Flesh & Buns

Incredibly good value for money for a destructively good brunch. Bottomless prosecco,
spicy wings and the choice of loads of small plates. Get the crispy squid, the wings and the aubergines miso buns and end it all with the awesome smores. You’ll love it.

Kinda pricey for the fare even in the area. How to describe to your friends while deciding? Try this: Smattering of Japanese rolls, Korean chicken wings (tho Korean friends suggested a pass after a disappointing experience) and, of course, the Chinese «bings» which are the buns in the restaurant name.
Crispy duck legs & crispy piglet belly were amazing w/​their specific accompanying pickle. Broccoli were indulgent w/​a light sauce & fried shallot garnish.
Spider rolls, salmon avocado rolls and yellowtail Hamachi were small and ok.
Fun passionfruit marshmallows for roasting tabletop for homemade s’mores. Fun to have the Italian waiter at a British owned pan-​asian restaurant explain to 3 American girls how to make a s’more.
Surprising accommodating to children since I had my toddler niece but they didn’t have booster seats. Great service.

I loved this place, though it’s still firmly a few tweaks off five stars. My date and I were seated opposite each other about halfway down the long communal high table in the centre. Which would’ve been fine, except that we were there on a sort of special occasion and the table was slightly too wide across to talk to each other comfortably, made harder by it being deafeningly loud in there. Like that thing that starts with one loud person that subconsciously makes everyone else talk louder to drown them out and there’s no way of lowering the volume again? I mean why have such sexy red décor and low lighting, and then make people sit closer to the strangers on either side of them than their dining partner opposite?!
What can I say, we resorted to making eyes at each other across the table (and well, basically shouting) whilst enjoying a good feed. I could stick almost anything in those fluffy white buns and enjoy them, so their ‘recommended two buns per person’ seemed quite an underestimate to me! As far as the ‘flesh’ goes we had the crispy piglet belly (which was tender, delicious and served with a mustard miso) and the flat iron steak (which just didn’t work as it was far too chewy to take a bite of it from a bun). So we ordered half right at least! I loved the way they served our sake of choice too, from a carafe on ice in a mini crate.
The romance factor wasn’t quite what I’d hoped for then, though the service was great and it’s a beautiful place to look at. The brunch offer caught my eye for another visit — but I’ll definitely be more specific on where we’d like to be seated next time!

Loved the Sunday brunch. The kimchi Bloody Mary to start was fantastic and I would have been happy to drink that all day instead of bottomless prosecco. The small sides were mostly good; I found the salmon «sashimi» (more of a carpaccio, I think) and seafood ceviche a bit lacking in punch. The mains were excellent. The duck leg was perfectly cooked, with a crispy skin and flaky meat. The sirloin was also amazing. In fact, we could have done without the bun. Finally, it was great fun to grill the marshmallows for the smores but the chocolate fondant was definitely the star of the dessert. All in, a great deal for £49 per person.

Really good food and fun atmosphere. We had a bunch of the starters, the chicken wings were very tasty, and for the buns we choose the pork filling which was fantastic. Had the yuzu tart for dessert which was delightfully tasty. The service was also done well. Only slight negative was the fact that you have to share table booths but still i highly reccomend this place if youre looking for a lively dinner out!

Something has gone seriously wrong here. The owners started the very popular Bone Daddies Ramen restaurant and then I guess they decided it was time milk their brand for all they could and get in on the popularity of bao (ignoring the fact that bao buns are not even Japanese, they’re Taiwanese). The result is a zero-​elbow room restaurant, packed with people eating very over-​priced and under flavoured food. It’s like if McDonalds opened a Japanese restaurant.

