Morten Vestergaard Lambertsen
+5
Had a fantastic breakfast with my girlfriend and a good friend here, with a very good Bloody Mary and a good Bloody Maria! Awesome staff! Defiantly worth a visit! ����
Good drinks selection - better than most for whiskey connoisseurs. Food is awesome especially the burgers. Slap bang in the middle of Shoreditch with knowledgable and friendly staff. They also get some really good musicians through the doors for their 'Bull Sessions' - well worth stopping by.
In the heart of Shoreditch comes the latest creation by the team who gave us the Drunken Monkey. Bull in a China Shop makes you mentally prepared for Asian fusion and this is definitely what you get. Think diner type food but with an Asian twist, which seems to make everything that more tantalising and appealing.
Good food and a really good buzz. Sharing plates is the way to go here. Good starters and mains. The deserts are okay. Lovely cocktails too and great service - go for the chicken
This one needs a special mention.Tge first time that i'v been to a bar solely based on Japanese whiskies,all cocktails were based on Japanese single malts taking centre stage.what mixing,amazing taste and awesome ingenuity by the bartenders.It was a beautiful small quaint restaurant in a very eclectic part of London.The chef was churning out amazing starters as the concept in most bars,Japanese tapas bar.Loved the energy,presentation and the concept
Kristine Diana Tsiknaki
+3.5
I've passed by this place a lot of times but to be honest what made me go in was that I really needed the bathroom. The bathroom is in fact not particularly impressive, however the cocktail list is pretty good.
I decided to go for one of their house cocktails called something with Toro if I remember right. I have to say it was very nice and I liked it a lot, however it was £12 so a bit on the expensive side.
The venue itself is quite small and it can get quite crowded, however I would have liked to try the food as well as the rotisserie chicken looked delicious. I hope I'll be able to go back and give that a go at some point.
However in terms of drinks I definitely think you can find nicer less crowded bars and you should probably avoid it on a Saturday night.
Rosie Alittlelusciousness
+4
There's little more exciting than a new restaurant that also promises top notch cocktails in London - we already have so many wonderful places but I'm always interested in new restaurants too. So I popped down to the newly opened (they still had the door locked when I arrived!) Bull in a China Shop in Shoreditch a couple of weeks ago to check out their whisky cocktails and oriental influenced food menu. Bull in a China Shop is the second offering from brothers Stephen and Simon Chan who already own The Drunken Monkey dim sum bar further down Shoreditch High Street.
If you like chicken and you like whiskey- this is your kind of place. I visited this place on Friday night and it was packed, although the tables seemed to turn quickly and we didn't have to wait long before being seated. Located in the heart of Shoreditch just opposite Pizza East, it is the perfect place to start your night out.
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The Vibe
‘Let’s see where the night takes us’ is a delicious prospect, but in reality spontaneity on a date is very hard to come by. It’s horribly dispiriting to end up wandering listlessly from packed bar to overcrowded restaurant, cursing yourself for forgetting to book somewhere. The Chan Brothers’ latest opening, Bull in A China Shop, is a great address to have up your sleeve should you find yourself in this predicament. It’s a Japanese scotch and whiskey bar that serves inventive Asian food from breakfast into the early hours. The outside is unobtrusive, and behind the old pub frontage the atmosphere is buzzy yet relaxed.
The Order
Haruki Murakami wrote that “whiskey is like a beautiful woman, you gaze first, and then it’s time to drink.” The heaving shelves behind the bar and the cocktail list demand this kind of appreciation. The house favourite, an Old Fashioned, made with Nikka Yoichi, a 10 year old whiskey, chamomile syrup, charcoal and coconut is sublime. If you prefer something fruitier, try the Apricot High Ball, made with Nikka Whiskey, apricot jam, apricot brandy and soda. Trust the barmen to keep the cocktails coming as you get stuck into the food. The rotisserie chicken is seriously more-ish, brined with ginger and marinated overnight in Asian yoghurt and glazed with whiskey. We also loved the Panko-crusted Chicken Burger, served in a charcoal black brioche bun, with pickled ginger and mayonnaise. Unfortunately, the superfood salad was a damp squib in comparison.
The Game
Whatever time you arrive here you will be welcomed like an old friend. Squeeze in along the burnished copper bar or at one of the cosy tables in the back. Buy your date a killer cocktail, let the whiskey work its magic and you are all set for an evening of relaxed conversation and damn fine drinking. If you aren’t exactly hitting it off, you can always sit back and admire the bartenders as they hand carve the ice…plus they are cute as hell.
