Harden's says
Online influences and comedian, Nigel Ng (“Uncle Roger") – known for his rice videos – teams up with Keng Yew (YiQi, The Eight, etc) to open this 60-cover Chinatown venture (on a site that was Monga, which has relocated to Soho). Given Ng’s persona we’re guessing some fried rice on a menu which promises Pan?Asian dishes with British influences. Kawan is Malay for “friend” or “companion".
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Have you eaten at Kawan by Uncle Roger?
12 Macclesfield Street, London, W1D 5BP
Kawan by Uncle Roger Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Kawan feels less like a restaurant and more like a tiered marketing stunt where paying guests act as "background extras" for the influencers prioritized upstairs. For a brand built on roasting others, the kitchen execution is irony at its finest: the service is slow, the decor is underwhelming, and Nigel Ng’s absence from the floor during his own launch makes the experience feel purely "money-grabbing." Without traditional Kopi or Teh Tarik, the focus is clearly on high-margin cocktails rather than authentic hospitality. The culinary technicalities were equally disappointing: • Chinese Chicken Wellington: A structural failure; the pastry slid right off, and a massive, unnecessary bone was left inside for a "reveal" that only made it harder to cut. • Seafood Curry: An unbalanced, oily, and headache-inducing mess of acidity and "green herb essence" that drowned out any actual sauce. • Aji-no-bun & Sides: The bun was rubbery and difficult to maneuver, while the Wellington was served with a stingy portion of coleslaw and greens. • Presentation Failures: Fried rice is served in cheap-looking pans with long plastic handles that diners walk into, while other dishes arrive on plates far too small to actually eat from. Verdict: You’re paying premium prices to be treated like a "peasant" beneath the money-makers. Haiyaa indeed."
12 Macclesfield Street, London, W1D 5BP
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