish was served cold (lukewarm at best), so it might have been a 16/20 if it were warm, but cold, it was a 13/20. It was also not nearly as good as our other dish. (13/20)
Crispy Aubergine, Sichuan Caramel Sauce, Sticky Garlic Rice
Wow. This dish was phenomenal. Neither M nor I really like aubergine/eggplant, but we have had some fantastic eggplant in the last few weeks. This takes the cake, though. Crispy on the outside while still soft on the inside (like a good chocolate chip cookie), the sichuan caramel sauce was marinated into the eggplant so beautifully. The green onions also added a lot, and there was a good ratio of eggplant to rice. (19/20)
Service
The waiters here were very attentive without being overbearing, and we never once felt rushed. They also gave us that appetizer when the kitchen was taking too long, which was a really nice touch.
Final Thoughts
I get why this is on all the London food lists. It is really delicious food. But it is also fairly expensive. The prices felt like NYC prices, especially with the conversion rate (currently 1 pound to 1.26 dollars, 1.25 at the time). But it was a lovely place for brunch, and I could definitely be back with a group of girlfriends for a less healthy-leaning meal. Would recommend.
To conclude, we’d say food was 15/20, ambience was 17/20, service was 17/20, and value for money was 13/20.
