This is fusion food done right
Angelina is a family-run restaurant in Dalston that showcases the Japanese tradition of Kondate; the intention of composing a meal, giving harmony and rhythm to what they serve whilst leaving room for seasonality, spontaneity and change. Though it serves the same Japanese-Italian fusion as at sister site Osteria Angelina, a multi-course seasonal set menu is the approach here.
Eat This
The kitchen buys seasonally and changes the menu regularly to reflect the availability of ingredients, you’re almost guaranteed a good bite in every single dish.
The antipasti course, consisting of chicken karaage with wagyu tartare, truffle mayo and shaved truffle; shokupan with prosciutto cotto, brown butter and hazelnut praline; and mid-spring chawanmushi with spring veg, pea & wasabi foam, tapioca cracker and crab, was a standout. All three bites had bags of flavour and the perfect way to open the meal.
We genuinely loved all the savoury dishes but the dessert deserves a special shout out. The sheep yoghurt sashu semifreddo with Amalfi lemon curd and black sesame crumble was an inspired combination of Japanese and Italian flavours and was perfectly balanced.
Drink This
The wine pairing at Angelina is really worth a go. All the wines were brilliantly matched but our fave was the Lambrusco Di Sorbara, Rose Del Cristo, with its sweet notes working well with the ‘pile of spring’ salad of foraged herbs, berries and sakura blossom vinegar dressing.
Why Go
Not only is the food great, Angelina is led by a female head chef, Khanh Tran-Thanh, who’s been with the restaurant since 2020, after volunteering at vegan community kitchen and cookery school Made in Hackney, and as part of our Year of the Woman campaign, we’re all about supporting women.
Key Information
Address | 56 Dalston Ln, London E8 3AH
For more information | angelina.london
