(That’s ‘tasty’ in Japanese’)
The inhabitants of 10 Minden Street were pretty excited when they found out that Nomu, a new Asian fusion place, was opening just a few steps away on Bath Street. After all, who doesn’t love a bit of MSG every now and then? Since our first visit, many more “important lunch meetings” have been taking place at the venue, with deadlines negotiated through mouthfuls of noodles and sushi. It is also conveniently located next to Premier Inn, in case you need a spot to sleep off the food coma before resuming the day’s commitments.
The drinks menu is varied, with everything you’d expect – and an extra garnish. There’s wine from Japan, sake and many non-alcoholic wines and beers if you’re taking a break from the bevvies or need to be productive in the afternoon. The mango non-alcoholic cocktail was so tempting that three of us ordered the same – it was incredibly sweet, with a slight zing, and extremely difficult not to finish before the food arrived. Flo commented that the mocktail was “so delicious, and an excellent pairing for the pork bao bun.” Toby ordered the Tokyo Fizz, a gin-based cocktail mixed with lychee liqueur, lemon juice, egg white, soda, ice and lemon, garnished with even more lychee. He did not regret his choice.
The biggest shock during our dining experience at Nomu was how quick the service was. Our dishes genuinely arrived in under ten minutes, under the watchful eye of David Cameron, the executive chef of Randalls, who has a long history in the restaurant industry. He’s a safe pair of hands for sure, and presented us with a feast of flavours. A favourite was the Grilled Chicken Ramen-Style Noodle Bowl, served with chicken dashi and miso broth, bamboo shoots, marinated beansprouts and a tamago egg. Toby commented that it was “very filling” and “exceptionally tasty,” adding that “it’s all you need for lunch, really. I’d give it an eight out of ten, as my only complaint is that it was a tad too salty.” The stir-fried Yakisoba Noodles were also a hit, coming with chicken, mushrooms, cabbage, carrot, onions, spring onions, shredded pickled ginger and aonori. Ben enjoyed its “strong flavour” and noted that it was a dish that could easily be shared – “unless you’re ravenous.”
Almost half of the smaller dishes on Nomu’s menu are vegan, and of the main dishes there are six different plant-based options to choose from. However, if you’re a lover of firm tofu, walk – don’t run – to Nomu. “I was expecting firm tofu and wasn’t the biggest fan of silk,” Flo commented, adding, “but that’s just me. Crispy tofu would have been better.” Aside from the limp tofu, Flo did praise the Prawn Toast as the best she’s ever had – a delectable dish amplified by the fact that her last sales job at a vegan food company forced her to adopt the lifestyle for marketing purposes. It was £10.50, but despite the price, the perfect trophy to celebrate her newfound food freedom.
The Hoisin Duck Fried Sushi Rolls came in six pieces, garnished with citrus, wasabi and miso mayo, teriyaki sauce, picked ginger and spring onions. They were tasty, surprisingly filling and generous in the right places, but I wasn’t wholly digging the fried-over-traditional sushi vibe. In Nomu’s defence, their menu does state that the dish is something different, and the hoisin duck in terms of flavour and texture was great. There’s also an argument to be made that if you had a one-track mind for sushi, you’d probably be making a reservation at Kyoto anyway. But introducing traditional sushi would be a way for Nomu to work some more gluten-free options into their menu, seeing as the only main option for this demographic is the Salmon Tataki Poke Bowl. Of course, there’s the option to compile a meal of appetisers such as Goma Seaweed Salad, Miso Soup, Skinny Fries and Squid, or alternatively, indulge in some mochi or ice cream from the children’s menu.
The Steamed Hirata Buns were genuinely the best thing ever, and got glowing reviews all round the table. We ordered the chilli fried beef buns with hoisin sauce, spring onion and ginger, as well as the crunchy pork belly ones with chilli, garlic, ginger and beansprout salad. You could easily demolish the two buns that come with each serving and still have room for a side. Ben enjoyed the Chilli Fried Beef on Crispy Noodles, and edamame always go down well. The wasabi peas are described as “a bit spicy” on the menu, a statement that proved entirely accurate – enough wasabi for the mouth, not enough for the nose. The vegetable spring rolls were, in my opinion, just like the ones you’d get anywhere else, but the hoisin duck topping the Tokyo fries was to die for. All in all, the great flavours on Nomu’s menu far outweigh the dishes that didn’t feel too special, and it has proved to be an incredibly popular debut menu across the park.
The atmosphere of the restaurant is clean, simple and pared-back, with a hint of Asia. In the words of Ben, Nomu is “a homage to the communal eating of everyone’s favourite Asian restaurants at London airports.” The playlist left a bit to be desired, as it was hard to get into the Asian fusion vibe whilst being serenaded by the likes of Taylor Swift and Chappell Roan’s ‘Pink Pony Club’. “The ambiance was good,” Flo said, “but the music was a bit TikTok-esque. You want to imagine that you’re in a cool Asian bar in the city.” No hate – we’re all Swifties, just in the right context.
One of the perks of Nomu is that it is a Randalls venue, so if you’ve got the app downloaded, you can get ten percent of your meal back. This is great for people who actually remembered to sign up in between pints at one of the chain’s venues, but irrelevant for those like me with the brain of a sieve. They say if you face a task that can be completed in two minutes or less, you should do it now instead of adding it to your mental to-do list. Think of all the free ramen you could be eating if those after-work pints were contributing towards something other than a hangover.
@nomujsy
