Hanako’s Food Stories
Latest Food Stories:
YOPO at The Mandrake Hotel
Girls’ Night Done Right (Almost) I went to YOPO for a girls’ night with my two favourite partners-in-crime, and I’ll admit — I arrived in a flustered rush, heart racing and hair doing its own thing after making my friend wait. But the moment I stepped inside, all of that melted…
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1910 Parsons Green
A Cantina That Feeds the Soul (and Your Taco Obsession) There are no such things I love more than bringing my foodie friends together for a good meal — and my September Dinner Table was another great one. This time, I picked 1910 Parsons Green, a cute little Mexican gem tucked in West…
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Luna Wine Bar
The Hidden Date Spot You’ll Want to Gatekeep You know those cozy, tucked-away places that feel like they’ve been waiting just for you to find them? Yes — that’s Luna. Hidden in the heart of London Bridge, it’s all dim lights, tiny tables, couples deep in conversation, and a vibe that…
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ALTA
A Soft Launch Worth Talking About I swung by ALTA on its soft-launch night and walked out thinking: this is exactly why London’s food scene is magic. Yes, there’s Spanish soul here, but the menu feels rooted in Britain — championing seasonal produce and treating it with the kind of…
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Corner Shop
Where Simplicity Meets Style Corner Shop 180 has officially won me over — and judging by the crowd of effortlessly cool people around me, I’m not the only one. They’re a textbook example of how clever Instagram and TikTok marketing and PR can turn a fresh concept into one of London’s most…
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Circus Pizza
The Best Kept Secret in St John’s Wood Hidden inside the legendary Panzer’s Deli, Circus Pizza is the kind of secret you almost don’t want to share — because once the word gets out, everyone will want in. I was this close to keeping it to myself, but it’s too good not to tell you about… With…
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Lisa’s
Restaurant by Day, Italian Bar by Night Lisa’s is basically a catfish. It reels you in with the promise of Italian food in chic Notting Hill, then halfway through dinner it rips off its apron, cranks up the speakers, and suddenly you’re in an Italian bar. Honestly? The party’s fantastic. The…
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KOL
What to Expect From This Mexican Tasting Menu Adventure KOL has been on my foodie hit list for ages—and for good reason. This is London’s first Michelin-starred Mexican restaurant led by the brilliant Chef Santiago Lastra (the guy who helped set up NOMA’s pop-up in Mexico before opening…
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Straits Kitchen
The Experience Menu That Feels Like a Mini Holiday Inside the sleek Pan Pacific Hotel by Liverpool Street sits Straits Kitchen, where Southeast Asia gets dressed up for a night out in London. I dove into their Experience Menu – five courses of flavour fireworks – and honestly?…
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The Princess Royal
Royal Delays, Regal Flavours The Princess Royal in Notting Hill has all the makings of a neighborhood gem: a beautiful terrace made for long, lazy dining, a menu that’s rustic but polished, and a few dishes that really shine. I went with a friend for a casual Saturday dinner, and while the…
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