Koya

One of The Boyfriend’s colleagues told us about this little eatery called Koya in Soho a couple of months ago.  From what we’ve  read it appeared to be a favourite with food bloggers but given the size of the place (it’s fairly small seating only around 50 people with no reservation policy)  - it’s taken us a few attempts to get a table.

First attempt – Friday 17^th December 2010

We got to Koya around 7:30pm and there was a long queue.  I was so hungry and wasn’t prepared to wait, so went for Korean BBQ instead.

Second attempt – Friday 8^th January 2011

Given it was a Friday and restaurants tended to be busy, I was prepared to leave work on time so we could get a table at Koya.  However, just before 5pm some urgent things came up and they had to be done on the day.  Typical, wasn’t it?!

I called The Boyfriend to deliver the bad news that I might be late.  Luckily The Boyfriend could get to the restaurant at 6pm, phew ‘Ok he could get a table for us then’ I thought.  When I finally managed to get out of the office at 6:30pm I called The Boyfriend to see whether he managed to us a table.  He said they wouldn’t let him have a table without all parties were present.  ‘What?’  I screamed and he said ‘there wasn’t anyone there at 6pm so we should be ok to get a table if you could be here quickly.’  I got the restaurant just before 7pm and there was a queue AGAIN!  Arrrh!  I couldn’t tell you how much I was hating accounting at that particular moment.  As most the tables were still waiting for their foods, we decided not to wait that time either.  We had burgers !

Third attempt – Friday 15^th January 2011

The Boyfriend and I decided to give Koya one more try, well… more like he was going to give me one more try to be on time.  I switched off my computer at 5:31pm and started packing my things, but then I overheard one of my colleagues talking about an investment I looked after.  Ok it was decision time, should I help her and be late again and risked another chance of not being able to get into Koya or should I just go?!  Oh… I hated the fact that I was diligent so I helped her and only managed to leave the office at 6pm.  I called The Boyfriend and I could tell he was getting tired of my excuses but I promised I’d be there in 15 minutes.  That was a little challenging given that I was in my high heels!  I was walking and I was running and by the time I got to the restaurant I was out of breath and tired!  It was third time lucky – we managed to get a table!

… In terms of the food, it was orightish, didn’t really see what the fuss was all about.  Good Udon noodles and tempuras but expensive for what it was.

Prawn tempura curry rice

Mushroom and walnut miso udon

Fish n chips