Beer & Buns

Great concept, amazing buns and wings(above all the sweet and spicy), excellent location and atmosphere.
On Mondays they do the happy Mondays, where with 7.50 pounds it's included 2 buns and a a pint of Japanese beer. All the games are also free in this day, you can play foosball and pinball machine.
Good experience after a hard day of work!

Beer & Buns is a pop-up Izakaya that offers the UK’s largest range of Japanese craft beer and soft, pillow-like steamed ‘Hirata’ buns filled with a choice of delicious fillings and incredibly crispy Korean style jumbo chicken wings.

Pop-ups have completely revolutionised the dining scene in London. It has given a chance to all these amazing chefs and restauranteurs to showcase their talent and passion for food.

The first time I had Hirata buns was at Flesh and Buns. I haven’t looked back since I had those. Enter- Beer and Buns. Yep, you guessed it! They do beer and buns not to mention some finger lick in’ delicious Korean style chicken wings too. But they don’t just do any beer- they house UK’s largest range of Japanese craft beer.

My food blogger friends and I decided to hold our first proper meet-up in their premises “upstairs @ K10”. You can doodle on the wall while you wait for your food. There are fussball tables as well as retro pinballs. Go easy on the beer and the fussball please. Saw some guys get really emotional while drinking, eating and playing!

Don’t come to this place on your first date because things get messy. Or may be do- it’ll either kill the awkwardness or make you not want to see that person again. Either way- it’s a winner! ;) Yes, I ate with my hands, they got messy and wasn’t even ashamed! Let’s just get one thing straight though- you don’t eat chicken wings with a knife and fork. EVER! 

Look at those steamy, melt in your mouth buns with the most delicious fillings of aubergine (for vegetarians), duck and chicken. It was one of the best meals I’ve ever had- simple menu, mouthwatering food, fun and games! What more can you want? :)

I LOVE Korean style chicken wings- they are the best food every invented. My favourites were the spicy and soy flavoured wings. I really hope these guys stay around for a while as Liverpool Street definitely needs more places like these. Simple menu, great service and oh Tuesdays are always 2 for 1. So what are you waiting for?! Take your group of friends there ASAP!

Until recently I was what you called ‘bun-loyal’. My allegiances were clear, I was a devotee of the classic bready, preferably brioche, burger bun. As a self-confessed burgerholic (rewind to Burger Wellington 2012 and 2013 where I demolished 10 burgers in 14 days) I have no choice but to be a fan. After all, the bun is one of the three fundamental components of a burger, without it it's just meat and 3 vege.

But lately there is a new bun that’s caught my eye… I know it’s been delighting fans for centuries but only in recent years has it become mainstream. I would credit, or blame depending on which side of the bun you’re on, David Chang for making it cool and London’s love of a trend for making it a craze. Of course, I am talking about the Hirata style steamed bun also known as bao or mantou.

Any trendy Asian-inspired food venture worth their weight in pork belly has currently got their steamer on full throttle because these buns are everywhere and people are going mad for them. No one can deny the success of Flesh & Buns, I’ve endured the ridiculous line for Yum Bun at Hawker House, and one of the most anticipated restaurant openings of 2015 is the permanent home of Bao London. Joining the bun brigade is new pop-up restaurant Beer and Buns which serves… well it’s obvious isn’t it? So last week some new foodie friends and I went to check it out…

Beer and Buns is located above K10 Japanese restaurant but could not be a more different vibe. We walked up the dimly lit stairwell with it’s blackboard walls covered in chalk scribbles to find more of the same in the dining room along with picnic style tables covered with Asahi beer boxes, music blasting, and the opportunity for a round of foosball or pinball between bites. This place looks more man cave or teenage rumpus room than restaurant but I actually like it; not at all pretentious, this feels like somewhere you come for a good time.

The drinks menu has an impressive selection of Japanese craft beers as well as some cocktails, wine and sake. I'm not a big beer drinker but since I've given up wine (my usual poison) for Lent I figured, when in Rome right? I chose a Coedo Shikkoku, a rather enjoyable dark aged lager, it didn’t taste as potent or chocolatey as the stouts or porters I enjoy but it was still an ideal accompaniment for the food.

This was one of those rare occasions where there would be no indecisive ordering or plate envy because we got everything on the menu. Not hard when there are only 7 items- 4 different fillings for the Hirata buns and 3 different flavours of wings. Have I mentioned how much I like a short and snappy menu? Only downside for the kitchen is that we now expect them to be executed perfectly. Beer and Buns didn't quite reach that tall order but there were definitely no complaints.

