logo
Best Edinburgh restaurants according to renowned chefs Jimmy Lee and Kaori Simpson

Best Edinburgh restaurants according to renowned chefs Jimmy Lee and Kaori Simpson

Edinburgh Live07-05-2025
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Finding the right spot to grab a bite to eat in the capital is never easy with so many options littered throughout the city.
With that in mind, two renowned Scottish chefs have covered all the bases, giving their professional opinion on which eateries they would dine in for specific occasions.
First up is Japanese entrepreneur and chef Kaori Simpson. She is the culinary heart behind Edinburgh's award-winning Harajuku Kitchen (Golden Chopsticks Best Restaurant in Scotland 2019 & 2021).
Raised in a family deeply connected to Japanese cuisine and with experience at Michelin-starred The Kitchin, Kaori masterfully blends her heritage with a passion for seasonal Scottish ingredients to create authentic and celebrated Japanese comfort food.
Harajuku Kitchen's quality and authenticity have earned it a loyal following and the distinction of being the official caterer for the Consulate General of Japan and other key organisations.
Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages.
Kaori's picks for EDINBURGH
1. Best restaurant for a first date?
"Little Capo opened not too long ago but has been an exciting addition to the Edinburgh dining scene.
"It serves Italian style small and large plates and has a fabulous cocktail list. The atmosphere is electric and there is a real buzz no matter what day or time you go!"
2. Best place to get authentic food?
"Nixo's Greek Street Food in Portobello. It serves the best gyros outside of Greece - brings me back to Mykonos Island!"
3. Best place to grab Sunday brunch?
"Margot in Bruntsfield. It only opened last year and is part of the team behind the restaurant, leftfield.
"It's a cool little neighbourhood hangout with stunning dishes and pastries on offer. It's the best brunch you can get in the Southside! Order the Turkish eggs. They are incredible."
4. Best late night/guilty pleasure?
"Edinburgh Street Food for sure. I'm not being biased as we are a vendor there, but it has so many options with a fantastic bar and the food and drinks are brought to the tables. I love a late night Razzo Pizza!"
5. What the must-go place you recommend to everyone to try that no one really knows about?
"Konj Persian Cafe at the Lyceum Theatre. Farah the chef and owner uses her family recipes to create hearty Iranian dishes."
Next is Jimmy Lee, who is the dynamic chef proprietor behind Glasgow's popular Lychee Oriental and a familiar face on ITV's 'This Morning' and previously as co-host of 'Julie and Jimmy's Hot Woks'. With over 40 million views on TikTok, his culinary expertise reaches a wide audience.
Jimmy has also showcased his skills on BBC's 'Great British Menu', judged on 'Kirstie's Handmade Christmas', and on Channel 4's 'My Kitchen Rules' alongside Prue Leith and Michael Caine. His debut cookbook, "Jimmy's Smoking Wok," offers readers his signature fast and flavourful recipes, from takeaway favourites to authentic Chinese dishes, charting his journey from his father's takeaway to becoming a celebrated chef and online sensation.
Jimmy's picks for EDINBURGH
1. Best restaurant for a first date?
"You're in Edinburgh you need to impress - go to Sushi Samba: great sushi and stunning views."
2. Best place to get authentic food?
"Sichuan House - Authentic Sichuan cuisine. It's always busy with students which is a good sign!
"Mao's Braised Pork is a must and if you're feeling adventurous try the Sliced Beef in Hot Chilli Oil."
3. Best place to grab Sunday brunch?
"Singapore Coffee House - Experience Singapore Coffee culture in Edinburgh! It serves Delicious Coffee, and you need to try the Kaya Toast with Soft Eggs"
4. Best late night/guilty pleasure?
"Bar Napoli - After a late night out you must come here for a pizza! specifically for the Pizza Norcina!"
5. What must-visit place do you recommend to everyone to try that no one really knows about?
Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
"Imperial Palace - Authentic Dim Sum in outside the City Centre. You won't get better than this place. The roast duck is melt-in-your-mouth amazing."
Both restaurateurs are set to appear at the Ideal Home Show Scotland which is set to take place from May 23 to the 26, from 10 am to 5 pm, at the SEC, with the popular event bringing together hundreds of brands to shop from, live talks from top celebrities, the latest technology, and fresh ideas from our team of experts. Tickets also include free entry to The Eat & Drink Festival.
Tickets are available now from the Ideal Home Show Scotland website.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

