Some restaurants you go to and you just know you’re somewhere special. Where the food takes you on a journey of all senses. Newly opened Asian restaurant UBA does just that. Offering a gastronomic journey through the bustling streets and aromatic alleys of Asia’s most vibrant cities, you can travel through Hong Kong and Hanoi, Kyoto, Singapore and Bangkok, all without leaving your seat. Nestled in the vibrant East End, it’s the ideal spot when fancying Asian food in a stunning setting, where you know the service will be brilliant and the atmosphere electric.
From the team behind Sucre, Alma and CLAP London, UBA is designed to be a sharing menu, where you can select a range of dishes to split with others at your table. A sociable experience, it makes dining out fun, exciting and offers the chance to try a wide myriad of dishes that you wouldn’t otherwise.
What is the food like at UBA Restaurant Shoreditch?
Featuring a plethora of Pan-Asian dishes, each plate is rooted in tradition, but with a theatrical twist from the freshest sashimi through to delicious dim sum, Hirata buns, ramen and smokey dishes from the robata grill.
Whilst the whole menu deserves to be discovered, highlights include super sweet corn with Tokyo butter and wasabi furikake, a chilled spinach salad and handmade soba tofu with a goma dressing. Larger plates from UBA’s robata grill include the baby chicken with barley ginger miso, crispy rice noodles, coriander and sesame; and yuzu shiso marinated lamb cutlets with a complex nashi pear tomato miso kimchi sauce.
Personal favourites of ours were the baby chicken, an incredible infusion of flavour while still retaining a relative simplicity. The marinated lamb cutlets were also a winner, melting in the mouth.
Crafted to be consumed with childlike glee, UBA’s showstopping desserts include the lychee, jasmine and raspberry crème brulée with Calpis sorbet; and a vanilla tofu cheesecake, hidden beneath a fluffy cloud of Sakura floss.
When they arrived at the table, we were mesmerised, the presentation being upped a notch from what you might expect. Rather than a forlorn cake sat begrudgingly in the middle of a plate, these were showstoppers, designed to be marvelled at. We were equally pleased that they tasted as good as they looked, something that often falls short when the presentation is this impressive
What are the drinks like at UBA Restaurant Shoreditch?
The bar menu takes drinkers on a journey with libations that capture the essence of vibrant cityscapes, serene temple gardens, and bustling culinary scenes. Every sip promises a story, a connection to a faraway land, and a taste of authentic Asian culture.
Must-tries from Head Bartender Alex Cernatu include the Jasmine Pearl with Roku gin, lemongrass and ginger cordial, jasmine pearl and peach soda, designed to whisk guests to the lush forests of Thailand; and transporting to Sichuan province tea plantation is the Smoky Dragon with Tarry Lapsang Souchong tea-infused tequila and Szechuan pepper infused agave.
A range of sakes from the Akashi-Tai family-run brewery, dating back to 1856, also feature alongside Japanese liqueurs and a carefully curated wine list.
How about the UBA Interiors?
Located within East London’s stylish Hart Shoreditch hotel, UBA’s opulent interiors are inspired by cultures and mythology across Asia. Painted in a palette of traditional and auspicious shades of red and gold, standout features include a statement marble bar offering counter dining for up to 14, red velvet banquette seating, lava stone tabletops with antique mirrors, Asian ceramics and decorative lighting.
The restaurant also boasts a private dining room seating 12. Everywhere you look there’s something to see, yet it’s not overwhelming. Instead you feel calm, relaxed and ready to enjoy the evening before you.
When we visited UBA Shoreditch, we were impressed with every aspect. From the interiors to the food presentation, flavours and drinks menu, it really didn’t disappoint. Finding Pan-Asian food that stands out in such a way as this in London is no mean feat, but UBA really achieve it. We left feeling full, impressed and wondering just when we could go again.
UBA
61, 67 Great Eastern St
London
EC2A 3HU