Their buns are as they claimed, soft and pillow-like, and just as they should be. My favourite of the fillings was their signature chicken karaage with Japanese yuzu koshu slaw- moist chicken, sufficient crunch and a bit of a spicy kick. For a girl who’s craved a shameful KFC zinger burger for the last two years, this was a dream come true. My biggest surprise was the aubergine katsu with avocado salsa with miso sauce, I usually avoid this purple devil of a vegetable like the plague but I thought their falafel-like patty was really tasty. The duck with pickled cucumber, caramelised spring onion and harasame sauce and pork belly with braised red cabbage and mustard mayo were also good but don’t leave much of an impression compared to other versions out there.

By this stage we had already made quite the happy mess but soon realised the bits of slaw and salsa on the table were nothing compared to the finger-licking chicken-wing-eating to come. Described as jumbo wings, we weren’t disappointed… they were tender, crunchy, and extremely saucy. I’m warning you now, avoid these if you’re wearing white or are in too-polite company because these wings are a deliciously messy experience. After sampling all the flavours, we were unanimous in naming the tebasake soy garlic our favourite, though I was also quite partial to the Korean hot.

A few hours later we left Beer and Buns full and happy, it’s as simple as that. This is the kind of place you come with a group of friends for a fuss free meal and a laugh- you all tuck in, get your hands dirty, perhaps even a smear of sauce round your lips and it’s all ok. After our first round of buns and wings, we ordered a couple more which the gents at Beer and Buns kindly gave us on the house- thanks!

Beer and Buns. Buns and Wings. Wings and Pinball. Pinball and Foosball. Foosball and Chalkboards. Chalkboards and Googly Eyes. Googly Eyes and Slushies. Slushies and Beer. BEER AND BUNS!

Easiest write up ever.

OK, I'll give you a little more.

Beer & Buns is a new popup Izakaya with long term aspirations, tucked above K10 on Appold Street near Liverpool Street. They currently have the UK's largest range of Japanese craft beer on offer, mostly in bottles, and an array of hirata buns and crispy Korean style jumbo wings to soak it all up.

We kicked off with Echigo Koshihikari, the first Japanese craft beer imported from Niigata Prefecture in Japan. It's is a rice lager that uses a super-premium short grain rice called Koshihikari, which is harvested literally from the backyard of the Echigo Brewery. It's pricey at £9.95 for 500ml but it is a classy (and hard to find) beer. Bone Daddies' new Shackfuyu Popup in Soho has also got hold of it and is selling it for £10.20, so it must be a rather expensive import!

I then worked through some of the impressive Coedo Brewery range which have recently been imported by Amathus. I've previously had their wonderful Beniaka Sweet Potato Ale, so I opted for a quirky Kyara India Pale Lager, and a rich, malty Shikokku Black Lager. I also made space for a Hitachino Nest Beer Amber Ale which was enjoyable if not particularly thrilling. Hopefully some more of the Hitachino Nest Beers will make their way to the UK soon.

It wouldn't be an Izakaya without food though, and we munched our way through the hirata buns and jumbo wings menu. The steamed buns themselves were a little on the sticky side but the fillings were promising, particularly the signature Chicken Karaage with Yuzu Koshu Slaw. £6.50 for two is perfectly reasonable. The Korean style wings are a truly messy affair, and not short on heat. £9.95 for six is a steal (jumbo is the key word), though you may find yourself waving a white (or sauce covered) flag if you can't handle the kick.

If beer isn't your thing, you can get by with some wine and sake, or their dangerously drinkable boozy slushies (frozen Daiquiris and Margaritas turned Japanese with Soju and Yuzu Juice).

There's plenty of space for everyone, so bring a bunch of mates and grab a large table (no reservations) before splintering off to play pinball or foosball, and be sure to leave your mark on their chalkboard walls. Julian & co. (who are a friendly bunch) have created the perfect post-work hangout - let's hope it's here to stay!

Lovely food and friendly service. Great deal on Nez where it costs just £24pp for three hours of unlimited beers, proseccos and G&Ts along with two baos and a side of fries/sweet potato fries. Also the pinball machine was good fun! Short walk from Liverpool Street station.

I really like this place, really casual and great chicken wings and buns! Love the beer selection too. They used to have awesome Japanese gameshows playing in the background - I used to love this but they no longer do it - please bring it back!!!

More people ought to know about this casual yet extremely fun spot with affordable food and alcohol and free foosball and pinball games. The vibes are very fun and provide a good alternative to the Shoreditch dancefloors

The buns are amazing, we had the ebi katsu and the pork belly...mmmm so lush! The wings are crispy and juicy - perfect. The chilli squid has a kick to it that's just about right. Highly recommend!

If you wanna chill out with your friends while having good quality drinks and good food this is the place for you. Just in Shoreditch a lovely and friendly atmospheric place waiting for you. The cocktails were absolutely amazing. The food was super tasty and especially the buns. They were weirdly white , have never see anything like this before but I am telling you, you have to try them. so good!!!