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If you’re craving a little slice of Japan right here in Southampton, Hokkaido might just be your go-to spot. I recently revisited for a friend’s birthday, and it was every bit as good as I remembered. Let’s start with the appetisers. We kicked things off with some chicken karaage, golden, gently fried bites of Japanese fried chicken. They come with a mayonnaise-based sauce that was a nice dipping sauce, although I wish there was more of it. It’s not the absolute best karaage

Have you ever found a place that just feels like it deserves a Michelin star, even if it doesn’t have one yet? Well, that’s exactly the feeling I got at Restaurant AO on Oxford Street. Now, if you’ve been following my food adventures for a while, you know I’ve been tracking AO’s journey. From their early days on London Road, to Sunnyfields Farm, to a pop-up at The Bugle and a stint as Album, I’ve watched them evolve. Now, in their (I assume) new permanent home as Restaurant A

This roast review I headed over to Overdraft, a spot usually known for its beer and tacos, to see how their Sunday roast stacks up. I paid for this meal myself, so you can expect my honest and independent take on it, just like always. Overdraft usually does a killer job with their tacos and craft beers (and I can vouch for those tacos being top-notch). So when I heard they were stepping into the roast dinner arena, I was definitely curious. Here’s what the plate consisted of:

Bagels. One of the best breakfast foods (in my opinion). A hot topic across the nation (just see how furious the comments are calling for the McDonald's breakfast bagels to return!) I've been quite priviledged in my life to have tried bagels in both New York and Montreal, Barraquito claim to be Montreal bagels and I personally think these are the closest you'll be able to get (in Southampton at least!) I tried two bagels from the winter menu, firstly an Italian Sub bagel. A t

We got invited to try out Drip'd recently, tucked away in Portswood and recently under new management. I truthfully didn't know what to expect from Drip'd but I was pleasantly surprised by just how friendly they were, how much of a vibe the restaurant was and ultimately how good the food was! Firstly we kicked off with the burgers, ensuring we hit one of each category (Beef, Chicken and Veggie) to give them all a fair try. The Drip'd Special has double-smashed Black Angus be

When I first had the idea for this blog, I thought Oktoberfest was the entirety of October. I mean, it’s in the name after all! Turns out Oktoberfest actually starts in September and ends on the 5th of October. Oh well... Consider this advanced notice for next year! Essentially, I wanted to showcase a few places in Southampton with Oktoberfest specials or are Oktoberfest adjacent. In my search, I came across three standout venues, plus one bonus event (and good news, it’s s

Mama's Kitchen is tucked away between Mettricks and MAST in Guildhall Square, this unassuming doorway leads into a restaurant filled with surprises. The first thing you'll notice is a 10 foot tall Gorilla statue, adorned with a neon sign saying “Feed me and tell me I’m pretty.”  It set the tone right away: fun, a little quirky, and definitely not your average Thai restaurant setting. The gorilla in question The staff were quick to bring over complimentary prawn crackers, whic

Walking into Smoke and Pepper  in Southampton you immediately get the sense you’re in for something hearty. It’s not a table-service setup – you order at the counter, grab your seat, and before long, hefty plates of food land in front of you. No fuss, no frills, just big portions at really decent prices. You don't often see Lamb in a place like this so their “We Pulled the Lamb”  burger caught my eye. It’s stacked with tender smoked lamb neck, tucked into soft potato buns, wi

Stepping into Porters felt like being welcomed into a warm, friendly home. Right from the start, the atmosphere was inviting, and the...

When I started the Southampton Food Stories Instagram in 2022, I never expected it would grow as much as it has. I was a single guy in...