Lucky Yu opens first Edinburgh branch

The team behind Edinburgh-based taqueria, Bodega, is opening its second restaurant in the city. Launching this week, Lucky Yu will serve elevated Asian-inspired street-style food by ex-Gardener’s Cottage chef, Duncan Adamson.

Located at 53-55 Broughton Street, the new venue will serve a range of specialty dumplings, homemade bao and yakitori alongside a range of cocktails and natural wines. 

John Howard, owner of Lucky Yu, comments: "Moving Lucky Yu to a bigger site means we can do so much more with the menu. We’ll be serving up the likes of BBQ aubergine yakitori; steamed cockles with sake, seaweed and mirin butter sauce; and whole crispy mackerel with garlic, chilli and kaffir lime soy sauce. 

"We have put in the same amount of focus into our drinks menu making sure they perfectly complement the food. Cocktails will start at £8.50 and will include Kyoto which features yuzu sake, lychee cordial, bodegas sumarroca cava brut, and Soul Thai with el sueno tequila, acid adjusted pink grapefruit, thai chilli and topped with soda."

A cocktail served Lucky Yu-style

The restaurant is co-owned and was designed by Meredith Wilkie, who adds: "I’ve taken as my design inspiration wabi-sabi meets neon Tokyo; like if ancient Japanese artistry and urban neon glamour had a love child.

"The space is designed to be immersive, to hopefully transport the customer to another place – making for a real experience, not just a delicious meal – without being a theme restaurant. The style is clean and sharp, but also weathered and sexy. When the lights are low and the pink neon comes into its own, the place has an intimate, seductive vibe.

"With a total of 80 covers, we have a mixture of banquette and traditional seating available and a low dining counter at the bar. Two to three areas will be bookable for groups with spaces suitable for smaller groups of six or larger groups of up to 30."

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