Japanese Food

Get ready for a flavour‑packed night exploring bold **Cambodian‑inspired cuisine** in the heart of Borough Market! We’re heading to **Barang**, an exciting new restaurant residency above The Globe Tavern that’s earning rave reviews for its vibrant dishes, smoky open‑fire cooking, and shareable plates designed to delight. ### 🌶 **Why Barang?** Barang is transforming Cambodian cuisine into a fresh, modern experience using **open‑fire techniques, punchy spice blends, and seasonal ingredients**. Diners consistently praise its **“amazing food”**, **“incredible combinations of flavours”**, and **friendly, relaxed service**. Many reviews highlight Barang as one of the most exciting culinary experiences in South East London right now — with guests eager to order *everything on the menu*! ### 🍴 **What We Might Try** While the menu changes seasonally and often leans into sharing small plates, here are some dishes that have been featured and sound irresistible: **Starters & Small Plates** * **Raw tuna** with compressed melon, lemongrass, coconut & lime * **Diver scallop** with tamarind brown butter, pickled apple & pig’s ear crackling * **Laab of venison** with pork fat & Khmer spices **Grill & Bigger Plates** * **Whole grilled red mullet** in banana leaf with Kep dipping sauce & herbs * **Bone‑in sirloin steak** served with bone marrow, prahok (fermented fish paste) dripping & chilli relish * **Smoked & roasted half mallard** with long‑pepper curry and duck flatbread **Sides & Sweet Finish** * Stir‑fried winter greens or citrus salads * **Pineapple & galangal sorbet** with candied nuts and lime‑leaf meringue And for drinks, Barang’s cocktail list — including inventive aperitifs like a **Kampot gin martini** with a Carlingford oyster — sets the tone for a flavourful evening. ### 🍷 **Experience & Atmosphere** Barang combines the buzz of Borough Market with laid‑back yet polished service, making it perfect for a **group dinner with fellow foodies** — especially those who love bold, aromatic, Southeast‑Asian flavours. The setting above The Globe Tavern adds a cosy, convivial backdrop ideal for shared plates and conversation. Please note there will be a £25 deposit payable for this event. As there is a no-show charge of this amount being charged by the restaurant we are doing this to cover any potential cancellations without advance notice. Once you have signed up for the event you will be contacted by the organiser to arrange payment. Your place won’t be confirmed until we receive the payment, and places will be offered on a first come (and paid) first served basis. **Links** Observer: [https://observer.co.uk/style/restaurants/article/barang-london-i-now-trust-this-restaurant-with-my-life](https://observer.co.uk/style/restaurants/article/barang-london-i-now-trust-this-restaurant-with-my-life) Evening Standard: [https://www.standard.co.uk/going-out/restaurants/barang-borough-market-review-london-b1267544.html](https://www.standard.co.uk/going-out/restaurants/barang-borough-market-review-london-b1267544.html) Barang home: [https://baranglondon.com/](https://baranglondon.com/)

**IMPORTANT:** To RSVP you will need to register on the **WeMeet app** [here.](https://www.weroad.com/wemeet/events/city-of-westminster/chinatown-dinner-new-friends-flavours-of-china-a5958433-5a64-43f7-9132-b2aded2e1071) **An adventurous dinner where you discover new flavours and new people at the same table.** **How does it work?** **🗓️** RSVP to secure your spot 📍 Dinner location revealed via WeMeet app notifications **24 hours before** ✔️**Confirm your spot** 18 hours before so others know who to expect Let the others know where you are when the event starts through our check in process 💰 Expect to spend between £20–30 👤 Virtual host: Shape your evening however you want 📅**Meet the group** at your WeMeet table **What to expect:** **🍣 Discover new cuisine:** This time we’re exploring Italian food, a place we fell in love with at first bite! **🤝 Meet new people:** Relaxed, no-pressure social dining where spontaneous connections happen naturally. **✨ Memorable evening:** Share stories, laughs, and a great meal with fellow adventurers. Limited spots - book yours and get ready to share more than just a meal!

**PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE TO CONFIRM SESSION DETAILS AND LET US KNOW YOU PLAN TO ATTEND. THIS IS MANDATORY.** **Want to do something useful with your exercise? GoodGym is no ordinary gym. We're a group of people who get fit by doing good - helping out local charities and community groups with physical jobs like shifting compost and planting trees.** **📍 We meet at** **Westbury Community Garden, St Awdry's Road, Barking, IG11 7QD** **at 6:15pm.** **🏃‍♂️ At 6:30pm we'll run, walk or cycle to do a 30-40 minute task.** **🏃‍♂️ Then we'll head back to where we started by 8:15pm, do some stretches and maybe grab a beverage?** It's FREE. It's fun. It's fulfilling. And we're a very friendly bunch. 🍇 — **BOOK ONTO THE SESSION** **To come to the session click here:** https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions **You will need to confirm your attendance on the GoodGym website** (this includes creating an account with us if you haven’t already - it only takes a few mins). The link above takes you to the session listings in your area - if this session doesn’t fit your schedule, you may find something that does so check it out. p.s. GoodGym is a charity and you will be asked whether you’d like to donate when first creating an account. The choice is yours and does not affect your ability to attend a session. — **FAQ** Not sure you'll keep up? GoodGym is for everyone (18+). Whether you've never run before, or are chasing a marathon PB, you are 100% welcome. We always have a back-marker so no one gets left behind. 70% of GoodGym members start as non-runners so if you're new to this kind of thing you will be supported by people who are all on the same journey. 👍 What do I need to wear? Most of us wear gym/running gear. Make sure you're prepared for the weather. Don't feel like you're fit enough? Our tasks are simple and fun. There are easy jobs as well as more challenging things for those who want a workout! The choice is always yours. Do I need to bring anything? Gardening gloves are really useful for a lot of GoodGym tasks. And a head torch too if it’s likely to get dark. Please bring some if you can but there’s no requirement 🧤💡🧤 What is GoodGym? We're a (really lovely) group of people who use our energy to make a difference in our local community (and in communities across the UK!). We often meet on a weeknight, at least once a week, for a session to do good and get fit. We'd love you to come and join us. Any questions, just pop a comment below or send me a message. Find out everything you need to know at goodgym.org

**PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE TO CONFIRM SESSION DETAILS AND LET US KNOW YOU PLAN TO ATTEND. THIS IS MANDATORY.** **Want to do something useful with your exercise? GoodGym is no ordinary gym. We're a group of people who get fit by doing good - helping out local charities and community groups with physical jobs like shifting compost and planting trees.** **📍 We meet at** **Greenleaf Road Baptist Church, 4 Greenleaf Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 6QQ** **at 6:30pm.** **🏃‍♂️ At 6:45pm we'll run, walk or cycle to do a 30-40 minute task.** **🏃‍♂️ Then we'll head back to where we started by 8:30pm, do some stretches and maybe grab a beverage?** It's FREE. It's fun. It's fulfilling. And we're a very friendly bunch. 🍇 — **BOOK ONTO THE SESSION** **To come to the session click here:** https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions **You will need to confirm your attendance on the GoodGym website** (this includes creating an account with us if you haven’t already - it only takes a few mins). The link above takes you to the session listings in your area - if this session doesn’t fit your schedule, you may find something that does so check it out. p.s. GoodGym is a charity and you will be asked whether you’d like to donate when first creating an account. The choice is yours and does not affect your ability to attend a session. — **FAQ** Not sure you'll keep up? GoodGym is for everyone (18+). Whether you've never run before, or are chasing a marathon PB, you are 100% welcome. We always have a back-marker so no one gets left behind. 70% of GoodGym members start as non-runners so if you're new to this kind of thing you will be supported by people who are all on the same journey. 👍 What do I need to wear? Most of us wear gym/running gear. Make sure you're prepared for the weather. Don't feel like you're fit enough? Our tasks are simple and fun. There are easy jobs as well as more challenging things for those who want a workout! The choice is always yours. Do I need to bring anything? Gardening gloves are really useful for a lot of GoodGym tasks. And a head torch too if it’s likely to get dark. Please bring some if you can but there’s no requirement 🧤💡🧤 What is GoodGym? We're a (really lovely) group of people who use our energy to make a difference in our local community (and in communities across the UK!). We often meet on a weeknight, at least once a week, for a session to do good and get fit. We'd love you to come and join us. Any questions, just pop a comment below or send me a message. Find out everything you need to know at goodgym.org

