Really enjoy the roast duck with rice and the salmon teriyaki which I order on the go! There are halal options available too and the eel sounds really interesting to try next time
Really enjoyed my visit to Hare & Tortoise. Delicious authentic Asian food.
Tried the California maki, prawn tempura, vegetarian spring rolls & the chicken katsu curry.
All the dishes were enjoyable and especially enjoyed the katsu curry. Chicken was cripsy and the sauce was delicious! It was slightly crowded, but we managed to find a table without waiting. Will definitely be visiting again :)
Hare & Tortoise is one of my favourite restaurants in London and they serve some of the best Asian foods. I loooove their dragon rolls. From the outside, the Blackfriars branch of Hare & Tortoise doesn’t look too great. In fact, when you enter it’s just empty, but then you walk down a tunnel of stairs and it’s very pretty. It smells amazing as soon as you enter- you can watch the chefs work their magic which is even better.
Recommended by my other half. We have been a couple of times. I have tried the laksa and sushi. Sushi was fresh and tasty. The laksa is a rich, creamy, coconut broth loaded with prawns, chicken and fish cakes. Extremely filling and comforting especially on a cold day. I can never finish yet my wife is always able to put it all away every time (how does she do it??) You gotta try the laksa! It is the best laksa I have had to date.
Favourite Japanese restaurant. The chicken in black bean sauce is amazing. And the spicy tuna sushi is to die for. Ridiculously cheap around £25 for two people including starters. Lost count of the amount of the times I've been here it's that good.
I went here for a light dinner and decided to have some sushi, tuna salad and ebi tempura. The food was good and service was pretty speedy as well. The tuna dish was super tasty with some sesame on it. I'd say the place doesn't blow my mind away but if I need some speedy Japanese dinner and happen to be in the area then I might pop by...
Hare and Tortoise is one of those few places that serve good Japanese food at reasonable prices. What's more the portions are a good size which is always a good thing!
I love sushi and the sushi and sashimi here is very good, I'd recommend trying a selection to share in order to sample a few different things.
The presentation of the food here is attractive, and the service is amicable, making Hare and Tortoise a spot I often return to when in the area!
Kristine Diana Tsiknaki
+4.5
The Hare and Tortoise is a venue that I have often overlooked, as it doesn't look like much on the outside. A simple sign and windows covered in grey, hide behind them a downstairs area filled with delicious food smells.
When you go down the place may feel a little dark due to the lack of natural light and the darker toned furniture but the minimalists in my group really liked that simple decor. To be honest I prefer Japanese restaurant with obvious Japanese vibes and slightly more traditional decor.
Then it was time to try the food. Being me I could not resist the chicken katsu curry, as it's one if my favourite dishes ever, and this one certainly did not disappoint. The chicken was juicy and delicious, the curry sauce was amazing and the rice was cooked to perfection.
I also tried my friend's duck and rice dish and it was also excellent. My other two friends said that their dishes were great too and we all found that the portion were massive and it was actually quite hard to finish them.
I was very pleased with the food overall because it was really good, quite a lot of it and it was under £8! I would certainly go back there to try more things from their menu, as they also have a great selection of sushi and sashimi and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good Japanese meal around Blackfriars.
My boss decided to give me a farewell at Hare and Tortoise since I wanted to eat South East Asian and HT was the closest to our office. We ordered quite a lot of food and the portions were quite good. I wouldn't say it was mind-boggling but was enough to keep me interested. I tried eel for the first time out here and it turned out to be quite nice. Thank HT for the taste and my boss for the recommendation. The portions here are quite large compared to the price they charge and the service is quite good. There is ample seating space and the seating arrangement resembles a canteen. All in all a nice friendly place for a quick bite.
In search of cheap and easy Japanese food, James and I headed to Hare and Tortoise this evening for a spot of sushi to share. Both not really in the mood for making decisions, we went for a 10 piece sushi selection, 6 piece sashimi selection and some variety of grilled fish (I want to say tuna but I picked solely based on the picture) with sesame.
All 3 dishes were nicely presented but the sushi came out rather quickly which kinda makes me feel like not much effort went into preparing it. But as a fast semi-chain place you'd kinda expect that. Other than that, all lovely, reasonably fresh and devoured shamefully quickly on my part. YUM.