The Faults
Service was a little slow, but I’m sure that’s just a teething problem.
Sex Factor
4.
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Opened in May 2015 by the same people behind Drunken Monkey, Bull In A China Shop is a self-described contemporary bar and restaurant located in trendy Shoreditch. It certainly fits the part with its low lighting and cavernous decor creating an intimating dining experience (albeit one that will also test your night vision).
On offer alongside 30 types of Japanese whisky is a menu inspired by the Orient including a twist on the traditional congee and a fried chicken charcoal brioche bun burger.
However, those will have to wait another day as what caught my eye was the rotisserie chicken served with a choice of their freshly made salads. As uneventful as that may sound, this is no ordinary chicken; far from it. Brined in ginger then marinated in an Asian yogurt before being finished with a Nikka glaze, the chicken is among the juiciest I've had in recent memory. Paired with delicious salads such as giant couscous & beetroot, charred cauliflower & citrus and classic nicoise, it makes for a hearty and comforting meal for all occasions.
Though this meal was certainly tasty, to consider this a "must go" is a stretch. It is definitely a great addition to Shoreditch's bulging dining scene but I'm not convinced it has done enough to set itself apart in what is a very competitive market. However if you are in the area, by all means do check it out - you will leave satisfied if nothing else.
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Chicken and Whisky are two of Tim’s favourite things, so when I heard about a new restaurant which specialised in those two very things, I couldn’t wait to take him there and see what he thought. Bull In A China Shop opened recently in Shoreditch (just opposite Box Park) and describes itself as a Japanese Whisky House, which also serves food (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
What a pretty, romantic looking little place. I especially like the stylized malachite patterned wallpaper, animal skulls and Tom Dixon pendant lights which all work well with the chinoiserie.
I habitually subscribe to newsletters of soon to open restaurants in the hope of getting an invitation to the discounted soft launch. No such invite ever arrived for Bull in a China Shop, but they did send a discounted lunch voucher for rotisserie chicken and salads.
One of the better rotisserie chicken's I've had. Very tender and moist with a subtly sweet coating on the skin. Nicely seasoned too. Of the two salads I tried I preferred the coleslaw, made with broccoli stems. But the blanched cauliflower and orange was pleasant enough.
I'd like to come back, and maybe order more adventurously. There was lots of appetizing stuff on the counter, like lasagnas, moussakas and huge scotch eggs. They specialize in Japanese whiskeys but it was rather too early in the day for that kind of thing.
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My life long companionship with chicken has been a committed, steady and beautiful one. Whisky on the other hand is a lustful, steamy relationship that swept me off my feet relatively recently. In charges Bull in a China Shop, and combines the two under one oriental themed roof. A happy marriage I'd say.
If you manage to open the door (I had a brief but intense battle with a dodgy handle), you will find yourself inside a beautiful all-day restaurant and whisky bar. Give a nod to the guard-bull and sidle up to the shining copper-topped bar.
You have 30 expertly selected Japanese and Scotch whiskies to choose from and it is immediately obvious that many hours have been spent ensuring that only the best reach the shelves. While the whisky appreciation society of our table enjoyed tastes of the (not-arriving-in-the-UK-until-October) Nikka 12 yr and the smoothly blended and also hard-to-come-by Hibiki Suntory Japanese Harmony, the cocktail menu provided delicious whisky based concoctions that even the most tentative to whisky will enjoy.
The interior is immediately appealing. Oriental trinkets at every glance, with teapots, parasols, chess pieces and brass bulls adorning the walls. A polished bar stretches along to the open kitchen where you can watch the rotisserie chickens turn on their spits and dishes await their departure to the tables. The restaurant section is tucked around the corner away from the bar, and is equally appropriate for mate dates, date dates and solo dining.
Back on the booze, we chose:
The Apricot High Ball (Nikka whisky from the barrel, apricot jam, apricot brandy and soda),
The Amaterasu (Nikka whisky from the barrel, Cocchi vermouth di Torino, Chamomile syrup, orange bitters and orgeat), and
The Wabi/Sabi (Hakushu Single malt distiller's reserver, Cocchi vermouth di Torino, Matcha green tea syrup, black walnut bitters).
All dangerously drinkable, so at £10 a pop, I'd keep a serious eye on your wallet, especially when the charcoal old fashioned is on offer (when we went, the charcoal hadn't quite finished charcoaling but I have it on good authority that this drink is a winner).
