Japanese entrepreneur and chef Kaori Simpson opened one of Edinburgh’s most popular Japanese restaurants, Harajuku Kitchen in 2013. Simpson was born in Hong Kong into an expat Japanese family of merchants – her father was an international tuna trader and her Samurai maternal great grandfather started his own business in Fukuoka, when the Samurai was modernised in the Meiji era by the Emperor; he opted to receive the estate and transformed it into a traditional fine dining Japanese restaurant. Kaori grew up helping in her mum’s restaurants in both Manila and Tokyo, learning the family recipes and eventually cooking in the kitchen, so it was almost inevitable that she would one day bring those Japanese flavours back into her life. 

 When she moved to Edinburgh she worked for Tom Kitchin at his Michelin-starred restaurant, The Kitchin in Leith. She fell in love with Scottish cuisine and produce which gave her the idea to open a street food stall at Stockbridge Market serving pork and chive gyoza, made using her mother’s recipe, and udon noodle stir-fries; due to its popularity she decided to open a bistro create authentic Japanese comfort food using seasonal Scottish produce. Kaori prides herself in providing a unique and exciting Japanese eating experience, adhering to the fundamentals of the country’s cooking, which is underpinned by a deep respect for ingredients and their natural flavours. As well as its popular pork gyoza dumplings, Harajuku Kitchen has become known for its sushi, created by Japanese sushi chef Nobu who Kaori flew over from Japan, reflecting her commitment to authenticity. Her passion Scottish produce and commitment to sustainable sourcing led her to join the Slow Food Alliance in the UK. 

Since opening the restaurant has won numerous prestigious awards, including The Golden Chopsticks Best Restaurant in Scotland 2019 and 2021 and earned its AA Rosette in 2016. It has garnered a loyal following in Edinburgh and beyond. Testament to its quality and authenticity, Harajuku Kitchen is the official caterer for the Consulate General of Japan, Scottish Japan society, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Scotland, and the national Scottish Rugby Union.