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Bone Daddies

Restaurants, Japanese Soho
3 out of 5 stars
(49user reviews)
Bone Daddies (Michael Franke)
Michael Franke

Time Out says

Cock scratchings are not the first thing you expect to see on a ramen bar’s menu. But Bone Daddies is not your average noodle joint. Instead, it’s a New York-inspired, butched-up ramen-ya with gutsy noodle soup dishes that don’t skimp on flavour. As you open the door you’re met with a barrage of belting rock guitar, walls covered in images of quiffed and tattooed Japanese rockabillies, and a room full of diners seated on high stools soaking it all up. So, perhaps not somewhere to bring your mum, or a date for that matter – unless you don’t mind shouting at each other. The cock scratchings turned out to be crunchy crumbled chicken skin, mixed with a little shichimi seasoning and sprinkled on to a chicken bone and soy-based ramen dish (T22) for added crunch. Other choices include one of the richest bowls of tonkotsu ramen you’ll find in London: the broth made from 20-hour simmered pork bones; sweet miso and butter ramen; and sesame sauce and peanut-laced tantanmen noodles slicked with chilli oil. There are no low-fat options here. A long list of Japanese drinks provides the accompaniment, including saké, shochu and whiskey. Service is swift and appropriately informal.

 

Posted:

Details
Static map showing venue location
Address: 30-31 Peter Street
London
W1F 0AT
Transport: Tube: Piccadilly Circus tube
Contact:
www.bonedaddiesramen.com Call Venue 020 7287 8581
Do you own this business?

Users say (49)

3 out of 5 stars

Average User Rating

3.1 / 5

Rating Breakdown

  • 5 star:8
  • 4 star:12
  • 3 star:12
  • 2 star:9
  • 1 star:8
LiveReviews|49
1 person listening
2 of 2 found helpful

Really not worth a visit if you want authentic Japanese food, couldn't even finish a bowl due to the richness of the soup due to the butter, not asian at all unless you like that type of thing! Ramen should be a broth! Really disappointed and I won't be back especially for the price paid

2 of 2 found helpful

Ramen's decent but way too expensive for what it is. Service charge is too much. A cup of green tea for £3 is a fucking joke. That should be illegal. Therefore I'm not going back. Tonkotsu is better value and Ittenbari's miso ramen's better(their other ramen sucks though).

2 of 2 found helpful

Ramen was better than I expected because I have eaten at some ramen places which opened recently. They aren't great either but the soup here is a bit better than the others. However the portions are very small and the ramen is not hot enough for me(Japanese) which means the prices are far too high. The worst thing is they add a service charge!! We spent £20 for ramen and the service charge was £2.50!! That was ridiculous. Carrying just two bowls of ramen 5 feet doesn't deserve a service charge so we won't go back there again.

2 of 2 found helpful

'Authentic' ramen should be cheap and filling. This place misses the mark. Its nothing like the much more impressive New York ramen alluded to in the article.

2 of 2 found helpful

terrible...they forgot our mains, starters and sides - had to ask 3 times. It took nearly 1.5 hrs to have a meal of a bowl of noodles. The ramen is nothing like the stuff you get in the states - over rich, salty, small portions - instead of filling, balanced and tasty. the globe artichoke still had the choke in it and it was ice cold!!! and ramen noodles...nothing like it. The waiter confessed he had never had ramen!! don't waste you're money.

1 of 1 found helpful

this place gets worse with each visit. I kept going, not because I am masochistic, but because I was hoping to get something vaguely similar to what this place was when it first opened. Nada. Disappointed 7 times. For an establishment that dares to call itself "Bone Daddies", the broth is pathetic, service is just as pathetic and they dare to charge for it. save your money and go somewhere else.

1 of 1 found helpful

Not one single vegetarian option. Very disappointing.

1 of 1 found helpful

very very SO SO ramen. Soup is too rich, makes you feel slightly sick after eating half bowl. Noodle is just standard noodle, and the pork topping is nothing to rave about too. Wouldn't bother with it if you have eaten real good ramen.

1 of 1 found helpful

Tonkatsu ramen was nice, pork broth was rich. However, portion size was a bit small... not enough soup... and drinks were expensive. Asahi was £3.50 and green tea was £3??!!!

1 of 1 found helpful

Can't really see the fuss over this place. The Ramen was nice but not amazing. The service was iffy and the décor bland.

