Asakusa @ London, UK ***

Grilled Beef Tongue

If I were forced to eat only on type of cuisine for the rest of my life it would be Japanese. You see, hidden beneath the umbrella term lies a breathtaking variety of ingredients and styles of preparation. There is of course the widely available sushi and sashimi, but then there is shabu shabu, teppanyaki, and yakitori, not to mention all manner of rice dishes and noodle dishes.

At Asakusa, all these choices and more were encapsulated on a menu that was as affordable as it was extensive. From gyoza to pork cutlet, each dish arrived perfectly prepared and was presented with elegant simplicity. Smiles from numerous Japanese diners around the room confirmed what I had suspected from the moment I entered this North London hole-in-the-wall;  here was a bonafide hidden gem.  

Special thanks to my friend Dai for yet another amazing adventure.

Details: 265 Eversholt Street, Camden, NW1 1BA (+442073888533)