Brand new pan-Asian restaurant Gura Gura has quietly opened its doors late last month in The Yards, Covent Garden. The restaurant, from experienced restaurateur Gobind Chona, offers a modern menu with flavours from across Asia spotlighting Japanese, Thai and Chinese elements alongside a playful cocktail list. The dramatic dining areas and downstairs bar are designed by Orphic Design Studios.
The extensive food menu opens with a selection of fresh sushi made by hand at the upstairs sushi bar; nigiri and sashimi platters are made to share and Uramaki including Spider Roll – Soft shell crab, avocado, cucumber & yuzu mayo (12) and Dragon Roll – Tempura prawn, avocado, cucumber and sweet soy kabayaki sauce (14) are also made fresh to order.
Small plates include a range of hot and cold dishes: Lotus root with wood ear fungus, fresh soybeans, pickled mooli in soy miso dressing (9) Coriander chicken thigh with soy chilli broth served with bean sprouts and cucumber (8) and Hiyayakko fresh tofu with katsuobushi and mentsuyu (6.50). Hot small plates include Chicken karaage with sweet soy and lime kabayaki sauce (10), Crispy nori wrapped beancurd roll filled with seafood and pork (9) and Korean pajeon pancake with oyster, squid, prawn and spring onion (9). A dedicated dumpling offering includes steamed handmade items such as Scallop and prawn shu mai (9), Pork and chicken lo mai gai (7.50) and Bean curd seafood roll (7.50).
At the centre of Gura Gura’s menu is a range of larger plates, here the pan-Asian influence is most evident with a range of classic and fusion dishes on offer including Kabayaki Black Cod with shellfish veloute and pea sprouts (29), Robata grilled lamb rack marinated in soy served with nori gratin dauphinoise (24) and Malaysian Mee Rebus with noodles, fritters, tofu and vegetables (12).
The desserts include a selection of Southeast Asian warm soups, all priced at 6.50, Peanut soup served with peanut tang yuan rice balls and Bubur cha cha congee with orange and purple sweet potato & sago pearls.
The cocktail-led drinks list at Gura Gura celebrates many of the same ingredients used in the food, whilst offering new flavour combinations and experiences to drinkers. The seasonally changing list opens with drinks such as Balsamic Sea – a mix of nori, raspberry and rose cordial and Highland Harvest Scotch and Tobacco Negroni – a twist on a classic with the addition of tobacco liquor and maple syrup. Gura Gura will also have its own bespoke Gin, Vodka and distillates created in partnership with Diistil to bring a signature stamp to the restaurant’s cocktails. The larger downstairs area of the restaurant is complete with a large bar and plenty of lounge areas available for drinks and food.
Gobind Chona – the restaurateur behind Gura Gura – comes from a family of restaurateurs in India, having worked on multiple projects introducing guests to new cuisines and culinary experience. His Delhi-based restaurant Tippling Street is based around a London pub format, serving Indian snacking plates alongside craft beer. Chona says of the project “This is my first restaurant in the UK and I am so pleased to see our vision of a fun and accessible pan-Asian eatery come to life. The Yards is a brilliant destination right in the heart of Covent Garden and we are very happy to join the area’s distinctive day-to-night offering.”
On behalf of Longmartin’s Properties Ltd, Simon Taylor, Property Director at the Mercers’ Company commented: “With its unique dining experience and mix of authenticity and culture, Gura Gura is set to be a brilliant addition to our impressive and successful line-up within The Yards, and we are delighted to welcome yet another debut restaurant.”
The interiors, designed by Orphic Design Studio, take inspiration from the myriad pan-Asian cultures represented by Gura Gura. The space has a fun and colourful feel with maximalist touches and plenty of foliage on both floors. The upstairs is a smaller space that seats 30 with a sweeping bar at the entrance and a sushi counter where the fresh raw fish dishes are prepared. Head downstairs via the bespoke wine tunnel into the larger bar/dining room furnished with lounge style chairs and tree-like separating columns to give each table a cosier feel.
Just a two-minute walk from both Covent Garden and Leicester Square tube stations, The Yards sits at the heart of London’s West End. The destination is home to an eclectic mix of shopping and dining experiences, including some of London’s best-loved restaurants, leading fashion brands and world-renowned lifestyle stores.
