In our regular series, we ask famous chefs and personalities to tell us all about 'their London'. From top tips on where to dine in the city, to their personal haunts ranging from bakeries to book shops, we’ve got the inside track on London’s premier spots from the people who know it best.
When Angelo Sato walked on stage to collect his chef’s jacket emblazoned with Two MICHELIN Stars, it was the latest landmark moment in a remarkably impressive few years. Born and raised in Japan, Sato moved to London in his late teens and has since made his mark on the city’s restaurant scene thanks to the revelatory Humble Chicken. Winning its second Star just a year after its first, the restaurant is a thrilling take on Japanese cuisine, fusing influences with aplomb and maintaining a playful, creative streak. With London now firmly his home, we asked Chef Sato for his take on the best restaurants in London and what to do on your day off.
What’s your go-to restaurant in London when you want to celebrate?
For a celebration or something nice, I find myself at Kitchen Table and Endo at the Rotunda the most. I absolutely love those two restaurants.Kitchen Table is the perfect restaurant for me: professional and technical, genuine hospitality and an amazing seasonal, ever-changing menu at a chef’s table – which is how I like to eat. There’s also an amazing champagne list by Sandia [Chang], who is the greatest.
Which London restaurants are perfect for a night out with friends?
Easily Dorian! The food is just incredible and I think Max [Coen] is a bit of a genius. I love the way he thinks about food.Kintan is like a Japanese-style Korean barbecue, where you just sit around the table, they cook your beef, you eat white rice and you drink draft beer.
Flour & Grape on Bermondsey Street is my favourite pasta joint!
Are there any London restaurants you feel a personal connection to?
Trinity – it's always been one of my favourite restaurants in London and I worked there when I was younger and lived on top of the restaurant 10 years ago. Adam Byatt is very much a mentor-like figure to me and has always been very generous with his time and played a huge role in my story – so it's somewhere I love to go.
You run one of the best Japanese-inspired restaurants in London. Where else does great Japanese food in the city?
I go to Koya a lot as it’s something easy and cheap: great fresh udon noodles, pickles and rice bowls. Roketsu is amazing for traditional kaiseki omakase menu and great sake!You cook creative, exciting dishes with your own distinct style. Who else do you admire and look to for inspiration?
I mean, when it comes to admiration the list goes on and on and each person for a different reason. Adam Byatt, Tom Aikens, Adam Handling, James Knappett and Sandia Chang, Endo Kazutoshi… But a lot of times when I go out to eat, I try to pay attention to more of the intangible things as opposed to just the food. The genuine hospitality, delivery, timings, pace and the little things that these great restaurants do to make you subconsciously feel like you need to come back and bring your friends and family over and over again.
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How do you unwind after a busy day of work?
A bit of yoga or stretching while I watch some restaurant review videos (Alexander the Guest is a really good storyteller and makes great videos), or a bath with a glass of sake or bubbles.
Which is your favourite London neighbourhood and why?
Clapham Common and Camden are two places I lived in for a long time and I love them both for different reasons. Clapham Common definitely has a lot of great neighbourhood restaurants, butchers, pubs and parks. But Camden is a lot closer to central London.You came to London as a teenager and are still here now; what have you come to love the most about the city?
I love London because people come from all over the world to compete! It's a real city with so much history, like New York, Tokyo and Paris. It’s got one of those "if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere" feels about it.Hero Image: Angelo Sato from the Two-MICHELIN-Star Japanese restaurant Humble Chicken. © Carla Barber