Enter the sticky wings, with a spicy dipping sauce for all you chilli enthusiasts. I'm not one for even attempting to maintain a ladylike self composure when wings are on the table, it's all about grab and go, ignoring the lack of asbestos fingers and enjoying the burning stickiness.
The signature charcoal chicken burger was delicious. Succulent with a crispy panko crusted coating and shredded vegetables. While I'm not sure that the charcoal bun was hugely dissimilar in taste from a regularly coloured brioche bun, that didn't pose a problem and it certainly provided instagram with something to get its teeth into!
Unfortunately, the other mains didn't quite hit the spot, with the halloumi & red pepper and the fish burgers not quite creating the hoped-for waves of excitement. The salad combinations, though extensive (six packed together in two dishes), were rather bizarre and too dry to compliment the burgers. I'd stick with the coleslaw if you want a little more saucy accompaniment. However, there were resounding groans of enjoyment for the deep fried cauliflower cheese bites which were indulgently moreish.
Dessert arrived in the form of their signature whisky smoked bread and butter pudding. One of the most un-photogenic dishes I've come across in a while, but don't judge a book by its cover and all that, because this pud is a comforting delight. The charcoal bun was soaked in whisky, butter and apricot, surrounded by a sweet, cinnamony custard. Bingo.
The whisky was unanimously the winner of the evening for all involved, and I'd happily return to pull up a seat at the bar, order some of the smaller offerings (chicken wings and cauliflower cheese bites) then get my whisky on! So, Bull in a China Shop, stick a flag in me, for I am err conquered (?) ..
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Blink and you'll miss it. A small, black fronted restaurant opposite BoxPark and The Tea Building, Bull In A China Shop is a new opening from the guys behind dim sum favourites, The Drunken Monkey. Described as a rotisserie chicken restaurant and whiskey bar, we headed down a couple of days after the launch to check it out.
The bar itself is beautiful. Polished brass extends along one side with a bustling back bar filled to the brim with prime Japanese and Scottish whiskey bottles. At the far end, there's an open kitchen showcasing the spinning chickens and a prime photography spot for plates. Seating tucks around the corner and accommodates up to 40 apparently but it may be a bit of a squeeze.
We kicked off with complimentary wings, butchered from the rotisserie with one hell of a cleaver. Sticky and sweet, these were a nice intro - and I usually shy away from wings. Onto the mains, we each went for something in their charcoal buns. I went for the halloumi and red pepper offering which was a tastier combination than I was expecting but ultimately let down by the dry and tasteless bap - a gimmick too far perhaps? Matt's fish burger was so-so but Ella enjoyed her chicken burger so one for the team there.
Accompanying these we had six of the salads - they do medium and large sizes but if you ask nicely, they'll squish all six into two dishes for you. On paper they sounded great but in reality, they were a bit hit and miss with a bizarrely dry quinoa offering but a good slaw to counteract it. The unanimous showstoppers, however, were the deep fried cauliflower cheese bites that I could have eaten all evening.
Dessert was a bread and pudding offering with charcoal bun running through it and a gloriously sweet, cinnamony custard over the top that was then finished with a blowtorched sugar. A nice thing to share although I don't know if they're planning on it putting it on the menu.
Where Bull In A China Shop really excels, as you may expect, is their whiskey. Carefully curated, they have an extensive list and are more than happy to recommend. We were given a taste of their 12 year old Nikkai which isn't arriving in Europe until October and Hibiki's Japanese harmony, a blend of two of their more popular offerings. Smooth and rich, these tumblers along with the accompanying cocktails were the stars of the show.
Would I go back? The food was suffering some teething problems I think but the whiskey hits the mark so definitely one for the liquor lovers.
This is an interesting whisky bar/restaurant that offers some light bites and Chinese foods. T
Went there with friends on Tuesday. Used a Groupon voucher that covered a Japanese/Scottish whisky flight and a few light bites.
We came here for drinks last week. Cool little place with friendly staff. I really like the decor of the front and the bull logo. We sat at the bar as the seating in the back's only covered by a tent/gazebo-thing and rain was leaking through. Not ideal, but it was nice to sit at the bar. The seating area in the back is cute, though a bit of a hodgepodge of random furniture. I guess that's what they're going for, though. We only drank beer this time, but the selection of whiskeys looks amazing, so I'll definitely come back for that. Didn't look at the food menu or eat anything so i cant comment on that. Lastly, the service was good. The kind of service I like. Down to earth and laid back staff who seem genuine. 4 stars.
