The Glasgow Times is on the hunt for the best takeaway lunch spot in the city. We are looking for your recommendations across the city centre, North Glasgow, East End, Southside and West End, and will be judging food based on Value for Money, Taste, Atmosphere, Service and Variety.
It’s a miserable Monday in Glasgow.
A blanket of freezing rain has turned the city a muted grey which has me yearning for something colourful and fresh to lift a gloomy mood.
How about Akiko on Bothwell Street?
The very first review in our campaign to find the city’s best lunch took place just next door at Bao, but it’s a handful of enthusiastic comments from Glasgow Times readers, not laziness, that brings me back to the street.
The highly recommended Japanese-inspired spot offers grab-and-go sushi, katsu curries and an enticing build-your-own poke bowl option which is enough to inspire a short walk from the office.
Upon arrival, a rainbow of fresh veggies and toppings lie within a large salad counter as I choose sushi rice for a poke bowl base and tofu as my protein option as opposed to chicken katsu, salmon or tuna (with plant-based alternatives available).
Incredibly slick service means it takes just three minutes from walking through the door until I find myself sitting on a high stool with a hefty bowl of goodness in front of me and a Japanese lychee soda on the side.
It’s a strange concoction (the joy of a build-your-own) with chickpeas, veggies, edamame beans and a seaweed salad that steals the show all drizzled in a generous serving of vegan-friendly sriracha mayo.
@glasgowtimes We continue our search for Glasgow’s best lunch with another spot recommended by our readers 🍣 where should we go next? #glasgow #glasgowfoodie #glasgowfood #foodreview #foodtiktok ♬ X World - Muspace
At £7.50, it’s not our cheapest lunchtime find but after just a few mouthfuls it's clear to see that even the healthiest of appetites would be satisfied with this nutritious and deceptively filling bowl. In fact, I eventually admit defeat and ask for a lid to take the rest of mine back to the office.
Each of my five chosen toppings is delicious and a scattering of crispy onions and pumpkin seeds makes for a pleasing crunch.
Sitting watching the world go by in a relaxed room full of others who know how to squeeze the most out of their lunch hours, I feel I’ve found the small taste of summer I needed to look forward to brighter days on the horizon.
I’d gladly dig my chopsticks into another poke bowl any time.
What's the verdict?
Value for Money: 4/5 – A huge portion packed with goodness but at £7.50 it’s more of a payday treat than an everyday lunch. An extra £2.50 will get you a Japanese soda which adds to the fun of it all.
Taste: 5/5 – Filling, tasty and unbelievably fresh. Each of the toppings was delicious in its own right with seaweed salad and flavourful tofu proving to be the best of the bunch.
Atmosphere: 4/5 – Relaxed, comfortable and the perfect escape from the miserable Glasgow weather.
Service: 3/5 – Friendly staff who whipped up poke bowls faster than you can say ‘extra seaweed please’. A plus for anyone who is short on time, but it did feel a little rushed with no one else queuing behind.
Variety: 5/5 – The build-your-own set-up means you can choose exactly what you’re after from vegan salmon to chicken katsu. Grab and Go options, side dishes and katsu curries are also available.
Overall score: 21/25
Got a suggestion for our next lunch review? Let us know where we should go in the comments below or email sararh.campbell@newsquest.co.uk.
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