26/11/20 - Updated with a new launch date
What: Mr Ji
In a nutshell: Fried chicken, innovative sides and strong cocktails
Summing it all up: Inspired by trips to Taipei, Mr Ji's founder has teamed up with the TĀ TĀ Eatery team to level up his fried chicken restaurant on Soho's Old Compton Street.
The low-down
Fried chicken specialists Mr Ji closed during the lockdown, but are getting ready to open again with a hot new look and a menu created in collaboration with the folks at TĀ TĀ Eatery.
Founder Samuel Haim explains, the new dream team came about "after many evenings at TĀ TĀ Eatery with Ana and Meng...we decided to work together to make Mr Ji a place where guests can sit down and get stuck in to dinner with friends."
To that end, the place which was more of a grab and go spot has now switched to a restaurant with table service (starting with alfresco dining) - along with a new cocktail menu.
For food, you'll be able to choose between two menus - The Classics and Small Eats. On the former will be The O’Ji - a twist on the original Mr Ji dish, a deep-fried chicken breast with chilli sprinkles along with The Ji Sando featuring a pineapple bap, deep-fried chicken thigh and cucumber salad.
The Small Eats side of things is really a range of innovative sides like:
- Not Another Cucumber Salad - cucumber, black fungus, yuba and chilli
- Daikon Cake - steamed daikon and shiitake mushrooms with a garlic soy paste
- Prawn ‘In’ Toast - a toasted brioche ‘box’ filled with prawn sauce and prawns
- T Egg - a tea-marinated soft-boiled egg with smokey mayo and katsuobushi.
Desserts sound just as much worth a trip, with Fried Milk, a panko-crusted, deep-fried milk custard with sesame and peanut and a range of Taiwanese lollies on offer.
The new cocktail menu is by drinks expert Cyan Wong (who last collaborated with Ana and Meng on the list at TĀ TĀ Eatery). And it sounds GOOD. Drinks we already fancy trying include a Melon Shake made with condensed milk fortified with honeydew melon, pear spirit and cardamom, and a Salted Plum Negroni with Japanese umeshu and tequila, fortified wines and bitters. There'll also be Taiwanese beers on offer too.
More about Mr Ji
Where is it? 72 Old Compton St, Soho, London, W1D 4UN
When does it open? 13 April 2021
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @mrjirestaurant.
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