Despite living minutes away from this place, I hadn’t seen it until I was perusing Unilocal earlier today. The actual exterior is rather unassuming, and leads down into the basement where the main room is. I went with my boyfriend, who is decently picky about quality food, and we both thought the food was very tasty.
We split a fried squid appetizer, duck leg and piglet belly «flesh» mains with two buns each, and a black sesame crème brûlée. Although it was quite pricey, I have to say it was worth it. The fry on the squid was awesome — completely dry and not greasy at all, with a good pepper kick. The server mentioned that he thought the piglet belly was the best dish, and he wasn’t wrong: deliciously rendered meat, crispy skin and spicy mustard sauce to go with it. The duck leg was also tender and my boyfriend preferred that one, but it was served lukewarm. The crème brûlée was my favorite though — warm cream, cold ice cream and crispy corn flakes. That dish was a home run.
I can’t give it five stars because some of the mains came 10 – 15 minutes and I can’t see how they were cooked to order in that time… so some of it wasn’t piping hot and fresh. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the long communal table for all of the two-​tops; it was fairly wide and difficult to talk across the table when there are people right next to you. The ambience was dark and a bit loud but in a good way, as long as you expect that. Service was fine, not bad but nothing to write home about.
TL;DR Very good food, decent ambience/​service, but rather £££.

Quality food and there’s usually enough tables to walk in and dine in, without a reservation or a wait (even on a Friday night), so if you wanted a quick bite, try this place! The sushi rolls are delicious but its the buns that steal the show. Go for the salmon bun and the salmon and avocado roll. Fair warning its a tad on the pricey side (£35 pp for two buns and two sushi rolls)

Fun atmosphere, unique food, great date night. Don’t bring the kids. Order the duck! Be sure to use the toilet. Four of us shared: Grilled broccoli, fried squid, rice, Korean fried wings (messy!), Crispy duck leg (fantastic), Fried mackerel, six buns, Tuna sashimi and salmon sashimi, Donut holes,
Passionfruit Smores, Punch and a Jasmine old fashioned. We could have done without the mackerel, it was dish too many and that was the least exciting.

A boozy Sunday brunch has long been a New York institution but slowly its making its way across the pond. I love a good ‘sunday session’ — you really can’t get a better Sunday than an afternoon of eating, drinking and catching up with friends in London and I’ve now found the perfect place to do it.
Over in Covent Garden, the people behind Bone Daddies have really hit the nail on the head with Flesh & Buns and their Sunday Brunch offer. For £39/​46 you get to choose unlimited small dishes from their set menu (the more expensive option gives you access to both menus), a choice of ‘flesh & buns’ for your main course and dessert — plus unlimited red/​wine wine or prosecco.
Being the fine (read: greedy) eaters we are, Tom & I went for the £46 option so we could sample as many dishes on the menu as possible. ‘CHIPS & DIPS’ came up first — like a Japanese nachos! Rice crackers served with avocado shiso (like a guacamole) and a tomato jalapeño relish followed by a bowl of miso soup each.
Fried salt and pepper squid — addictive and probably my favourite dish…
Softshell crab, spicy tuna rolls, California rolls and edamame appeared…
The Korean fried wings (delicious) and chicken yakitori (didn’t really do it for me) were eaten before I even got a chance to photograph them! By this time, my waistline was bulging and I was getting a bit tipsy from the Prosecco! The waitors whirl around you topping your glass up constantly and you’re welcome to reload the dishes as many times as you like — but bear in mind you still have two more courses to come! Once we’d admitted defeat our ‘flesh and buns were brought over’
Pork belly being my favourite dish, I went for the piglet belly with mustard miso sauce and pickled apple — oh, my god.
Top tip, save room for pudding (easier said than done)…DIY SMORES! Complete with your own little fire…
I had such a fun afternoon — the food is incredible, the atmosphere is relaxed and lively and it’s brilliant value for money! Get yourself down there, you’ll love it!

Buns were just okay to be honest. Prefer a real Chinese place with pork buns.
Sashimi, edamame and chips were good. I was surprised that the sushi was pretty good.
I ordered two duck buns for my main and the duck was dry and the sauce was tasteless. The buns were hot and nice and squishy, but how can you screw up buns right? I think I should have tried pork or steak. I was somehow expecting it to taste like Peking duck maybe? High hopes.
It’s a fun environment. Feels like you’re stepping into a night club haha. I might come back.

