Yane

Yane is a small independent Japanese restaurant in Chorlton. Sushi and ramen are everywhere, but this place specialises in Japanese comfort food in the form of donburi, katsu kare and traditional pickles, all made in house.

It’s a cosy place with tables at the front and more intimate booths at the back and service is very friendly.

The home-style cooking offers something different and it is delicious. Donburi are generous rice bowls topped with warming loveliness like gyudon which is tender slices of beef and onion in a rich broth and topped with an onsen tamago poached egg. The Japanese-style scrambled egg and chicken thigh is also very good.

The other main options on the menu are iterations of katsu. The home-made katsu roux is as close to Tokyo as the Yane team can get – they’re on version 7.5 as they continue to chase perfection. The tonkatsu kare is a must but beware – it it’s so good it sometimes sells out.

Don’t assume the rest of the menu is just an afterthought or an assortment of sides. The tsukemono are a vital part of a visit to Yane and offer more than you might expect. These pickled vegetables are delicious, particularly the daikon radish.

Enjoy with beer or sake.