Where East meets West in a meet-cute in Modern London
When Bone Daddies – The Daddy of Ramen – have a new promotion happening you need to sit up and listen. So, when they introduced their first ever Bone Daddies Breakfast Menu I sat up and I listened and I paid a visit to try out the new menu because I knew this would be breakfast with a Bone Daddies twist, writes Michael Holland.
I was warned that there is a lot on the new menu so I took Frank along, my theatre producer friend with a Caribbean sweet tooth that would counter my savoury-favoured palate.
A warm Marius smile welcomed us into the Victoria store, where the breakfast promotion is debuting, and where Marius held all the information we needed, and more. He kindly helped Frank pronounce the Oh Shittake bao bun, while I was willing to let him carry on in his own inimitable way. Better still, Marius, could fill in the menu gaps , such as what the buldak mayo consists of. Plus, he knew the whole history of Bone Daddies so could answer all newbie Frank’s questions.
In a mix of suggestions from Marius and choices that caught our eye, we pretty much sampled everything that was worth sampling, and there was not one thing I would not willingly have again.
I was there for an experience, not to continue any hard-held thoughts on what breakfast should be, so I was looking for the dishes and drinks that intrigued me, like the Caramel Miso Latte, a creamy, sweet delight. Frank went for a Yuzu Matcha Lemonade that he emphatically told me was too nice to share!
First up were the Spam Fries, a nostalgic joy but now served with a 21st century upgrade and a dip with a kick.
We then discovered the Breakfast Tots had so much going on, but each element of their make up was crucial: brown sugar bacon, cheese, buldak mayo, spring onion and black sesame seeds. They were my favourite.
I love Bao Buns so we ordered the Oh Shittake, which created much merriment, and Bacon-Egg, knowing it would not be anything like an ordinary egg and bacon roll. Frank’s choice came with the mushrooms, burnt cheese, fried egg, smashed tots and Korean mayo. Unbelievably good.
My bun came with all of the above but with the cheese swapped for bacon. I could eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and then do a supper one later on! The beauty of biting into the soft bao before it hits the crispy bacon is a match made where East meets West in a meet-cute on the Old Kent Road.
At the same time Frank had called on Sugared French Toast, a doorstep of shokupan (Japanese Milk Bread), soaked in cinnamon with sugar and maple syrup. I had a taste and it was more than moreish – It was addictive!
We had been breakfasting hard and fast for some time now and a little break from the hot food was required. That did not mean putting our feet up and the telly on to watch Good Morning Britain, it was more about Tamagoyaki, the traditional Japanese rolled eggs. We shared one that came with smoked salmon, smashed avocado, carrot pickle, lemon and yuzu mayo. It worked its curative magic; I felt like I’d had a meditation session
The BD staff could see we were slowing down. They brought water for me and Frank asked for a Strawberry Iced Matcha. There was one more dish to go, but not just yet.
We chatted with Marius, said hello to other staff members and caught up with each other’s projects. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the big bowl being ceremoniously carried across the restaurant. This was the Breakfast Ramen, the king of the new menu: Bone Daddies house-made pork broth (simmered for over 20 hours to create a thick density that coats the mouth and lines the whole body inside), brown sugar bacon, roasted tomato, half soy egg, mayo oil, spring onion, beansprouts and noodles that were just on the good side of al dente.
The ramen is the Daddy that gives the business its name and which has taken it from one initial outlet to opening many more around the capital. This is what it’s all about. This ramen is what I fell in love at their Bermondsey site under the arches. And now here it was in breakfast form!
For some people egg, bacon and tomatoes on a bed of noodles in a sea of thick soup is a breakfast too far. I say throw off your shackles and try something new.
The Bone Daddies Breakfast Menu is only on at the Victoria branch, Nova Development, 9 Sir Simon Milton Square, Westminster, London, SW1E 5DJ
Breakfast is served daily from 7.30am – 11am.
Website: https://bonedaddies.com/