I’ve been here 3 times in the last 4 months and it never disappoints. This Japanese Izakaya restaurant always has some good deals on which In my opinion is where you should take advantage of. A beer and bun every Monday for £15. Done. Sunday lunchtime with unlimited buns and booze for £39…done…or an express course of 3 courses and drink for £21…done.
The Smores to end with were great fun! I would definitely recommend those. But experiment with the buns. I had them all and loved the pig belly, sirloin steak and salmon teriyaki.

No es un Japonés cualquiera; la especialidad de este local no es lo que la gente suele asociar con la gastronomía japonesa, o sea el sushi, sino unos bollos de pan hechos al vapor que se rellenan de los ingredientes que quieras pedir tal como salmón teriyaki con limón, sal marina y pepino encurtido; muslo de pato crujiente con salsa de ciruela agria con remolacha encurtida; panceta de cochinillo con miso de mostarda con manzana encurtida.
De postre comí un crème brulée de sesamo negro con sorbete de cereza que estaba para chuparse los dedos mientras un amigo se decantó por los s’mores, un dulce típico americano pero servido de forma creativa.
En general el servicio es bueno. Al principio tuvimos un chico encantador pero luego nos tocó una camarera de las Islas Baleares y era una auténtica sosa sin ningún humor.

I was here today with two others, arrived at 2 minutes to 6, barely in time for the express menu they offer — this is 2 dishes for £19 or 2 dishes for £22.
We had three express menus (as the whole table has to choose the same thing).
What followed next was an unbelievable amount of food, enough for a feast and this was only 3 starters and 3 mains of buns and flesh. However the portions are huge.
I highly recommend the sushi option, salmon crevich and the korean wings — all three were prepared perfectly. The sushi tasted fresh and flavoursome. The salmon crevich, delicate and tangy from the citrus and the wings spicy and sticky with a good crunch — one of the people I was with couldn’t get enough of the wings coating.
The main courses we had (all served with two buns, sauces and salad) were crispy pork, salmon teriyaki and duck. Again, all excellent. The crispy pork was cooked perfectly with just the right amount of fat and crackling, served with a tangy sauce and slices of apple, this made for an incredible bun feeling.
The salmon was both crispy and soft from the well cooked skin and delicate flesh. And the Duck was fantastic, crispy skin and very flavoursome and came with a great tangy plum sauce.
The service was also top notch.
A good experience had by all.
Yes, it’s slightly on the expensive side, but you’ll leave feeling ready to explode with tastebuds fully satisfied.

I was very very excited to finally try one of Bone Daddies’ restaurants and although I was really craving ramen I was really happy to end up at Flesh & Buns for some pre-​cinema foodsy bits.
It’s underground and it has a very distinct atmosphere. We were seated in a table for six that we eventually shared with two more people, for all tables are to share if your party isn’t large enough to occupy it all.
So, Flesh & Buns: as well as starters and smallish courses to choose from, the idea is that you pick your main (chicken, steak, duck, pork, salmon, veggie and a few others) and have it served with optional steamed buns to make your own tiny Japanese… sandwich? For lack of a better word.
The food is really really REALLY good. We had an array of starters and smaller plates to keep us occupied whilst waiting for a friend to join us, and that included sashimi, a salmon and avocado sushi roll, grilled mushrooms and a few other bits.
I ordered the young chicken for main and it was so tasty and tender it complemented the steamed buns beautifully.
I’d really love to go back, it’s been a lovely dinner out.
I just wish it were a teeny tiny bit brighter and quieter. But that’s just me being fussy.
Oh, one last thing. Don’t order the miso soup. It’s just not good.