1 of 1 found helpful

The tonkatsu ramen had the thickest richest pork broth ever. The cocktails were superb. Happy to find it wasn’t busy or noisy on a Monday night. Wins hand down over Wagamama any day!

1 of 2 found helpful

Ramen broth should be hot. Here it's luke-warm at best.

Ramen should be served relatively quickly. Here I waited 30min.

Ramen (even the best), should be inexpensive. Here it's priced like a luxury and sure as hell doesn't deliver.


But I'm sure lots of people will go and pay because more money means better, right?

tastemaker

So. Bone Daddies. I was stoked to try this place given the amount of hype surrounding it, and it pains me to say... don't believe the hype.


I came here on a Monday night - famously the quietest night of the week for dining out. Despite this we had a huge number of waiting guests stacked so close to us that I could feel them breathing on my head, moving my hair by accident when turning to screech at their friends and my friend was repeatedly bashed by a backpack. I mean, come on... dining experience? 


Then the service. Oh my gosh. Our drinks order was taken three times, each time the server clarified "so you wanted 2 ciders and a beer, yes?"... no, we wanted two beers and a cider, it's really not that hard. Guess what came to the table... 2 ciders and a beer. Sigh. 


Despite our growing dubiousness the food was delivered in record time and was delightful. And to add to this, it was very well priced - rounded up it was £16 for a cider and a ramen - a steal for a Monday night quick eat!


We were badgered constantly to take the bill. When we did it had a 12.5% service charge on it, which to be frank, was a bloody joke. They could not wait to turn the table quick enough. I had to ask a waiting guest to move so that I could dismount my stall...


The Verdict: great food let down by growing "hipster" reputation that has resulted in overcrowding and a greedy/speedy service that left a bad taste. 

tastemaker

I have heard lots of good things about Bone Daddies and with the amount ofpeople in front of us in the queue I was expecting big things….


We waited about 20 minutes for a table and we were seated on a very busy high tableand chairs which all 5”1 of me struggled to get on! The table was so busy with at least 4 different parties on it and there really wasnt much room to move elbows. Wasnt ideal for sharing bowls.


Anyway that aside we ordered two bowls of ramen, wings and buns. Our order was taken quickly and the food came out quickly which was great for our hungry tums.


I was hoping for something a bit more than what we got really. I felt the wings were over seasoned and over done, everything else was just a bit meh. I felt they either had things which were far too bland or far too over seasoned.


Prices were also on the high side which made me think I’ve had better ramen elsewhere…..


Sadly the hype of the queue didnt equate to the quality of food i would have expected.

Tastemaker

I was told to go to Bone Daddies by my mate and she said it was great. I went there wanting it to be great. It was Ok. There is this new bunch of restaurants around town that do not let you reserve a table and this means that they get loads of hype as people have to que to get a table. Then everyone goes batshiz crazy for it. I feel this place is part of this lot of places that are more hype and concept than anything. It’s an ok ramen place. Personally I found the ramen to be a bit too busy for my liking,chicken slices and chicken mince and an egg) and the meat was a bit haggard. It tasted nice but I didn’t finish it and not for being full but for just not wanting to have so much of the same taste (broth wise it’s a bit bland). The best thing was the ribs that I had for a starter. The bib thing is fun. I don’t understand the raw garlic in jars…in a place where your main cutlery is a wooden spoon…..what are we meant to do with it? The soup wan’t hot enough to soak in the garlic and if I put it in I was at risk of chomping on a raw garlic clove…what was that? Baffling. I should have asked. Please ask for me, when you go. Please tell me. Please! 

tastemaker

Hands down, the best Ramen in London. The queues are well worth the wait. Quick, easy, hearty food - doesn't get much better than that! And great value too. 

tastemaker

 Every time I eat there I feel like the food is giving me a hug.


The right balance of everything and portions are large so never go hungry.


My only problem is the place is always busy so normally have to wait and with the place being small sitting is very cramp.


But the food is worth it.

tastemaker

So I lost my lost my ramen cherry to this splendid place a few weeks ago and I have to say I am now completely addicted. I know, I know I totally missed the craze! 


Unfortunately we had to wait for around 30 min for a table to open up but that's OK because being the impoverished Londoners my friend and I are we had a lovely Tesco purchased G&T in the line. 


I had the pork dish and it was a total delight, I'm talking explosions of flavor! It was somewhat hot but I love that. My friend was equally impressed with the rib dish. 


Prices were OK for Soho and I will defiantly be heading back for my next fix. 

