London UK Series: Bone Daddies Leicester Square Review – A Disappointing Ramen Experience

Bone Daddies – Restaurant Overview

35 Cranbourn St, London WC2H 7AD, United Kingdom

Bone Daddies Leicester Square is part of the Bone Daddies ramen chain, a restaurant group that focuses on bold, modern interpretations of Japanese ramen. The brand originally started in London and quickly gained attention for its energetic atmosphere and flavour-forward ramen bowls. Over time, Bone Daddies has expanded to several locations across the city.

The Bone Daddies Leicester Square location sits in one of the busiest parts of central London. Leicester Square is well known for its theatres, cinemas, restaurants, and constant flow of tourists. The area sits at the heart of London’s entertainment district and is surrounded by popular attractions including Chinatown, Trafalgar Square, and the West End theatre scene.

Because of this, restaurants in Leicester Square tend to cater to a wide range of visitors, including tourists looking for a quick meal before a show or after exploring nearby attractions.

The Bone Daddies Leicester Square restaurant itself is fairly small. The dining room has roughly ten tables, which gives the space a compact and slightly crowded feel when it fills up. The interior is also quite dark, which adds to the moody atmosphere but can make the space feel a little enclosed.

Despite the small size, the restaurant still manages to maintain the energetic vibe that Bone Daddies locations are known for.

One feature that stood out during the visit was the QR code ordering system. At Bone Daddies Leicester Square, customers can scan a QR code at their table, place their order digitally, and pay directly through their phone.

This system ended up being something we appreciated. It made the ordering process very quick and convenient, especially in a busy area like Leicester Square where restaurants often try to keep service moving efficiently.

Using the QR code meant we didn’t have to wait for a server to take the order or bring the bill afterward. Everything could be handled directly through the phone, which simplified the overall experience.

Unfortunately, while the ordering system worked well, the ramen itself did not live up to expectations.

Two bowls were ordered: the Tonkotsu Ramen and the Miso Spicy Pork Tonkotsu Ramen.

Would return? No.

Tonkotsu Ramen

5/10

The Tonkotsu Ramen from Bone Daddies Leicester Square unfortunately ended up being a fairly disappointing bowl.

Tonkotsu ramen is typically known for its rich pork-based broth that is simmered for long periods of time to develop deep flavour and a creamy consistency. It is often considered one of the most comforting and satisfying styles of ramen when done well.

In this case, however, several elements of the bowl didn’t quite work.

The ramen noodles from Bone Daddies Leicester Square were one of the biggest issues. The noodles felt too thin and lacked the satisfying chewiness that good ramen noodles should have. Texture plays a huge role in ramen, and when the noodles don’t have that pleasant bite, the entire bowl can feel less enjoyable.

The broth from the Tonkotsu Ramen at Bone Daddies Leicester Square also had a somewhat unusual texture. Instead of feeling smooth and rich in a comforting way, the broth had a strange consistency where it seemed to stick to the roof of your mouth.

This made the broth feel heavier than expected and slightly unpleasant to eat over time.

The pork slices in the Tonkotsu Ramen from Bone Daddies Leicester Square were another weak point. The slices were very thin, and they didn’t have the tenderness typically associated with well-prepared chashu pork.

Good chashu should be soft and flavourful, often with a melt-in-your-mouth texture. Here, the pork felt fairly ordinary and didn’t add much to the overall bowl.

One positive element of the dish was the egg. The egg from the Tonkotsu Ramen at Bone Daddies Leicester Square was nicely prepared and provided a pleasant richness that helped balance the bowl slightly.

Unfortunately, the egg alone wasn’t enough to save the dish.

Overall, the Tonkotsu Ramen from Bone Daddies Leicester Square ended up being a fairly underwhelming bowl.

Order again? No.

Miso Spicy Pork Tonkotsu Ramen

5/10

The Miso Spicy Pork Tonkotsu Ramen from Bone Daddies Leicester Square ended up being very similar in quality to the regular Tonkotsu bowl.

Many of the same issues appeared here as well.

The ramen noodles from Bone Daddies Leicester Square again felt too thin and lacked the satisfying texture that good ramen noodles should have. A bowl of ramen often relies heavily on the quality of the noodles, and unfortunately they did not stand out in a positive way here.

The pork slices in the Miso Spicy Pork Tonkotsu Ramen from Bone Daddies Leicester Square were again quite thin and not particularly tender. Just like in the first bowl, the pork didn’t deliver the richness or softness typically expected from ramen toppings.

One area where this bowl did improve slightly was the broth flavour.

The miso and spice combination added a pleasant kick to the soup. The spice level was enjoyable and gave the broth more character than the standard tonkotsu version.

However, even with the added spice, the broth still carried some of the same textural issues as the first bowl.

Because of that, the overall bowl still ended up feeling fairly average.

While the spice helped bring some additional flavour, it wasn’t enough to overcome the other problems with the noodles and pork.

Order again? No.

Atmosphere & Experience

The overall dining experience at Bone Daddies Leicester Square was somewhat mixed.

On one hand, the QR code ordering system worked very well. Being able to order and pay directly through the phone made the process efficient and convenient. In a busy area like Leicester Square, that type of system can help streamline service significantly.

The restaurant itself is also located in a very lively neighbourhood. Leicester Square is constantly buzzing with activity thanks to its proximity to theatres, cinemas, and major tourist attractions.

Because of this, the restaurant benefits from a steady stream of visitors looking for a quick meal in the area.

However, the small dining room at Bone Daddies Leicester Square, with only about ten tables, makes the space feel a bit cramped when the restaurant gets busy.

The dark interior also contributes to a slightly enclosed atmosphere.

While the location itself is convenient, the restaurant environment doesn’t particularly stand out compared to other ramen spots in London.

Final Thoughts

Bone Daddies Leicester Square offers a convenient ramen stop in one of London’s busiest entertainment districts, but the ramen itself did not live up to expectations during this visit.

The Tonkotsu Ramen from Bone Daddies Leicester Square had issues with noodle texture, broth consistency, and thin pork slices that lacked tenderness. While the egg was well prepared, it wasn’t enough to elevate the overall bowl.

The Miso Spicy Pork Tonkotsu Ramen from Bone Daddies Leicester Square had a slightly more interesting broth thanks to the added spice, but it suffered from the same problems with noodles and pork.

The QR code ordering system was a positive aspect of the experience and made the ordering process very easy. However, the food itself ultimately fell short.

With so many strong ramen restaurants across London, the bowls at Bone Daddies Leicester Square unfortunately didn’t stand out enough to make it a place worth returning to.