Lovely unique bar and restaurant with vegan options available.
Staff were very attentive and professional
The whole place has a great atmosphere Staff did their best to find me a accommodating table despite them being extremely busy
Cocktails were very nice and not watered down with ice, as a lot of other places do
Because of this and staffs professionalism I would definitely recommend and 100% will be returning
My favourite Shoreditch spot for cocktails and delicious Japanese small plates. An unassuming bar from the outside but inside the vibe is always brilliant, the team are awesome and the cocktails (and extensive whisky menu) are to die for. I love the various small plates, which can satisfy a quick craving or be put together for a full meal.
I came on a Sunday to this restaurant. It was a quiet evening and we got seated and served quickly. The food was very nice but the real (and unexpected!) star of the show were the amazing cakes! We had a delicious coconut and strawberry cake which we loved - so much so that we went for another slice - this time we got the chocolate and coconut which was even better! We were told by the staff that they were made by the security guard who works at the restaurant which is sooo cool. Can’t wait to return and eat some more cake!
We really enjoyed our night here at Bull in a China Shop. Great cocktails in a socially distanced but well heated outdoor area, and the food was superb. I'm not usually a fan of modern Asian fusion as it can be executed poorly, but this place does it justice. We had bao buns with crispy pork and hoisin sauce, the bbq platter (succulent babyback ribs, chicken wings and rosemary chips), and the Peking rice boxes as mains. Everything was cooked perfectly and so tasty. I could eat their hainan rice every day for the rest of my life. Definitely pay this place a visit!
Delicious food, at a great price for London. Great cocktails. Extensive whisky selection, including tasting paddles.
Went for the whiskey tasting and ending up staying for 3 more hours tasting the vast array of whiskeys they have behind the bar. Hannah was AMAZING! So knowledgable, passionate and her customer service was amazing. Will definitely be returning for some more cheeky shots.
What an excellent afternoon we spent in Bull in a China Shop! Four of us went to sample the range of whisky's on offer and were treated with an extremely tasty and very pleasant "flight" of four world whisky's supported with interesting information about each one by a knowledgeable proprietor. We were so impressed by our first "flight" that we decided to sample another but this time, from four different countries. Again, the owner duly obliged and treated us to four more whisky's which were also excellent. To accompany our tasting, we were also provided with some excellent tasting dishes designed specifically to support the whisky we were sampling.
This was an excellent afternoon spent in a warm, comfortable and very pleasant environment. We shall definitely be going back again and fully recommend Bull in a China Shop to anyone interested in Whisky.
very nice experience. the service was very professional and friendly. Food was great. We used a Groupn and they treated us like "normal customers", The ambiance is trendy and romantic, it is very nice. Locatoion is great. I loved it and will come back. Cocktails are... GREAT!!!
Truly fantastic little place. Had the pleasure of visiting the first time with friends on Friday and can not get over firstly how amazing the food is, secondly the stunning old fashioned I was served. And third and most importantly , they have the most immaculate collection of whiskey 😍🤩
Great selection of whiskies and whisky-cocktails. Nice atmosphere. Food is good. Had a delicious Bao.
(Whiskey-wise, though very Japanese centric... not a problem, but if you were after more traditional Scottish Single Malts,better off going to Boisdales down the road on Bishopsgate).
Bull in a china shop is a great restaurant which specialises in all over the world whiskeys and the rotisserie chicken is to die for! 10/10
Went for a whisky tasting experience and have to say it was amazing. The staff were super friendly relaxed and knowledgeable so made the experience even better. Would definitely recommend
We had our work Christmas meal here. Food was delicious and so much of it! We had the Christmas menu which included the excellent bao buns. Staff were very friendly especially the lady serving us. The choice of Whiskeys was endless and on recommendation I tried the Charcoal Old Fashioned with Japanese Whiskey. Great ambiance too. Would definitely recommend it and I will definitely be back!
I got recommended to go here from a few mates, so I brought the mrs along for a Friday night date. I must say it exceeded all expectations, with a range of excellent cocktail options and a delicacy of beautiful Asian style cuisine. The staff were very welcoming and very efficient, as there was practically no wait times even though it was busy. The bar is beautifully designed and has a very cosy atmosphere (perfect for a cheeky date night). Credit to the hilarious bouncer and jack the cocktail connoisseur. 10/10 I highly recommend
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