Bonsai
Price guide: Budget
46 West Richmond Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DZ
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#21 of 40
expert-rated restaurants in Edinburgh- Recommended for:
- Backpackers / Students, Couples, Culture vultures, Foodies, Seasoned travellers, Education, Escaping the crowds, Relaxation
Expert review of Bonsai
A brilliant wee Japanese restaurant - an Edinburgh secret.
Fresh, delicious Japanese food in a tiny restaurant. You would never stumble across this as it is off the beaten track, which is the benefit of www.simonseeks.com in a nutshell really. If you like Japanese food and drink then this will put a smile on your face.
Food and drink:
If you know your Japanese food then you will recognise everything from sashimi, maki-zushi, temaki-zushi, nigiri-zushi, teppanyaki plus soups, salads and sides. There's also saki and Japanese cocktails made with shochu, plus Asahi, Sapporo and kirin beers. I ordered a lime and soda, which arrived as a glass of soda with half a lime cut and sitting on the saucer next to it. Literal and delicious.
Recommended dishes:
I never eat the same thing twice, primarily becuase I can't recall what I ordered last time, and have never been disappointed. It is fresh fresh fresh. The tempura is as light as a feather, and the Bento box for lunch is a real bargain.
Ambience:
Small is the understatement. The moment you enter the door you are in the middle of the restaurant. Minimal decor but with such precision in the kitchen it seems only right. Chances are you will be sitting very close to the person next to you, whether you know them or not. The fact that Bonsai has been going for years and is a great favourite with locals says a lot about it.
Service:
Helpful, but if like me you don't like to ask too many questions and show yourself up as not being an officianado of the types of food on offer, there is a feeling they expect you to know what's what. So I just point and smile and they always smile back.
Location:
Not that far from the madding crowd but hard to find. Very close to The Pleasance theatre during festival time, only a five-minute walk off The Royal Mile but use your GPS or print out the map to get there. It is not a main road to say the least.
Price advice:
For examples: six pieces of maki-zushi £4; chicken yakitori - £3.95; eight pieces of gaijin-zushi £8; beef teriyaki £6.95; vegetable tempura £4.95.
Tables to book:
So few, if you can book a chair go for it.
More information on Bonsai:
- Price guide:
- Type:
- Bar, Restaurant
- Food:
- Japanese
- Address:
- 46 West Richmond Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DZ
- Telephone:
- 0131 668 3847
- Website:
- http://www.bonsaibarbistro.co.uk
- Serves:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Opening times:
- Mon-Sun noon til late
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Reservations:
- Essential at peak times
