I was first taken to this spot by a friend on a cold evening towards the end of last semester, but I loved it so much that I’ve been coming back every month or so as a payday celebration!
Shirokiya was initially recommended to me as THE place for affordable udon, quick service, and great flavours, but it’s the ambiance of this small restaurant that keeps you coming back. Located on the corner of Buccleuch Street and Gifford Park, Shirokiya serves authentic Japanese food in a cosy casual dining setting. Its simple but welcoming interior makes it the perfect spot to escape the biting Edinburgh cold. On particularly chilly evenings, you can see the windows fogging up from the inside making the whole experience even more enjoyable.
For my first meal at Shirokiya I opted for the Niku Udon which had a lovely rich beef broth that was perfectly contrasted with the tartness of the pickled ginger. The udon noodles were also especially well cooked with a satisfying softness to them. The only downside was the sheer quantity of garlic in the dish, but I think this comes down to personal preference, rather than being a fault with the dish itself.
It wasn’t until my second visit, however, that I stumbled across the holy grail of dishes: the Ebi Tempura Udon. I swear I have dreams about this dish, and once you try it, you will too! The star of the show has to be its deceptively simple broth – salty, yet smooth, with infused notes from the tempura. I would walk across the whole of Edinburgh for this dish alone.
Not only does Shirokiya serve heartwarming food, but they do so in style. Each dish is presented with an ornately decorated spoon, perfectly sized for collecting a balanced mouthful of udon, broth, and meat or prawn. This spot always serves as a much-needed pick me up with the added bonus that you can bring your own drinks.
Whether it’s for a solo trip, or group dinner, Shirokiya never misses, hence earning itself a well-deserved 4.5 stars from me.
Image supplied by Rose Farquharson for The Student
