Zuma London launches special taster menu to celebrate their 15th year birthday

This October, Zuma celebrates its 15th birthday. The internationally acclaimed contemporary Japanese restaurant and bar will mark the occasion by introducing an exclusive tasting menu designed by co-founder and creator, Rainer Becker. It will include a selection of the restaurant’s most iconic dishes since its inception.

Back in 2002, on a quiet backstreet in Knightsbridge, Rainer and co-founder, Arjun Waney, opened the doors to the first Zuma. Little did they realise what that first venture would lead to. Zuma has since expanded globally due to the loyal and regular customers who kept asking to have a Zuma in the various countries they travelled to or resided in. Becker’s priority has always been quality and consistency, to keep Zuma approachable, both in price range and accessibility.The restaurant opened with counter seating specifically for guests without reservations and a smaller menu. Although the counter seating in front of the chefs remains, the menu has evolved over time to include items from the main menu like Wagyu Tataki (a dish consisting of freshly seared wagyu sirloin tataki and black truffle ponzu) which joined the original 2002 Beef Tataki due to popular demand.

The restaurant opened with counter seating specifically for guests without reservations and a smaller menu. Although the counter seating in front of the chefs remains, the menu has evolved over time to include items from the main menu like Wagyu Tataki (a dish consisting of freshly seared wagyu sirloin tataki and black truffle ponzu) which joined the original 2002 Beef Tataki due to popular demand.

As the first restaurant to introduce the Robata grill concept to Europe, Becker completely changed Japanese cuisine as London knew it and transformed a concealed location into one of London’s culinary hotspots. Becker was inspired by the Izakaya style of informal eating and drinking that he experienced during his 6-year stint in Japan before settling in London in 2001. He decided to open Zuma with a menu offering modern Japanese cuisine with bolder flavours and room for experimentation that non-Japanese diners could also connect with.

Since launching the concept in 2002, Becker has successfully expanded to 11 venues internationally over the last 15 years. Each expansion has been meticulously planned and thought out, quite often dictated by customer demand. Becker ensures that the senior management team at each site trains in the London flagship before opening.

The bespoke menu will launch in London only for the month of October and features 11 tasting dishes spread out over 5 delicious courses. It is priced at £124 per person with a wine and sake pairing for an additional £62 per person.

A selection of the original dishes will feature including; Suzuki No Sashimi, thinly sliced seabass with yuzu, truffle oil and salmon roe; Horensou No Goma Ae, another renowned original dish, and Gyuhire Sumibiyaki Karami Zuke, spicy beef tenderloin with sesame, red chilli and sweet soy.

Tokusen Nigiri Sushi and Sahimi Moriwase will, of course, make an appearance on the menu; a selection of fine nigiri sushi, premium cuts of assorted sashimi and the chef’s special maki rolls, dishes that have evolved and excelled over time. Naturally, this course is paired with the special Kimura Junmai Ginjo Sake.

The last course will round it all off with a flourish- the Deluxe Dessert Platter, an impressive towering assortment of the most popular sweets on the menu. The platter contains highlights like the Green Tea and Banana Cake with coconut ice cream and peanut toffee sauce as well as the off-menu Special Chocolate and many other treats and fresh fruits. A selection of specially flavoured, home-brewed sake (by the expert bar team at Zuma) will be served alongside the impressive dessert offering.

On the celebration of the 15th anniversary, Rainer says: “I am very proud to celebrate this milestone with our customers and team – Zuma’s success is down to them and I look forward to 15 more!”

This Zuma London tasting menu is available Monday- Sunday for lunch or dinner.