Flesh and Buns has to be one of the only places I have returned to more than once. New to London can make you hesitant about whats going to impress you, with so many options to try and opinions differ quite a bit compared to NZ.
If you want a fun atmosphere with sharing plates this is the place to go. instead of choosing the baos based on fillings, its more of a DIY. Choose your «Flesh» — pork, steak, salmon, etc all amazingly cooked with a burst of flavour and served on the side a small bowl of lettuce and shaved cucumber. Fatten or skinny your bun as your choose, the buns are soft like pillows and served warm in bamboo steamers.
If you’re not hungry enough for buns, opt for the delicious tapas. The ceviche is fresh and vibrant, although I am quite bias when it comes to salmon. The dish i would recommend for everyone to order is Korean fried rice. Its served in a sizzling hot pot, and your waiter will mix it at your table, where it gains this amazing crunchy bottom or top I should say. For my birthday I treated myself to the smores for dessert — maybe not quite Japanese, but great idea. If you’re not afraid to get messy then its a little fun.
Overall I can’t complain about the food, I just think the service could use some enthusiasm. It would be nice if they could crack a smile. Its a shame the staff are a bit arrogant, because the food and the bustling atmosphere really makes up for great evening.
Rating
Food: ⁹⁄₁₀
Service: 6.5÷10
Value for Money: Very Good
41 Earlham Street, London WC2H 9LX
Opening Hours:
Mon-​Tues 12pm-​3pm, 5pm-​1030pm
Weds-​Fri 12pm-​3pm, 5pm-​11pm
Sat 12pm-​11pm
Sun 12pm-​930pm

Having been to Bone Daddies Soho, Bone Daddies Shackfuyu and now Bone Daddies Flesh n Buns twice, what is clear to see is that the Bone Daddies group can produce unique and inspired combinations of food that are well presented and boast a variety of textures and flavours. The decorations throughout the restaurants are similarly themed and successful in creating a sense that you are dining somewhere esteemed and exotic. However other consistent factors apparent in all these Bone Daddies creations is that the seating can be cramped, the service abysmal, the drinks diluted with ice and the prices a bit higher than necessary.
Here is the meal I had at this visit of Flesh n Buns: The Sweet Symphony mocktail drink was a beaker of ice interlaced with a few blueberries with minimal volume of sugary drink lining the bottom. The grilled sweet potato with spicy mayo starter was a pleasant surprise — sweet, spicy and tangy with a soft melt-​in-​the-​mouth texture; an ingenious combination. The half young chicken was a sizeable portion of succulent chicken with a dash of pickle on the side. The buns remain a highlight of the meal; as an avid bun lover I can assure you that these buns are great — soft and delicate when warm as well as fragrant and a good size to handle and fill. (Better than the Yum Bun buns.)
As a side-​note the toilets certainly leave an impression; they are plastered with indecent manga cartoons of topless girls exhibiting and/​or cradling their breasts — such are the most x-​rated wall decorations I’ve ever seen for sure!
In short, Flesh n Buns is a place of highs, lows and the somewhat bizarre; worth a visit if you love buns and fancy an intriguing dining experience.

Came in for a late lunch at 2.55pm and they refused to serve me as the kitchen was closing at 3pm. That is my second visit (been there for dinner and the place was crowded and there were nowhere to seat)
So i guess this restaurant is not meant for me. Won’t try again to have any meal there as it seems that i am always coming at a wrong time.

In an area with an abundance of food options, Flesh and Buns offers a very decent and reasonable offer for a relaxed but fun dinner.
The two of us booked a couple of weeks out for a Friday night but they do offer walk-​ins. On sitting down the menu is vast and full of excellent options. Sushi or Ceviche is a must here, we got some salmon and avocado rolls which were delicate but so tasty, some of the best I’ve had in the City. Next up was a pickled platter, the waitress actually said that this is rarely ordered and goes under the radar, but for £3 it’s a perfect time holder between main dishes. The platter was about 4 separate options, one of which was a beautiful beetroot and cauliflower bowl. Tangy but really went well with the fish.
Next was nothing but flesh and nothing but buns. The soft, stretchy and chewy buns a came in all there glory, ready for our sticky fired chicken to be placed in. More than excellent tastes were flying about. We had 2 buns each and left feeling more than full.
Id say this place is worth a trip with a booking, great Thursday or Friday location with a couple of mates. And given the amount of pubs around, an excellent opening a swell central London night.