Tastemaker

I’ve visited the soho and the high street kensington branches of this funky ramen chain. The ramen isn’t bad I suppose, the bowls are a little smaller than other places I’ve tried and the broth is ok. It’s certainly bound to satisfy a ramen craving when you’re out and about. the steamed gyoza are good as well as the warm sake too. The decor is quite industrial and canteen like with cool music and high tables and stools. Service was pretty speedy and bonus is that you can get 50% off food at the high street kensington branch with the timeout black card too! 

Tastemaker

Given that my friend and I had been wondering around Soho for a while looking for a bite to eat that wasn't going to break the bank, I was grateful to stumble across this place and see a veggie ramen on the menu for a tenner. Ok, so once I got inside and we were sat in a corner, facing a wall (hmm, mirrors at least would have helped us to not feel like we were in a basement!) it was then I realised I was in a restaurant, pretty much specialising in meat-based soups........flash-back to my first few months living in Japan (I was there for a year) and trying to find ramen without meat in it (doesn't exist there!). As a pescatarian, I had to laugh when I realised what the restaurant was actually called - doh!.


However, this is London, so of course there was a veggie option, though more that one would have been nice. There was also a seafood option, and when I asked the waitress if this could be done in the mushroom (rather than chicken) broth, and she said yes, I was delighted. And delightful it was. Firstly it was huge (reading some of the older reviews below, I am guessing they listened to customer feedback and made their portions more generous?) and, secondly, it was damn tasty, with a real kick to it and full of great things including a perfectly poached egg.


The starters were, kinda odd.......padron peppers? Er, that's Spanish. Still, I ordered them anyway and they tasted rather good, though also rather overpriced. However, you don't need a starters to be honest, the soup is huge. My friend's meaty ramen was good, she reported - though she preferred the kick of my spicy one. As were her chashu pork and corn croquettes to start. 


The restaurant itself was buzzy and full of life; my friend and I said we felt like we were in a cool Brooklyn joint. The service was kind of lacking, but then given the difficulty in getting to us (wedged in the corner as we were), I kind of don't blame them for not wanting to bother. However, if that was the case, a 12.5% service charge was not so welcome. But, hey it's zone 1, central London, what can you do?


Would I go back? Yes, for definite, if I fancied a lovely yummy bowl of seafood ramen. But I would really like to see restaurants like this, which specialise in quite a fast turn-over (it's not a place to linger for ages) paying their staff properly and losing the service charge so it's more affordable to drop by. Just my opinion! 




tastemaker

Ok. Ramen could be slightly bigger portion but the starters are amazing. The soft shell crabs and salmon tartare put a big smile on everyone's face


Bone Daddies has become my go-to when I'm seriously craving a warm, comforting bowl of soup. I'm a big fan of the soy or spicy miso ramen, and even though it pushes the limits a tad on price, it's generous enough to feel like it's always worth it.


With so many restaurants to choose from, I’m always looking for somewhere new to go. Which is why i count the fact that I’ve been to Bone Daddies multiple times as a testament to how much I’m hooked! I get cravings for theirtantanmen ramen! Although fair warning - it’s really rich and it’s a struggle to finish. Definitely make sure you have one of the fresh juices to hand to refresh.

Tastemaker

The ramen here is sumptuous and intensely flavourful and still the best in town in spite of stiff competition these days. I had the spicy tonkhotsu and the broth is incredibly rich and delicious, the slippery ramen noodles cooked to the perfect consistency, the pork is luscious, and the tang of the spice complements the soup beautifully. It's a funny style inside that makes me think of a grungy London cafe. It doesn't feel like a place you'd find in Tokyo but does fit into Soho. I've been back here countless times as I can't get enough of the amazing ramen.

Tastemaker

I like Bone Daddies but I've always been either mid-afternoon or late evening when I've walked right in, the service has been chirpy and cheerful and the environment has been relaxed. I actually think their starters are the stars of the show - the pork and corn croquettes are delicious and the spicy edamame hit the spot, last time they even had padron peppers on the menu which puts them in my good books (even though they are distinctly Spanish and the Japanese theme is somewhat lost)... The ramen is rich but tasty and it probably is quite overpriced but so is everywhere in Soho and I can't be bothered to let it ruin what is otherwise a fun and tasty meal.



This place was packed on a weekday lunchtime, but understandably so. So what if the ramen isn't orthodox? It was fiery and delicious. If only I hadn't spilt it all down myself like a great fool. 

Tastemaker

If you can manage the queue, a great place to schlurp ramen and watch the Soho crowds go by.