I've been here for lunch with some colleagues from work and I have to say it was really good value for money. I had the salmon box, totally recommend it. really tasty
The Hare and Tortoise serves really good Asian food, however it is generally quite crowded, and I am one who does not like to wait for my food, so it does take some convincing for me to come here, purely on that basis. However you never have to wait very long not your food, although that is probably because they want you to come in and out quite quickly. So if you are looking for spending a longer time on your meal, I would go elsewhere, as they make it quite clear that you are expected to eat quickly.
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Despite getting a delicious lunch at work every weekday sometimes it's nice to ring the changes and get away from the office.
With a name like the Hare & Tortoise it's easy to expect a good, old-fashioned pub. When I made the descent down the inconspicuously sign-posted stairs what I was NOT expecting was a traditional type Japanese restaurant! Not quite the communal benches you get in some oriental eateries- our table got pulled away from a line of others to make it a bit more intimate.
I'm not very au fait with Japanese, but my god- the food here was mind blowing. I quickly plumped for a easy-going sounding torikatsu curry. Tender breaded chicken breast sliced on a bed of sticky white rice with a thick, fragrant sauce. The portion was enormous for a lunch time, and made it to the table in record time (thank goodness, we were all ravenous after our "gruelling" 10 minute stroll from the office in the sun!) As were everyone else's, I tried some truly delicious dumplings that sadly my tiny mind cannot remember the name of, but for the price I could go back twice a week & go through the entire menu- knowing I'd get fantastic value for money, and excellent customer service, every time. Count me in next week!
I thoroughly enjoyed dinner at this Hare & Tortoise. When my friend and I first arrived, the restaurant was still quite empty, therefore we got to choose where we sat...we decided to sit in a small cove type area, which felt a bit more private and intimatew, ideal for catching up, uninterrupted by the busyness of the restaurant later on in the evening.
Firstly we ordered a starter of the vegetarian duck rolls. These rolls consisted of cucumbers and slices of fried tofu which came with a side sauce which complimented the roll very well. For mains I ordered the Lo-han vegetarian chow mein which was really good! I couldn't, however, finish it all off due to their generous portion.
All in all, I enjoyed my first time dining at this restaurant and would definitely come back! The low prices are an additional bonus!
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Sometimes you just have to go back to basics.
During my time at uni, there was only one place I could afford to eat at and feel totally satisfied.
So satisfied, that it was inevitable that this event would be proceeded by an afternoon nap.
Nowadays, every time I go back, I am struck with this strong sense of nostalgia. (Probably because it's no longer acceptable to take a nap at 2pm.)
Anyway let me introduce you to my dear old friend; Hare and Tortoise.
Ambiance?
I used to be a regular at the Bloomsbury - Hare and Tortoise branch.
It had that canteen feel, you know with the light birch effect furniture, & being alittle cramped inside.
It was very student-y, but I loved it.
After graduating, I upgraded to the Blackfriars branch; purely because it's closer to me since I moved flats.
It's also alot sexier inside.
With cushioned seating, dark wooden furniture with a bright and airy open plan layout.
I like the fact that there are levels here, I'm normally on the elevated floor so I can peer down and perve on what everyone else is eating.
Ohh yeaahh...
Sex Appeal
Starters:
Inari and Avocado Maki £ 4.20
When I come here, I always order the same thing.
It's a ritual.
The sushi is always fresh, and the portions are huge. Just look at the size of that sushi roll.
Putting that all in your mouth would be a struggle. (No mind wandering! - Cheeky ;])
But seriously, avoid ordering sushi on a date here unless you like the look of having half a sushi roll hanging out of your lips.
Unless you've mastered the technique of shamelessly, demolishing it in one mouthful. (Like myself).
Chive and Shrimp Gyoza £3.60
Who doesn't like these dumplings?
Pan fried on one side for that slight crunch, yet soft and succulent on the other - these little morsels are a necessity.
Mains:
Chicken Katsu Curry £6.80
Since it's getting colder, you need that sustenance, that nourishment that only a huge warming bowl of hot curry and rice can give.
It's just homey.
Encased in a golden armour, the chicken is still juicy and soft.
Plus it rests on top of the rice away from the curry, so is served to you still crisp and absolutely not soggy. Readily waiting to be dunked into that curry sauce.
Gyudon £7.10
This is my favourite dish.
The ultimate comfort food.
Impossibly thin slices of beef, and onions cooked in a mild soy-sauce based gravy layered on top of a generous serving of rice.
The gravy oozes through the rice, the onions give it that crunch and texture, and the beef is just so god damn good.
Dessert
Ice Cream Mochi - Green Tea, Coconut & Sesame £3.10
Don't be shy and just dig in to these.
