Our Review Of Ayllu In Paddington: A Japanese And Peruvian Fusion

Tucked away opposite illuminated party boats parked on Regent’s Canal is Ayllu, a Japanese and Peruvian fusion restaurant inspired by the sharing traditions of the Ayllu community of the Inca Empire. Perched beneath Smith’s Bar & Grill, it’s perhaps slightly difficult to locate, not only because Paddington comes in at a close second after Canary Wharf in the running for London areas simply not made for Google Maps, but because it’s literally underneath the other restaurant.

To me, it makes perfect sense for at least one restaurant in the heart of Paddington to serve Peruvian cuisine (while simultaneously having nothing to do with the Peru-born, famous little bear named after the area).

Pretty Ayllu-sive: this subterranean restaurant is hidden away. 

DesignMyNight Reviews Ayllu In London

My dinner date and I were led to a staircase at the back of Smith’s Bar & Grill that descended into an area that evoked something akin to a sleek speakeasy bar. Instead, it was a forest green-coloured restaurant, decked out with grand floral murals (we were sat next to a bouquet that was perplexingly covered in glitter - a slight nod to the party vibes the weekend samba bottomless brunch brings), pendant lighting and plush red and green leather booths. 

We began our meal with an Ode To The Land (£13) cocktail each, featuring a three-type chilli-infused mezcal and freshly squeezed pineapple juice with sage - it had a creamy, foamy texture with smooth, citrus notes and was deliciously thirst-quenching, preparing us for the food. Due to the amount we ordered, our waiter suggested staggering plates so out came the salted edamame (£5) first, followed by the squid tempura in a jalapeno dressing (£8), which wasn’t anything particularly remarkable but tasty all the same and packed a surprising amount of admirable heat.

Let it roll: catch DJs here on Friday and Saturday nights. 

My partner and I then inhaled the salmon and tuna tacos (£7 each for a set of three) - a fishy palette cleaner with lashings of soy - before attacking the crispy chicken bao buns (£8). These came in pairs and the aji amarillo sauce had a sweet and sour tang that, when paired with the crumbly batter, conjured up a nostalgic fondness for my childhood takeaway’s chicken balls, and that’s certainly not a bad thing.

Somewhere between the starters and mains, Korean cuisine decided to make an appearance at this culinary house party in the form of spicy tuna rolls (£11) filled with kimchi sauce. These were the best things I ate that evening; as an avid kimchi fan (I’ve been known to eat an entire jar of the stuff over two days), I appreciated the salty and umami element it brought to a typically spicy dish that looks to sriracha mayonnaise for its heat.

The Ayllu London menu is broad: steak, sushi, and so much more. 

For mains, we folded tender strips of medium rare A4 wagyu steak (£65) into our mouths where they melted like butter - the complete opposite texture to the crunchy tenderstem broccoli (£7). While we were quite full at this point, we still decided to order dessert as we were intrigued to find out how good tiramisu (£8) would be on a distinctly Pan-Asian menu.

My partner liked the fact the mascarpone wasn’t mercilessly engulfing the sponge, however, I enjoy my tiramisu a little more, dare I say it, moist, so I suppose in the end, as with everything, it all comes down to personal taste. 

Overall: Ayllu In Paddington

While it was unclear at times what Ayllu was trying to be cuisine-wise, it was still an enjoyable dining experience, and if I were to visit again, I'd be more particular with what I ordered to save my extensive globe-trotting (although, if you’re looking for a trip across the world in one night, then you’ll love it). It would make a brilliant lunch destination or location for a group night out thanks to its varied set menus and, considering we thought we over-ordered, it was pleasantly affordable for somewhere basically in Central London. 

Hungry? Check out our guide to the best restaurants in Paddington.