Tastemaker

As a vegetarian I only have one choice on the ramen menu which is the mushroom ramen. My omnivore friend took a while to decide between the kimchee ramen (with prawn and mussels) and the spicy miso ramen (with pork neck). I convinced her to get the latter if she wanted something spicy and meaty which she got. We asked for the wavy noodle which is more curly and bouncy - what you would expect to get with ramen (and which we were advised by a regular to ask for). The waiter told us that they couldn't do that for the ramens we chose - so that is -1 star. We also chose a cold and hot oolong as beverage of choice. This was cloudy which means it's a very poor quality oolong... Not impressed -1 star for that too. When we got our ramens - it was very apparent that the broth is both oily and thick - which in some ways I don't mind but it means u can't drink the broth as it's too rich and far too salty! We really forced ourselves to finish it and had to guzzle our teas to wash away the oily salty taste and feeling. So -1 for that too. Although the broth has the flavour of what it says, it just wasn't a pleasant experience combined with the decor of the place... A bit hipster looking - just attracts all the people who don't know any better about what real ramen tastes like! -1 for decor. Just saying! (Also not a lot of choice for vegetarians in the entree menu)!


The hot stone rice bowls are really good and inexpensive. Some of the other things on the menu both times I've been have been a little on the pricey side for what your getting. French toast with green tea ice-cream was fantastic.

moderatorStaff Writer

If you like your ramen with a side of raucous rock music then you’ve come to the right place. It felt more like a night club than a restaurant especially as our group of 5 got dumped on the bar seats on the back wall – which we wouldn’t have minded if the cramped eating conditions might be reflected in the price, which it’s not. This aside the ribs were heavenly, sticky and sweet with meat falling off the bone. I sampled the tonkotsu ramen for the first time. The broth wasn’t so much broth as it was very thick and buttery, but it was tasty it just needed a bit more greens to counterbalance the richness. This is the perfect place for people who like to queue, for one person, as you’re likely to get a seat or a large group who want to make a night of it. Also make sure you wear the plastic bibs as you’re definitely make a mess!

Staff Writer

I recently visited Bone Daddies after a number of friends had recommended it. I'm fairly new in the Ramen game so was excited to try it out after receiving several glowing reviews. 


However, the food wasn't really up to much. I went for the minced pork Ramen with extra spice. The extra spice never really materialised and was ultimately a bowl of soup with a thick film of chilli oil floating on top. After eating it, I was left feeling a little groggy. The egg was a nice addition but ultimately the food was too rich.


The ambience was pretty cool but I tend to prefer a chair with a back as opposed to sitting on a stool for an hour...


I'm not in a rush to go back!

Tastemaker

Somewhere between a 3 and a 4 star review for me for Bone Daddies, a place I've heard lots about and wanted to try for AGES. First of all - love the vibe in here - it's edgy, cool with lots to look at. Service is friendly and it's quick - perfect for a bite for lunch. I had the Tantantem ramen - it was tasty but the broth was very thick, more like a curry sauce, so it left me feeling a bit queasy from over eating rich food afterwards. I'm not a fan of eggs in ramen, but that's personal taste, I'd ask for them removed next time. A good spot in central London. 


Bloody brilliant. Not authentic Ramen but not trying to be. Super rich stocks and amazing range of toppings. Not standard but that is why it is great


The worse ramen I have ever had in London! Excessively oily and salty. The only thing good was the soft boiled egg. The ingredients and the way they cook it is so not authentic, I think many Japanese would agree with me here. I had T22 which includes "cock scratchings" something that is only good for a dinner joke but extremely unappetizing. I told the staff about my less than impressed opinion and all she got to offer was telling the kitchen. I didn't even finish half of the noodle. Also the price is cheap for the level of comfort you get. Just stools and a bar table. I spend 16.5 just for a bowl of noodle and a coke. The fact that it says the hefty service charge (12.5%) is discretionary but always add into the bill is to me unfair to the customer. Just another way to hide hidden charges. Such a dishonest way of doing business. 

Staff Writer

It's fine. I think that's the most accurate  description I can give. I couldn't finish it because the broth was too think and too rich and the meat was roughly 60% fat but the noodles were good and the egg was good. Not my cup of tea but my partner really enjoyed it.


I love Ramen, and had heard a lot about Bone Daddies so finally went when it wasn't overly packed and we did enjoy it - however I think the broth was a little to rich and heavy - although it did taste amazing, but I couldn't finish it because it was a little too much. The service was very friendly and we got a free green tea ice-cream at the end of our meal (probably because we went on christmas eve).


