Uncle Tiger Edinburgh launches Tokyo-inspired Golden Gai menu

Edinburgh restaurant launches Tokyo-inspired street food menu

Uncle Tiger in Edinburgh has launched a new Tokyo-inspired street food menu, bringing the smoky, late-night atmosphere of Golden Gai to Bristo Place.

The Asian-fusion restaurant is now serving its new ‘Golden Gai Time’ menu until the end of June, taking inspiration from Japanese izakaya culture, where small, drink-friendly dishes are made for sharing, ordering and re-ordering.

Golden Gai is one of Tokyo’s most famous nightlife areas, known for its narrow lanes, tiny bars, skewers, strong drinks and informal late-night food. Uncle Tiger’s new menu captures that spirit with bold flavours, grilled dishes and playful small plates.

Uncle Tiger Edinburgh launches Tokyo-inspired Golden Gai menu — Image supplied

Golden Gai Time at Uncle Tiger

The new menu is part of Uncle Tiger’s rotating series of Asian-inspired dining experiences. Every six weeks, the restaurant changes its menu, cocktails, music and visual identity to create an immersive experience based around a different destination or cultural scene.

This time, the focus is on Tokyo street food, izakaya-style dining and kushiyaki-style grilling.

What’s on the new menu?

Dishes on the Golden Gai Time menu include:

Okonomiyaki hash brown with BBQ cabbage, pancake and kewpie
BBQ chicken thigh with soy tare, spring onion and white sesame
Agedashi tofu with daikon, scallion and pickled ginger
Crispy chicken skin with sweetcorn purée and nori sansho
Watermelon tataki with blackened shishito, preserved lemon and scallions
BBQ braised beef with yuzu kosho, semi-dried tomato and shiitake

The dishes are designed to be fun, sociable and full of flavour, with the feel of a proper night out rather than a formal tasting menu.

Chef Cameron Laidlaw on the new menu

Uncle Tiger head chef Cameron Laidlaw said:

“The energy with our new ‘Golden Gai Time’ menu takes its cue from the street food of Tokyo with a big emphasis on kushiyaki-style grilling. Expect hot grills, cold drinks, and lots of things on sticks.

“Our rotating line-up of night-time sessions are inspired by some of the most exciting food cultures across Asia. Each one focuses on a single destination, bringing together chef-led dishes, inventive cocktails and a soundtrack to match.

“Our food draws on fine-dining skill, but the inspiration comes from street food, with bold flavours and dishes designed to be fun to eat — the atmosphere is playful and immersive, with the energy of a proper night out.”