Harajuku Kitchen are taking their Japanese cuisine across the street to Edinburgh Street Food (ESF) at oMNI Centre on Leith Street.
Until now they have served up their modern twist on burritos and hot rice bowls at the back door of St James Quarter. Now they will become the 11th vendor at ESF.
Harajuku’s menu at Edinburgh Street Food features favourite snacks of edamame beans, miso soup and Kaiso seaweed salad, as well as stir fried udon noodles, Danburi (hot rice dishes), sushi burritos and sushi rice bowls. Their secret recipe kara-age chicken with homemade sweet chilli sauce on a bed of noodles is already a huge hit.
Kaori Simpson who is co-owner long with husband Keith, is already working on the logistics to bring Harajuku’s renowned homemade gyoza, in volume, to ESF in Spring 2024.
Andrew Marshall, co-founder of ESF, said: “Authentic East Asian cuisine was exactly what ESF was missing and who better to deliver this in such high quality than Harajuku Kitchen who started their businesses as a humble street food stall at Stockbridge Market in 2009 and now serve AA rosette level dishes.
“Harajuku’s street food is perfect for all weather dining; warm up with their impressively crispy fried aubergine smothered in Katsu curry sauce in winter, or keep it light with a fresh sashimi rice bowl in summer.”
Harajuku attributes its success to three generations of cherished family recipes. Just this week the firm won Best Sushi and Japanese Cuisine at The Scottish Asian Food Awards 2023.
Kaori Simpson, formerly the resident chef for the Consulate General of Japan said: “My hard working team are all so passionate about Japanese food.
“We’ve spent 15 years building our reputation as a go-to street food stall at Edinburgh’s Farmers’ Markets and now it feels only right that we launch a new home in Edinburgh Street Food where our customers can tuck into the dishes they so greatly love, seven days a week. We’re thrilled to join the ESF family.”
Edinburgh Street Food is open 7 days a week from midday-11pm. All kitchens, including Harajuku, are open from 12-9pm on Sunday-Thursday and until 10.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
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