Much better than Tonkotsu nearby, which is seriously bad. I was generally happy with it but I felt the portions were too small. Ramen should be a generous bowl of noodles and broth but Bone Daddy's portion is somewhat mean. Maybe it has been adjusted to cater for the Western market... Also where are the gyozas? You cant do ramen without them!!! I found the atmosphere a bit 'trendy' and the music kind of annoying. Overall good but not great.


im sure its tasty. butttt they dont have a single main dish which could be for either a fish only meat eating person or a vegetarian. wouldnt mind so much if i was in japan but its London were diversity is needed! bit awkward when yr in a group of meat eaters. was so looking forward to it too. seating is a bit squashed too. we went to Koya instead which despite the queue situation and slow waiters, never fails to impress.

0 of 1 found helpful

Really enjoyed a Sunday dinner here - be sure to go at an odd time to beat the queues. 

0 of 1 found helpful

A hipster noodle joint with a cool, laid back atmosphere.. Yes the portions are smaller (and pricier) than traditional ramen but with such a rich and flavoursome dishes -any more would give you an instant heart attack. What really matters is that you will not find a better bowl of Tonkotsu ramen anywhere. The 20hr brewed broth makes for the richest, most delicious and comforting bowl of delight that gives you not merely a hug but a full-on snog. Top it off with cock scratchings and you can start planning world domination.

0 of 1 found helpful

I'll keep it short and sweet. Intrigued by the recent wave of ramen places popping up in the capital, I thought I'd check out the one garnering the most hype, but which is also the least traditional. I've now been three times and have a well-formed opinion, so here we go. Bone Daddies feels like it should be in NYC's East Village, not London. It's got a rock soundtrack, unshaven tattooed staff and huge glasses of beer (Asahi Super Creamy Head, only place I've found it in London). Barely a piece of kanji script in sight. And yet it's probably the most authentic ramen I've tried outside of the US and Japan. First time I opted for their fried chicken, which is packed full of sweet gingery flavour, perfectly breaded (panko-based?) and not too greasy at all. For mains, the Sweet 3 Miso chicken ramen, with lashings of butter, corn, wakame (seaweed) and a chicken-bone broth as opposed to their fattier, more savoury pork broth. As it says on the menu, it's quite a sweet affair, reminding me a little of a good butter chicken curry, albeit with a little more balance of flavours. Great, distinctive stuff. On the second visit I opted for the tonkotsu pork broth base, cooked for 20 hours until it's intensely porky and satisfying. A much simpler style of ramen, slightly less filling and a little less generous on the cha siu than I'd like, but very tasty all the same. Rounded off by an "Unnamed" cocktail, which is probably one of the best Japanese whisky-based concoctions I've had.

0 of 1 found helpful

Very much like the US Momofuku chain ramen... westernised but flavoursome all the same. A very 'sceney' sort of restaurant. The music could do with turning down a bit - having to shout across the table to someone a foot away from you is a bit annoying. But i would go back for sure. PS - the pipette of fat is unnecessary - the broth is rich and thick enough!

0 of 1 found helpful

Fantastic little ramen joint in Soho. Atmosphere on a Thursday night was fantastic. Two of us arrived at about 1830 and were seated immediately. Parties of four or more were having to queue though. The ramen were awesome, cocktails strong, and sides divine. The variety of flavours to come from the pickles was astounding. The fruity carrot and pear(?) pickles were my favourite. Simple room temperature broccoli with an interesting horseradish-esque dip tasted as broccoli has never tasted before. We both had the Tonkotsu ramen mentioned above and found it delicious. The flavours were deep and complex. We ordered an extra topping of 'corn' (maize) which was clearly freshly cut off the cob after being grilled and added a nice extra bite to the dish. I had an Unnamed cocktail, which is whiskey based. It had a long syrupy taste and packed one hell of a punch on the way down. My partner had the Flavoured Sake of the Week (pineapple) which came in the most interesting decanter. The staff were very friendly and attentive. I shall be visiting again, and recommending to everyone I know.

0 of 1 found helpful

Pretty tasty ramen. Still not as good as in Japan, but the best I have found so far in London (Tonkontsu, Ittenbari included). Tantanmen, tsukemen (dipping ramen), shio and shoyu are all very decent. The nihonshu is reaaaally bad though (but really cheap so what else can you expect!) .

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