Koya Bar

C’est en cherchant une taverne japonaise dans laquelle je m’étais rendu il y a quelques années, que je suis tombé avec deux amis sur ce Koya Bar.
Premier détail en arrivant: on fait la file depuis l’extérieur. En effet, un rapide coup d’œil à travers la vitre montre que l’établissement n’est pas très grand, une trentaine de couverts à première vue.
Qu’il y ait la file apparaît comme un bon signe pour nous et nous décidons d’attendre. 20 minutes plus tard, nous sommes installés en bout de comptoir. Nous commandons chacun un bol de nouilles udon (de grosses nouilles faites à partir de riz), et je me décide pour le «spécial» du jour, avec des morceaux de poisson-​lanterne.
Nous nous sommes régalés: les nouilles, tendres à souhait, nagent dans un bouillon parfumé, agrémenté de légumes, de champignons, d’épices… Pour ma part, le poisson-​lanterne fondait littéralement dans la bouche.
Le personnel est très avenant et souriant. Le seul reproche que l’on pourrait vraiment faire, c’est le manqué d’espace. Bön point: la carte n’est pas trop étoffée.
Si vous vous baladez dans Soho, n’hésitez pas à y faire un tour, un peu avant que les Londoniens né soient en heure de table, sinon vous devrez vous armer de patience !

Ruhig, klein und gemütlich — diese Bar kam uns nach einem stressigen Nachmittag gerade gelegen.
Die Udon-​Nudel-​Suppe schmeckte erst ganz schön fad — bis wir das Gewürze-​Töpfchen entdeckten. Danach waren wir im 7.-Udon-Himmel und liefen mit einem gesättigten Bauchgefühl raus.
Etwas versteckt, etwas klein, aber sehr zu empfehlen.

La spécialité de cet établissement de Soho? Les Udon !
Un plat japonais copieux constitué d’un bouillon, de nouilles épaisses à base de blé et d’une garniture au choix.
Le voyage commence par l’entrée, une porte avec ce tissu à pousser.
Puis, vous apercevez un long bar où une vingtaines de personnes sont assises et dégustent leurs plats préparés sous leurs yeux.
Après une (longue) attente, nous pouvons enfin nous asseoir, le long du bar en bois, et commander nos plats.
Le spectacle de la cuisine est impressionnant. Entre les quantités de pâtes préparées, les litres d’eau nécessaires pour leur cuisson et le découpage des légumes, on se croirait presque au pays du soleil levant !
C’est copieux, frais et bon.
Petite note: L’odeur de graillon et un peu trop d’huile dans le bouillon, dommage !

Koya Bar, Frith Street — Koya Bar is a proper Japanese noodle bar. In the night of Soho lights, it sits humbly among the other eateries with their attractive and catchy signs. A black shop front with large glass window and a one door entrance, it would have been easier to keep an eye out for their logo. Did it attract any less customers? No, in fact, queues can build up easily as seating are limited. Koya Bar does not take reservations and you will only be seated when all of your companions have arrived.
fish and chips £9.10 — served as a starter, small plate, sharing style it is the Koya’s take on English fish and chips. Brilliant! I suspect that the chips were from a sweet vegetable like plantain or sweet potato. It was feather light like the batter on the fish. No vinegar or tomato sauce but served with their dipping sauce of radish and spring onions, it was so delicious that we didn’t stop eating until the plate was empty.
kamonabe (duck and vegetable hot pot) £14.30 — from a spectator’s view, I thought that they were a little mean on the duck and vegetable. My dining companion confirmed that it had the proper proportion of udon to filling to broth. It was good but the broth was a little on the oily side.
hiya-​hiya zaru udon tenzaru (cold udon with cold sauce to dip with prawn and vegetable tempura) £13.90 — after the fish and chips, I was glad that I chose the tempura to go with my noodles. It was delightfully crispy and each bite into the batter was so satisfying. The kind of batter that possibly every OCD foodie/​chef is trying to create at home. I give up, and will just dine here from now on. The assortment of vegetables were all but one slightly undercooked.
With Koya Bar, it was more than just the food. The place exudes the Japanese culture of eating and looking around the place for a moment, I could be fooled that we were in Japan. Koya Bar was full and most had their heads down totally engrossed in their bowls of udon, I was quite amazed that a steaming hot broth noodles was favoured equally well in the West as in Asia. I thought it was only the kind of dish only understood by the Asians.
Seating by the bar might not be suitable on certain occasions — like if you have a crowd of friends or have sharing dishes — but on second thoughts, sitting opposite someone who slurps their noodles is not particularly inviting.
I still have to work my way through the menu — udon noodles being the main which comes with different toppings, rice in donburi style and various small plates to choose from. Not to mention that there are specials from time to time. What seemed like a small portion of noodles turned out to be quite filling and with a small plate to share between the two of us, I was full. A good place for simple yet flavoursome food. No desserts served and I did find myself wanting one.
Koya Bar exudes a casualness with personality and integrity. It is not the kind of glamorous place with awkward formalities, numerous cutlery, hostile service and an expensive menu that makes you think twice but if I were taken on a date here, I am glad to walk away with the date that knows and has good taste!
Will I be back for more? You can certainly count on it!