Bonsai Plant Kitchen is one of Brighton’s most talked-about restaurants, and it isn’t difficult to see why. What began as a lockdown takeaway in 2021 evolved into a pop-up before opening its permanent home on Baker Street in March 2022. Founded by Dom and Arlo and now led by chef Dominic Sherriff, the restaurant takes its inspiration from the intimate izakayas of Tokyo, the street food of Bangkok and the vibrant flavours of Vietnam. Cooking over traditional Japanese binchōtan charcoal, the result is a menu of Asian-inspired sharing plates that has earned multiple BRAVO Awards and a loyal following.
And just this once, I’m going to let the pictures tell the story.
Ordering is an introvert’s delight. A tick sheet arrives at the table and you choose how many portions of each dish you’d like to share. The suggested three or four dishes per person proved about right, giving everyone the chance to sample a wide range of flavours. Friendly, knowledgeable service kept everything running smoothly, adding to the relaxed atmosphere. The food itself encourages conversation.
Personal favourites were the various skewers, with the yakitori being particularly delightful, along with the dirty rice and the daily special of tempura mushrooms. We were a table of six and ordered generously across the menu, yet there wasn’t a turkey among them.
Bardo Burner 