Kanada-Ya (Restaurant)

Top 10 things you need to know about Kanada-Ya in Angel:

1) In need of noods? Go for ramen! This traditional Japanese dish consists of steaming hot broth and noodles, topped with a variety of different ingredients. It has just the right amount of carbs and fat to make you happy. The good news: you don’t need to go to Japan to find happiness, especially as Kanada-Ya have a restaurant in Angel.

2) Kanada-Ya’s branches in Piccadilly and Covent Garden are already well-known as some of the best ramen spots in London. However, they don’t take reservations, meaning most times you’ll end up queuing for a while. Kanada-Ya restaurant in Angel, however, takes reservations! Located on bustling Upper Street, between Vue Islington and Everyman cinemas, it makes for the perfect pre-movie dinner spot.

3) The smiley and welcoming staff make the simple dining room come to life. The decor is minimal and service is super speedy, which means this may not be the ideal place for long romantic dinner dates, but more for a quick and satisfying noodle pick-me-up.

4) Expect to find Kanada-Ya’s classics, first and foremost the signature pork-base tonkotsu ramen. But there’s also space for something new. Don’t miss the special edition ramens, changing on a monthly basis. We tried the limited edition miso paitan, made with a light miso and chicken broth, wavy noodles, shiitake mushrooms, sweetcorn and melt-in-your-mouth slices of chashu pork belly. Slurpalicious!

5) Still hungry? If your mountain of noodles is not enough, you can also order from a list of side dishes, including edamame, onigiri and karaage fried chicken.

6) It’s your bowl of ramen, and you can customise it by adding some extra toppings - we recommend the hanjuku egg, with its slightly uncooked centre. You’re even asked to choose the firmness of your noodles (hard is recommended).

7) Ramen is not just for grown-ups. You can introduce your offspring to the cult of Japanese noodles soup thanks to Kanada-Ya’s kids’ menu, featuring smaller portions and lighter ingredients.

8) The drinks menu boasts a range of typical Japanese tipples, such as sake (hot and cold), Japanese beers and even Calpico, a Japanese probiotic drink.

9) Worth mentioning: all ramens are less than £15, which makes Kanada-Ya a very affordable option, especially if compared to other Japanese restaurants in London.

10) A bit of a disappointment for the sweet-toothed among us: no desserts at Kanada-Ya’s Angel branch. If you feel you need a matcha crepe cake to complete your experience, just head across the road to Katsute100 Japanese cafe....read more