Humble Chicken

So, we googled places to eat before we left Australia. Humble chicken rated high. It did not disappoint. Angelo (head chef) clearly loves his job. He’s passionate and enthusiastic about all aspects of this menu. Huge thanks to Aiden for being a gracious host. The set menu was outstanding, we paired wines with our menu. Again, knocked out of the park. I can not recommend highly enough Humble Chicken.

Long story short: this place was unreal. Food: 10/10. Service: 10/10. Atmosphere: 10/10. My best friend and I went here on her birthday, and were both blown away by the quality of food. Both of us being from Japan, we have pretty high standards when it comes to oversea Japanese restaurants--this exceeded expectations! It has the home-iness of Japanese cooking (all the right balance, all the warm heart and rich taste) elevated and wrapped up in the finest of dining experiences. The presentation alone would have scored huge points, but the fact that everything we were served was a miniature work of art? Amazing. My favorite was smoky beef tartar "snack attack" and the clementine cheesecake, my best friend loved the sukiyaki--we both loved the sashimi! Every dish was presented with such care and explanation, specific recommendation on how to eat and in what order--so it made us feel at ease and very catered to. But, the kicker: everyone at the restaurant was getting the same attentive service. How they manage it while they're bustling around making every little tiny detail perfect is beyond me, but we loved every second of it! Angelo Sato clearly knows food and I'm embarrassed I've ever said the words "I can cook," because THIS is true cooking. His head of service John Paul didn't let a single detail fall by the wayside, and was so amiable and welcoming to each diner. All the rest of the cooks and staff were equally focused and warm, and it was such a perfect experience. Obviously, cannot gush enough. Highly, highly recommend! I've never felt fancier but, at the same time, more at home. Thank you, Humble Chicken!

Visited for a celebration on recommendation from friends, Humble Chicken offers an absolutely delicious tasting menu that takes you on a journey of beautiful Japanese food from start to finish. Tasting menu comes in, as of June 2023, at £125 pp, which is decently priced for the number of courses of offer and the experience of watching the theatre of the kitchen up close and personal - seating is exclusively high top bar, allowing you a look into the preparation of each course and conversations with the chefs, and fellow guests, as part of the dining experience. Altogether with drinks and service, it totalled out around £175-195 pp, which felt of good value. Service is punctual and non-intrusive, leaving you feeling well taken care of but not overly bothered - water is refilled without you noticing, drinks offered at perfect timings and your dining area cleared between each courses swiftly but without the pressure of hurrying you along. The only criticism does come in the dining experience - and this is purely a fussy comment as it’s clear the head chef, Angelo Sato, has a vision for perfection and the accolades that come from that - is it’s almost a lucky dip based on seating who within the kitchen staff will present you and discuss your food with you, and the experience differs from person to person. It was noticeable during our evening the various levels of engagement and passion from the chefs for each course, and the confidence in talking to patrons about their work, with one instance we had a course explained a little differently (and very succinctly) to those sat next to us; one came with a real excitement and interest from the kitchen staff, and another was delivered incomplete with the staff member desperately searching the kitchen for the element they noticed was missing as they served it, and then rushing through the explanation. A very fussy comment, and not one that detracts from the skill and deliciousness of the food at all, but stood out to us as the rest of the experience was of such high standard and clearly vying for accolades in the future. All in all, cannot recommend Humble Chicken enough and you should absolutely book yourself in as soon as you can - we’re already looking forward to returning this year!

Humble Chicken stands out as an exceptional Japanese food establishment in the UK, a rarity in the culinary scene. This review focuses on the omakase set experienced in 2020, noting that the current conditions may vary. The oysters, though slightly cooked, provided a pleasing taste. The chicken skewer showcased skillful preparation, and the inclusion of rare cuts like the chicken oyster added uniqueness to the meal. The use of charcoal in the grilling process imparted an additional layer of flavor. The dessert was a creative masterpiece, featuring a visually stunning performance with shaved frozen strawberries. While slightly overpriced, Humble Chicken is definitely worth a try.

This place is phenomenal! Came in last minute and got to try their tasting menu. Each piece of food was lovingly crafted and thanks to the kitchen being just behind the bar you can see them work throughout the experience crafting it all. I would also highly recommend taking one of their drink pairings. I personally went for the non-alcoholic and got a beautifully paired drink for each part of the meal which perfectly synced with the food. I was very thankful to enjoy your food and hope to come treat myself again (once my bank balance has recovered 😂 it was worth every penny)