Well, having been back to Flesh & Buns at least on 3 other occasions, I am proud to present to you my findings. You MUST visit this place for one of the following: —
1. Beer & Buns Mondays £15. You get something from the buns menu (excepting the Sirloin and Ribeye), and you get Asahi beer (or soft drink). Trust me this will fill you up and keep you happy, or you can go for dessert after.
Yes, see my pictures, you can have the amazing amazing matcha sundae with fruits within, or you can have the smores which is more a gimmick as you would usually only try this once and leave it at that.
2. Sunday Brunch — all you can eat starters and then buns with drinks. We went for the more expensive version £46 and made sure we ate our worth. The slightly weird part is that the sashimi came in tiny portions on a huge bowl of ice so we had to keep ordering it. The soft shell crab was so nice we were doing our stomach a disservice by trying to cram more stuff into it, but otherwise gosh we weren’t about to go to another buffet for months to come! Parents and friends were suitably impressed!
Also my latest forage into this restaurant gave a lasting good impression. It was on a Tuesday, my free film preview didn’t have enough space, it was raining, for lack of anything better to do I speed dialled (joking, had them on phone book) for a booking and they booked me in for one hour later although I told them I would be there in 15 minutes and they said just turn up and they would try to accomodate us. Accomodate us they did as they had some spare tables at around 645pm and the lady manager even mentioned my complaint last time as she had a note on her system and asked about it.
I WAS IMPRESSED.
INTERESTING THING TO DO: Go to toilets before you leave. The girl toilets are more interesting. Take a peek if it’s not occupied boys. Yes, I was shown a paranoma picture of the boys’ :D

So how do I review my two experiences at Flesh & Buns to do it justice.
Let’s start with the basics — the lunch. I came here for a work lunch to try it out. I love a good bun and I love their other spot’s ramen, so I figured it would have to be at a high level. And it… was. Mostly.
It’s a beautiful large underground space right in the heart of seven dials. The lighting is perfect, the tables are either long and shared or booths and comfortable and, for whatever reason, they have Japanes animé porn wallpaper in both the men and women’s bathroom. Nothing like an experience there.
Honestly, everything I could say has been said before. The food is good but insanely overpriced for what little you have (and yes, you have to order more buns for extra because they don’t give you enough to wrap all your meet in.) The server was fine but almost never there, despite that it was a pretty empty lunch, and overall, I’d give the expereince three stars.
However!
Last week we tried the new all you can eat brunch at Bone Daddies. Two menus (a smaller one for £29 and a larger one for £36) and it was, truly, one of the best meals I’ve had in London, especially for that price.
Because that price isn’t just a main bun. Or desserts. Or the cocktail you get when you walk in and the unlimited prosecco, red and white wine that comes with the meal. It is unlimited hot and cold starters. And these are, and are not limited to: sushi and sashimi, chicken yakitori, fried squid, Korean fried chicken wings, grilled corn, grilled mushrooms, prawn tempura, insanely delicious grilled broccoli (and I hate broccoli) and so much more.
We were with a group of eight and when the waitress put down the menu, we tried to order one of everything. She said that it’s better to pick one or two things each. She was wrong. Order everything, especially as a grouo. We did our individual orders and then went back for more, and more, it was all so good and through the group, we tried everything. A giant feast of food worthy of any Sunday afternoon.
And then you get your main! A bun with meats of your choice (and more buns if you need it) plus veggies. And just when I thought they couldn’t do any more, they brought desserts. A chocolate cake with blood orange ice cream and S’Mores on a stick, complete with a small stone fire to roast the marshmallows.
I walked out of here in a confused state of happy delirium. If you are someone who loves Sunday brunch, you get here now. I mean, now. It’s easily made my food-​list of things to do in London for everyone who lives here or visits.