Race down to this canteen-style eatery offering old (and new) favourites at wallet-pleasing prices.

HARE & TORTOISE
Ealing:
38/39 Haven Green W5 2NX
020-8810-7066
Sun-Thu 12.00- 23.00,
Fri-Sat 12.00-23.30
Blackfriars:
90 New Bridge St. EC4V 6JJ
020-7651-0266
Mon-Sat 11.30-22.30
Putney:
296/298 Upper Richmond Rd. SW15 6TH
020- 8394-7666
Sun-Thu 12.00-23.00
Fri-Sat 12.00-23.30
Kensington:
373 High Street Kensington W14 8QZ
020-7603-8887
Sun-Thu 12.00-23.00
Fri-Sat 12.00-23.30
Bloomsbury:
11-13 The Brunswick WC1N 1AF
020-7278-9799
Mon-Sun 12.00-23.00
www.hareandtortoise.co.uk
£10

Business is booming here and it’s easy to see why. Hare and Tortoise do good, hearty food in big portions, served up with lots of choice, fast service, and great value for money. This is the perfect place to bring anyone who still thinks that Japanese food is scrimpily portioned and expensive. You fill up for less than a tenner here – one-dish options include miso or chicken ramen (£6.25); donburi rice bowls, with unagi eel at £8.75 or chirashi (raw fish and omelette) at £9.20; and tori katsu curry (breaded chicken breast, fresh not frozen, heaped with Japanese-style curry) for £6.50. The quality of the food and efficiency of service has won Hare and Tortoise an army of loyal fans, so during lunchtime periods you might find yourself queuing – but don’t be put off; turnaround is fast, especially during peak periods. If you’re bored with the lunchtime sandwich–and coffee drudgery, then this will really liven up your weekday eating; come alone or bring your friends – it doesn’t matter if you’re a party of multiple dietary needs because there is something for everyone on the extensive menu, including rice dishes, ramen, sushi boxes, sushi rolls, sashimi, tempura and plenty of sides. Vegetarians and vegans can tuck into avocado and asparagus maki, a colourful, healthy and super-fresh roll, vegetable tempura, pumpkin croquette and veggie “duck” rolls made with tofu.

“Good food, wide variety, great prices – the perfect ingredients for enjoying everyday Japanese cuisine”

Reasonable prices don’t mean that corners are being cut; Hare and Tortoise uses authentic Japanese ingredients but has bulk-buying power that helps keep the price down. The menu is constantly being refined, as the experienced husband and wife team at the helm look to boost their menu with more choice, better value for money and something a little different – like the ever popular Curry Laksa (spicy curry coconut soup with rice noodles) at just £6.75, or recently added Char Kuey Tiew, wok-fried noodles with prawns, Chinese sausage and vegetables for £6.00. Highlights of our meal included the maguro tataki, thick slices of tuna seared and rolled in chopped nori seaweed and sesame; pan-fried chicken gyoza dumplings, perfectly crisp; a beautifully fluffy tempura set, with two great big juicy prawns; and a deluxe sushi box that shows you can get your chopsticks on some great quality sushi at Hare and Tortoise, too. We rounded it off with a trio of Japanese flavour ice-creams (black sesame, chestnut, matcha green tea), and sadly had no room for the cheesecake or dorayaki. But that’s the thing with Hare and Tortoise. There’s no need to try it all at once. Because the prices mean you’ll be back soon enough, anyway.