Ice cream is a classic, and needs no justification.
Yeah-O-Meter
A full 3 course meal for two priced under £25.
I don't need to say any more than that.
For the FULL review and ALL the awesome photos - check out http://www.yummei.com/2013/11/hare-and-tortoise-blackfriars-london.html#more
Hare and Tortoise is an absolute must for students. The Curry Laksa and Tempura Udon are extremely value for money meals, but only order them if you are really hungry. All the portions are generally quite large, and it's a good place for people who want to try inexpensive Sushi, quite similar to Atari. I like the roast duck and rice as well, but I am not a fan of the Malaysian curry. Not the finest Asian food you will find, but a must visit if you have a large stomach and a limited wallet. The ambiance and seating is quite nice, as is the service, and it does not blindside you in any way.
Go here almost every week for lunch. Fresh, delicious food served quickly. My favourite dish on their menu has to be the Char Kway Teow! Tastes really authentic, noodles are fried really well and the prawns are big and juicy. Portion sizes are really good and it’s great value for money!
Visited this restaurant twice and have enjoyed my time there both times.
Great variety of options on the menu, great portion sizes and the price of the food is very reasonable too.
Probably the most authentic Thai and Japanese food I've had in London so far, would definitely recommend to people who enjoy those cuisines.
Good Asian cuisine that provides consistent quality. The ambience isn't great as it is in a basement and the acoustics make it sound very noisy.
We had the chicken katsu curry and chairshi don and enjoyed both of them. Servings were generous.
Service was good and efficient. We got our food fairly quickly and it was a packed restaurant.
I would return and eat at hare & tortoise again but perhaps at another branch.
Syed Muhammad Mohamman
+4
Slightly expensive.
Service tends to be good and fast but when I went it was a bit slow.
Do book your table before going.
Mobile signals issue as they are in thr basment and they have no wifi either.
Nice Asian restaurant in the basement. The name is a bit puzzling. The ambience wasn't great since it's just one long hall and tends to get a bit noisy. The vegetarian options weren't too bad. I had the tofu vegetable ramen, but I had to add a lot of hot sauce to spice it up. Loved the vegetable spring rolls and veggie tempura though.
Perfect Japanese restaurant in my opinion; wide variety of tasty food, served fast and delicious as expected. The ideal place to take ramen virgin for the first experience of Japan’s finest cuisine. Only downside is that the interior is too nice! I expect my reasonably priced Japanese eateries to be shabbier.
We ate here on a saturday evening, was not that busy. Service was fast and friendly. Big selection of Japanese dishes to choose from. We ordered a vegetarian box of sushi, salmon and fried chicken sushi, spicy ramensoup, skewer yakitori and fried vegetables. Everything tasted good, it was not the best sushi we had but we enjoyed it for sure. The ramensoup was not authentic but the taste was actually nice and good portion. I loved the broth. Prices were very reasonable. Ambience is a bit cold and because it is in a basement, you don't have any reception or internet. Didn't miss it though. The restaurant was great for a quick diner as it was nearby our hotel.
Love this Japanese + South East Asian cuisine restaurant. The Char Kuay Teow is spot on and tasted authentic (trust me, i'm a Malaysian!), and the other Japanese dishes that we ordered were delicious too. The Singapore fried noodle was a bit bland though. Staff is very efficient and the only complaint I have is that the restaurant is in a lower ground floor with no phone reception at all, and they do not provide free wifi. So you will not be reachable when you dine there, but it's a good reason to keep you off the phone and focus on the people in front of you ;)
We got in a little after normal lunch hours and the place was quiet. I really enjoyed the rice wine, sushi and sashimi salad here. Be warned though, expect to queue during office lunch hours especially. Very popular place for the office goers around the area.
A hidden gem, never knew this place existed until hearing about it second hand. Nice contemporary decor and cozy inside.
For the price, the quality of the food including sushis was really good.
A very different experience for my tastebuds. Food was delicious, spices were mild but portion size was disappointing!
The food is always delicious and quick! Avoid the lunchtime rush if you can as you'll wait a bit for a seat (its that's possible) 😊
Good Asian/Thai food. Price was not too expensive. Pad Thai and veg spring rolls were good.
Delicious Japanese food !!!! Really recommended.... Went twice in my last stay on London. Take the ebi curry (photo), domburi (photo) and edi udon, Delicious !!!! Really recommended !!!
Great portion, reasonable pricing, fair service, and with plenty of seats available with minimal wait time. Food is tasty!
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