Koya celebrates 10th birthday

This October, Koya, the udon noodle specialist in Soho and the City, will celebrate a decade of business in the capital by bringing back some of its most-loved signature dishes from the past 10 years to the ‘blackboard specials’ menu.

Since co-founders John Devitt, Shuko Oda and Junya Yamasaki launched Koya on Soho’s Frith Street in 2010, it has become renowned for its handmade udon and dashi, as well as its regularly-changing blackboard menu of specials, focused around innovative dishes combining simple Japanese techniques with seasonal produce.

To mark the 10th birthday, Koya’s head chef and co-owner Shuko Oda has curated a selection of 10 of Koya’s most iconic dishes from the past decade, which will be available as weekly rotating blackboard specials from Monday 19th October. The specials include:

2010: Grilled Carrot tempura with Hojicha salt
2011:English Breakfast Udon
2012: Lemon Sole ‘Nanbanzuke’ with dehydrated satsumas and fennel
2013: Sansho Grilled Girolles with Nettle Surinagashi and Onsen Tamago
2014: Sunomono Kohlrabi Salad with Green Tomato, Artichoke and Mexican Marigold
2015: Kedgeree
2016: Tofu Dumpling and Radicchio Agebitashi
2017: Grilled Onglet with Yuzu Kosho
2018: Slowly Braised Beef Short Rib Curry Udon and Fukujinzuke Pickle
2019: Seared Squid Sashimi with Leek, Kimizu and Burnt Soy

Two dishes will be available per week over the course of five weeks, starting from Monday 19th October with 2010 and 2011. The dishes will sit alongside Koya’s à la carte menu of simple, healthy, ‘shokudo’-style dishes with which it has become known for, from Onsen tamago egg in chilled dashi to Hiyashi lamb cumin miso udon.

Koya will also be releasing a limited edition 10th birthday tote bag, specially designed by the team to celebrate its milestone. The tote bags will be available to buy from Koya Soho and City from 19th October, with limited supply.

Koya will celebrate its 10th birthday this October and November with 10 of its iconic blackboard specials and a limited edition tote bag, available at both Koya City and Koya Soho from Monday 19th October, 12pm - close. Some of the aforementioned dishes may be adapted slightly in line with seasonality.