La Plata guide: what to do and see in the city
La Plata guide: what to do and see in the city

Time Out

time26 minutes ago

  • Time Out

La Plata guide: what to do and see in the city

This is a space inspired by Japanese culture located in Colonia Urquiza, just a few kilometers from La Plata. The garden-farm was created in 1967 by a Japanese family to promote mini rural tourism and offer an ideal outdoor space for nature activities and relaxation. Its traditional red bridges, lily pond (water plants with floating flowers), and oriental structure and ambiance create a peaceful, contemplative environment—a small escape with elements of Japanese culture in the middle of the city. Additionally, at Mizujo you can visit the biopark and interact with farm animals, buy flowers and plants at the nursery, and purchase fruits, vegetables, and ingredients for Asian cooking at their greengrocer.

The Human League to headline 80's Calling Dundee -here's the full line up, set times & more
The Human League to headline 80's Calling Dundee -here's the full line up, set times & more

Scotsman

time40 minutes ago

  • Scotsman

The Human League to headline 80's Calling Dundee -here's the full line up, set times & more

The Human League will headline 80's Calling in Dundee. Everything you should know about 80's Calling at Slessor Gardens in Dundee on Saturday. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Human League are set to entertain Scottish crowds on Saturday with their headline slot at Discovery Festival in Dundee. Day 2 of the weekend-long event will see the synth-pop band bring their greatest hits including Don't You Want Me to Slessor Gardens, with a line-up including special guests ABC. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad South Yorkshire icons The Human League are still going strong after nearly fifty years. Photo: CUFFE & TAYLOR/THE PIECE HALL It follows Ocean Colour Scene's time at the festival on Friday, and comes ahead of Tom Jones' set on Sunday. If you're heading along - or are considering snapping up a last minute ticket - here's everything you need to know about 80's Calling Dundee. When will gates open for 80's Calling Dundee? Gates will open at Slessor Gardens in Dundee for 80's Calling at 1pm on Saturday. What are the set times for 80's Calling Dundee? The early start to day two of Dundee Discovery Festival will see acts take to the stage from the early afternoon. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad While not all of the official set times have been revealed, expect the running order of events to look something like this: Gates open : 1pm : 1pm T'Pau : 1.45pm 1.45pm Altered Images : TBC : TBC Toyah : TBC : TBC Big Country : TBC : TBC The Christians : TBC : TBC ABC : TBC : TBC The Human League: TBC Celtic rockers Big Country. | Provided Based on timings from Friday and previous 80's Calling Events, it is likely that The Human League will take to the stage for their headline slot at around 9.30pm - but all available timings are subject to change. The event is expected to finish around 10.45pm, with a curfew at 11pm. What will the weather be like? On Saturday, according to the Met Office the weather in Dundee will be sunny with some light showers expected. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad So pack both your suncream and a cagoule, as temperatures will range from about 19C to 15C throughout the day. What items are banned from 80's Calling Dundee? Festivalgoers are advised to avoid bringing bags where possible, and that if you must take one it is no larger than a sheet of A4 paper. Prohibited items include: Food and drink (a doctor's note will permit food/drink required for medical conditions). Water will be available at the bars free of charge. Glass containers, including perfume and aftershave Camping chairs, folding chairs, gazebos or picnic blankets Professional cameras, video cameras or audio recording devices Dogs (except assistance dogs) As it is a standing event, organisers state that those who require assistance for medical reasons to alert the medial team as no camping equipment of any kind is allowed. Can I leave and come back? Once you have entered Slessor Gardens for 80's Calling Dundee, no re-entry will be permitted. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dundee's Slessor Gardens. Is 80's Calling at Slessor Gardens cashless? All bars at Dundee Discovery Festival are cashless. However, cash can be used to purchase tokens with a token both located by the main entrance. They will be valid only for bars, and not food vendors. There are no ATMs on site. What will food and drink be like? There will be a number of food and drink vendors in operation at Slessor Gardens during the event. There will be four bars in operation on the site - including one dedicated to prosecco - as well as an additional private bar and toilets for 'Gold Area' ticketholders. Meanwhile, food vendors will include: Loaded dogs & fries Salt 'n chilli chicken Burgers Pizza Mexican Duck wraps Greek Souvlaki Coffee/donut and crepes Pick and mix sweets Can I still buy tickets for 80's Calling Dundee? Yes, there are still some limited tickets available for 80's Calling Dundee - but they are likely to be in high demand. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Available via Ticketmaster, you can select from general admission for Friday only, or for the entire weekend. In addition, 'Gold Circle' tickets are still on sale. How much are tickets? Here's how much tickets cost for 80's Calling Dundee: General Admission (day) : £62.90 : £62.90 Gold Circle (day): £91 £91 Discovery Festival & 80's Calling Weekend General Admission ticket (Friday-Sunday): £168.40 Additional handling fees will be added to each order, and only 8 tickets may be purchased per person. What can I do if I can no longer go? For those who booked their tickets months in advance and can no longer attend, unfortunately there are no refunds or transfers available. That being said, some ticket outlets have an approved re-sale function you may be able to take advantage of. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad

Who is supporting Oasis on their 2025 tour?
Who is supporting Oasis on their 2025 tour?

Daily Record

timean hour ago

  • Daily Record

Who is supporting Oasis on their 2025 tour?

Noel and Liam Gallagher have had a grip on audiences since they kicked off their Oasis Live '25 tour, with more incredible performances on the way Fans prayers were finally answered following the news of the highly-anticipated Oasis reunion. Brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher have already launched their tour, performing to fans in Cardiff earlier this month as well as Manchester's Heaton Park last weekend and five nights at Wembley kicking off tonight. ‌ The tour will see Oasis perform 15 dates across the UK, before taking the US by storm, returning for two additional dates at London's Wembley stadium before heading on to Ireland and then Canada. ‌ Noel and Liam are of course the pinnacle of the show, but many fans are wondering who the warm-up act will be. Scottish fans are preparing themselves for three dates in the capital, as they gear up to play at Edinburgh Murrayfield later this year. ‌ And they are not set to disappoint when it comes to the full show, including the support act. For their UK and Ireland leg of the tour, the supporting acts are The Verve's Richard Ashcroft and Liverpool band Cast. Both have history with Oasis, with Britpop band Cast having supported the brothers previously back in 1996 at Knebworth. Richard Ashcroft has also been involved in a collab with Liam Gallagher on stage in recent years. ‌ Fans have been promised to be transported back to the 90s with Ashcroft taking to the stage. The singer was announced as the official support act for the UK and Ireland dates last year. Cast were formed with frontman John Powers after his split from The La's, with many likely to recognise him from supporting Oasis in the 90s. ‌ For Oasis fans who are making a trip of it and heading across the pond for one of their US shows, the band will be supported by London-formed Cage The Elephant on those dates. Oasis are gearing up to perform at London's Wembley Stadium this weekend, where they are due to appear on July 25, 26 and 30 and August 2 and 3. They will move on to perform in Scotland for fans at Edinburgh's Murrayfield on the weekend of August 8 and 9, and on Tuesday, August 12. The Gallagher brothers will be occupied with the tour until the end of the year, with performances scheduled up to late November. The final night of their tour is November 23 in Brazil.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store