The first session of Menus of Conversation in 2026 will be on Thursday 12th February from 7pm onwards. We will be in the bar section on the ground floor - when you arrive, if you are trying to figure out where exactly we are in the venue, just keep an eye out for the people enjoying themselves! I have started drawing event posters and will draw another poster for next month. I would love it if you would be so kind as to check them out now on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/menusofconversation/ **Price** The event is a pay what you can event. You can tip whatever you think has been a fair price for your event experience. The suggested tip is a minimum of £4-5. You can pay with cash or card on the night. PS, if you've been before, please take a minute to complete my survey! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NZSZD88 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/menusofconversation/ and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/New-Conversation-104308482323373 **Event Description** This is a social event where people have the chance to have a one-to-one conversation with someone they may or may not have met before using a 'conversation menu' (picture attached). A conversation menu is a list of pre-written conversation starter questions which participants use to have a conversation by discussing the different questions. The questions are generally about some of life's big questions and lead to some interesting conversations about important, fundamental topics which we certainly don't get the opportunity to discuss every day. Some might consider our events to be 'small-talk free zones'. The event brings people together and invites people to discuss topics and answer questions they don't get to discuss on a daily basis, especially with people they don't know. The idea is that the more we talk about topics we don't normally talk about, to people we don't normally talk to in our habitual social circles, the more opportunities, connections and possibilities we create for ourselves. If we discuss different topics with different people, then we achieve different results. Testimonials for the events held so far include: 'For me it was a brilliant success and hopefully it will be for many others. It is a simple idea simply executed, asking people to pair up and discuss a number of questions on a list. And it works! Although I vaguely knew my partner, the questions allowed us time to touch on areas that I think we would have been otherwise unlikely to ever discuss e.g. which parts of your life have been a waste of time?' 'Surprisingly good and thoroughly worthwhile. Suggested questions excellent.' ‘I can heartily recommend coming along to a conversation event. The questions were really thought provoking and led to some fascinating conversations. I really enjoyed the evening and I came away with feeling I’d learned a lot from my conversation partner.” ‘I thought it was a very interesting meeting. I thought it was interesting to try to answer personal questions and listen to the other person.’

Chef Akbar will teach delicious, authentic Tajik dishes followed by a sit-down meal. Warm and easy, like being with family! Course fee (£54.88). **ABOUT THE CUISINE** Tajik cuisine, with its roots in the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand, is a beautiful blend of flavours and traditions from across Central Asia. Influenced by Persian, Turkish, and Russian cooking, it celebrates fresh ingredients, aromatic herbs, and gentle spices. From fragrant rice dishes like Palav to soft, hand-folded dumplings and vibrant salads, every meal is a reflection of generosity, hospitality, and the joy of sharing food together. Tajik cooking is colourful, comforting, and deeply tied to family and community—food made to be enjoyed with love. **ON THE MENU (subject to change):** * **Shee** \(Lamb Broth with Pickled Sorrel and Root Vegetables\) \| Meat \(Lamb\)*; Milk* * **Tuy Kabob** \(Wedding Kebab\) \| Meat \(Lamb\); *None* * **Moshkichiri** \(Mung Bean and Rice with Yoghurt and Onions\) \| Vegetarian; *Milk* * **Bichak-i Kadugi** \(Butternut Squash\-filled Pastries\) \| Vegetarian; *Eggs, Gluten (Wheat), Milk* * **Chalpak** \(Semolina Flatbread\) \| Vegan; *Gluten (Wheat)* * **Salati Bahor** \(Spring Salad\) \| Vegetarian; *Milk, Mustard* This menu contains meat (**lamb**). Allergens include: ***eggs, gluten, milk, mustard.*** Further details and reservation link: [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tajik-cookery-class-with-akbar-london-pop-up-tickets-1978959356708](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tajik-cookery-class-with-akbar-london-pop-up-tickets-1978959356708) Do you speak French and would like to be part of a reading group and other events in French? [https://www.meetup.com/gaia-livres/](https://www.meetup.com/The-London-French-Club/) Do you speak Spanish and would like to be part of a reading group in Spanish? [https://www.meetup.com/gaia-libros/](https://www.meetup.com/London-Spanish-Club/) Or join my eclectic English book club: [https://www.meetup.com/gaia-books](https://www.meetup.com/gaia-libros/) instagram: @persian_culture_ -Whatsapp group: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/EZk35ZbJZ6W6wwyHyuxoS2](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EZk35ZbJZ6W6wwyHyuxoS2)

