'I ate at a sushi monorail where food comes on a train - and almost shed a tear'
A sushi lover has told of "pure satisfaction" after heading to Europe's first "sushi monorail" having been sceptical about the idea of food arriving by train.
Journalist Lea Dzifa Seeberg said it was "one of the best meals I've ever had in London" after heading down to Chuo in Shoreditch, east London. She said she is not a fan of food on conveyor belts but was pleasantly surprised by the "monorail".
"When I heard about 'Europe's first sushi monorail', I was sceptical," she said. "The idea of food arriving on a train reminded me of Yo! Sushi, and I'm not keen on food sitting on a conveyor belt, especially raw fish. However, at Chuo, the food doesn't sit out. The rails only come to life when the food is ready, delivering freshly made dishes to those who ordered them."
The restaurant, located on a quiet Shoreditch side street, has a simple decor. High tables, ordering screens for takeaways, and floor-to-ceiling windows are all that's inside Chuo. "As I sat down for lunch on a quiet Thursday, the owner quickly explained the ordering system and provided me with Wi-Fi, water, and soy sauce - the essentials. Like most new places, you order via a QR code," she said.
All the food arrives on its own train (James Moyle/Chuo)"But at Chuo, there's no need to decide who orders what and pass the phone around. The code opens a tab for your table number, allowing you to continuously order small plates until you're full. My first order included salmon and avocado maki, seared tuna, and fried miso aubergine. A soft buzz let me know my food was on its way, and within five minutes of placing my order, a mini train arrived carrying beautifully presented dishes.
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"The stunning presentation of the dishes stopped me in my tracks. As the train moved away, I took a moment to appreciate the artful arrangement of the maki, the delicately garnished seared tuna, and the generous portion of fried aubergine topped with spring onion. The maki were exceptional, with warm rice and incredibly fresh salmon. The sauces served with the seared tuna took the dish to new heights, but the star of the show was the aubergine."
Lea said she intended to eat everything on the menu eventually (James Moyle/Chuo)Lea writing in MyLondon said she almost "shed a tear" over the quality of the food. "With a perfect balance of crispy and moist textures, the miso glaze added a deep umami flavour and irresistible sweetness. The only reason I didn't shed a tear when I finished it all was that I could order more," she said.
"As I waited for my next order, I slid my empty plates into a slot by my table. If only clearing up at home was this easy. In no time at all, the train returned with two more dishes: tuna nigiri and 'ikura gunkan', small sushi parcels filled with salmon roe. I'll admit, I ordered the nigiri to test Chuo's skills. It's the simplest of sushi dishes; just rice and fish, with nothing to hide behind and no room for embellishment without ruining it.
The dishes were all immaculately presented (Lea Dzifa Seeberg)"The sushi rice was warm and perfectly cooked, holding a slice of tender tuna with a slightly smoky flavour. It was so delicious that I could've died happy after just one bite. The ikura gunkan also exploded with flavours. Each egg bursting in my mouth brought new levels of joy, the kind only great food can bring.
"For five plates of pure satisfaction, I paid £27. The trains were not a gimmick, but an efficient way to serve food. I forgot all about them after my first bite. I left Chuo wishing I could go back and relive the experience. From now on, it's where I'll take anyone I want to impress. Chuo is seriously impressive and I hope they continue to thrive."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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