Hotaru – Japanese restaurant in Putney

As promised, we are writing our first post about a Japanese restaurant. Hotaru is a small restaurant near to Putney Bridge, but do not get mislead for the size of the restaurant as the food is terrific and delicious.

Amazing starters options on the menu

I was lucky to go to this restaurant twice already and  with 3 more people so I could share the different starters from the menu. We have tried different appetizers such as Vegy Gyoza, Chicken Gyoza, Takoyaki, Chili Squid, vegetable Tempura and Shrimp Tempura. All of them are tasty, but if you need to choose, please go firstly for the Takoyaki (it is a ball-shaped Japanese snack like a Spanish croquette  filled with octopus). Gyoza* is also a must for starters, you have the Vegi or chicken option. And you cannot miss the chili squid, a small snack of calamari with a nice sauce.

Best Japanese food options made by a great chef

Then, as mains we tried to chose a wide variety of dishes in our two visits to Hotaru resturant, although it is a Japanese restaurant we did not just order sushi and we picked dishes as Piriyaki chicken, Spicy Tuna roll, Fried Udon and one of the best dishes from the menu the “Mini Volcano”.

The Piriyaki  Chicken is prepared with a tasty  sauce (not very spicy) with vegetables on a sizzling plate. You can choose also Salmon, tofu for the Piriyaki dish.

Fried Udon, a Japanese stir fry dish, with a peanut sauce that makes this dish also delicious. Udon are the thickest of the noodles served in Japanese cuisine.

Do not miss the sushi options

From the sushi menu, we need to mention the Spicy Tuna roll and Mini Volcano and it is worth to say that the sushi presentation is impeccable. The Mini Volcano is sushi with Shrimp, Tobiko*, Spring onions, and Hotaru´s special sauce. The Spicy Tuna roll includes avocado, cucumber and spicy sauce and you must try this one if you can just pick one dish of sushi.

The owner of this small restaurant is friendly and he will advise about dishes making your lunch or dinner nice. There is also a set menu for lunch for a very good price  with a wide variety of dishes (most of them mentioned on this review) where you can choose one appetizers and a main dish.

Hotaru restaurant is located in the area of Putney (London), so if you fancy  Japanese cuisine and you are near please give a try  to this formidable food.

(*Tobiko is the Japanese word for flying fish roe. It is most widely known for its use in creating certain types of sushi, wikipedia)

*(Gyoza is the Japanese name for the half moon-shaped dumplings served in Asian restaurants as an appetiser or side dish)

You can find more post about Japanese food or Korean food also in our blog. And do not hesiteate to make us a recommendation.