**Welcome to our group!** If you're interested in Korean or Japanese culture, join our friendly meetup. This is a great place to share your passion, socialise or practice your language skills. ​**Location** ​We meet every two weeks at Macarong, a cosy Korean cafe in Golders Green - where you can have great conversations, and maybe try some tasty food or drinks too. **How to find us** There will be a small sign on our table saying "Meetup". ​**Waitlist Policy** ​Seating is limited, so if you're on the wait list, please arrive after 3:30 PM, when the cafe gets a bit quieter. ​**What to Expect** ​Our meetups have a friendly atmosphere - there's usually mix of new people and regulars. ​**Finding our group** ​We'll be at a table towards the back of the cafe. Let's share laughs and memories together! ​**RSVP Notice** ​We aim to welcome everyone who wants to come, but RSVP may close if the wait list is too long. See you soon! 👋

**Please note~ RSVP will open one week before each event. This is to avoid no shows. If you are unable to attend please mark yourself as ‘not going’ so someone else can attend in your place. Thank you. ** It's a board games club with a twist! We have a variety of games to play as well as the usual titles and favourites like Secret Hitler, Exploding Kittens and Uno so come on down if this sounds like fun to you! The games will be easy to understand as well, so don't worry about your level of board game experience! And remember to BYOBG (bring your own board games) if you have any that you would like to share :) We will meet inside TCR Bar for around 1pm. We will be seated in the boths at the back of the bar. Food and drinks are available from the bar. It would really help the venue if you could make a small purchase from the bar. Thank you.

WhatsApp Follow this link to join my WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/IE0zv2LWJIZExZInB7084C?mode=gi_t Whether you’re looking for a private dining for a private celebration your Birthday with family and friends, an important business meeting, a working lunch, or the opportunity to impress your clients over dinner. We can offer our clients access to discreet private venue or if you prefer something semi-private, we can offer our mezzanine level space where you can enjoy the buzz of the restaurant while maintaining a level of privacy. **30 pounds per person** Sharing Starters A selection to share, including: Charcuterie and cheese boards Arancini Bruschetta with cherry tomatoes Parmigiana di melanzane Bread basket Marinated olives Main Course Choose one: Spaghetti Carbonara Tagliatelle al Ragù (Bolognese) Classic Lasagna - beef ragù and béchamel Vegetarian Lasagna - basil pesto, goat cheese, and béchamel Cannelloni al Forno - stuffed pasta with beef ragù Gnocchi alla Sorrentina - tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil Polpette al Sugo - meatballs in tomato sauce Chicken Milanese - breaded chicken cutlet Dessert Choose one: Panna Cotta - chocolate or mixed berries Tiramisù Babà

This place gets crowded so let’s meet early and enjoy their very authentic Chinese food! 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse! https://www.mamachangva.com/

Love Sushi has a 4.5 rating! Get their signature 'Crush on you' roll (Yummy!). They are a fusion Asian place serving mostly Japanese, some Thai (Curried coconut chicken is great and Dam Dam noodles are spicy and really good), and they have really good Chinese won ton soup. Besides raw fish in Sushi and Maki there's cooked food like tempura and teriyaki. I love eating at "Love Sushi" as they make really good Sushi, Sashimi, Tempura, and Teriyaki, and they have Nigori Sake! Let's meet and greet over some good Asian food in Gaithersburg! Menu: http://lovesushirockville.com/menu.html All Aboard, Mates!

