Edinburgh’s Harajuku Kitchen was chosen to win from a shortlist of thousands of UK eateries, which had been selected by a team of judges - led by the editor of the Cobra Good Curry Guide, Pat Chapman - who toured the country highlighting their choices for the various categories.
The winners were announced by TV newsreader Kate Silverton at a glittering ceremony attended by the county’s leading restaurateurs, ambassadors and embassy officials, food writers, politicians, VIPs and celebrities, at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
Kaori Simpson, Chef Patron of Harajuku Kitchen, said of the win: “I am totally delighted to win Best Japanese Restaurant at The Asian Curry Awards 2016.
"It has been a big year for us; first retaining our AA Rosette and then winning this, is the icing on the cake. For Harajuku Kitchen to be recognised in a UK-wide competition as the best Japanese restaurant in the country is such an honour and couldn’t be achieved without the great team I have here in Edinburgh.”
READ MORE: Read our review of the restaurant here
Mohammed Sultan of Charcoals in Glasgow, was another Scottish winner after he was named Maitre d’ of the Year. While the The Lochnagar Indian Brasserie in Ballater and the Rajpoot Indian Restaurant in Inverurie also received awards.
Jane Ellison, MP and Financial Secretary to the Treasury, also addressed the audience, promised the Government was listening to calls from the sector, which contributes around £4.5 billion to the British economy, to tackle the acute shortage of skilled curry chefs.
The Asian Curry Awards recognises the best in the industry, encouraging ever higher standards with the aim to inspire the next generation of chefs and restaurateurs to join the dynamic sector.