Join us for the fabulous curry, ramen, and more at ***Karé Bar*** in Chantilly! ***From Northern Virginia Magazine:*** Some of the best dishes in the world are fairly recent innovations. The Vietnamese banh mi, for example, appeared only in the 1950s thanks to the introduction of the French baguette in Ho Chi Minh City and the innovative thinking of the Le family. Japanese curry is a bit older, tracing back to the late 19th century, when British sailors enchanted with well-spiced Indian sauces brought those traditions back to another part of Asia. Eventually, Korea also created its own adaptation of the thick, flavorful gravy. Score another one for the global food community. Actually, score two. Kare Bar opened in Chantilly on Metrotech Drive, making it easy to head to Shilla Bakery or Chateau de Chantilly after lunch or dinner. Score three? Of course, I wouldn’t be keeping score at all if the food weren’t excellent. It is, as is the caring service and bright atmosphere. Start with something uniquely Japanese like monkfish liver with ponzu or a grilled hamachi collar, or stick to an old reliable like the juicy chicken or seafood dumplings, united by a crispy lacework of fried skirt. I tried both the Japanese and Korean curries. The latter is labeled as “spicy” on the menu, but didn’t seem to have any more heat than the Japanese curry. I recommend sticking to the Japanese sauce for its more robust flavor. Order it with the meaty, crispy donkatsu (pork cutlet curry) or the hamburger steak curry, essentially a well-seared dish of Salisbury steak. Whichever curry you order, it will come with sticky rice topped with a crisp-edged over-easy egg and a slew of veggies, ready to be drenched in curry. A shredded cabbage salad is bathed in an exceptionally appealing creamy sesame dressing. As winter sets in, there are few more fulfilling meals than a rib-sticking curry. This is the place that will keep you feeling like there’s no need to hibernate. Check out menu [here](https://karebar.com/our-menu/) **WAITLIST:** Meetup does not allow a waitlist for paid events. If this event fills and you are interested in adding your name to the waitlist, please send host a message through the app. To enhance the opportunity for great conversation, we would like to keep the group small. Please feel free to sign-up to meet us along with up to 2 friends. In the future, we will vary the days of the week, geography and the cost of restaurants so that we can attract many different types of diners. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE COMMITTED TO GO WHEN YOU RSVP FOR THIS EVENT. In the event our group incurs a fee for no-shows / late cancellations, your ability to RSVP for future events will be restricted. Thank you in advance for your understanding.Feel free to make suggestions for future meet locations. All diners will have their own tab to avoid any confusion. \*\* The small non-refundable registration fee helps us share the cost associated with Meetup platform ($360/year) and reduces the likelihood of no-shows, allowing us to better plan our events and accommodate attendees. Thank you in advance for your understanding!\*\* If you are unable to join us in March, we hope you'll stay interested and join us for a meal in the future. Looking forward to seeing you at Karé Bar in Chantilly!

Welcome to Casual Dining Out, the event series where we explore counterserve establishments, food halls, and other venues for quick bites of Asian, "fusion", and other fare! As in the past, the field for these events will typically be limited, so please RSVP quickly if you know you're coming (or drop out quickly if you can't make it to give others a chance). RSVPs will close at 4 PM the day of the event and anyone who drops afterwards may be subject to the dreaded "no show" designation. This edition: a unique place that serves Liuzhou-style luosifen (river snail soup) and other Chinese/Taiwanese delicacies. [https://www.yanzinoodle.com/](https://www.yanzinoodle.com/) As always, a bonus activity could follow if the mood is right. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- If you have Instagram, you can check out our account at asiandiningandadventuregroup for photos and announcements of group outings!

Learn the elegant art of Japanese Calligraphy in a single, focused project! **When:** Sunday, 15 Feb 2026, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM **Where:** Nova Labs, 3850 Jermantown Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030 **Registration** is **Online Only** at: https://portal.nova-labs.org/event-6471021 **Details:** Learn the elegant art of Japanese Calligraphy in a single, focused project! We'll teach you how to properly use and care for the tools. By the end of class, you will create a beautiful, inspirational Japanese word on Hanshi paper to display proudly in your home. Start your calligraphy journey today! This class includes the Brushes that you'll need in this class so you can keep practicing on your own! Children are welcome, but registration is required. Any child under 12 must be registered and attend with a parent or guardian.

Regular boba tea meetup for people to meet, make new friends, or enjoy general conversations. Great for those who are new in town or find new activities to do!