Cafe Tamago is a small independent Japanese café on Wimborne Road in Westbourne, opened in 2023 by a married couple who originally come from Hong Kong. Instead of the sushi and ramen most people associate with Japanese menus, it focuses on yōshoku, Japan's own strand of Western-influenced home cooking, and it's aimed at anyone who misses a recent trip to Japan, is planning one, or just wants to try something out of the ordinary.
The food
A handful of comforting staples form the core of the menu: curries, among them a homemade Hamburg steak curry; donburi rice bowls such as chicken katsu don; and omurice, the Japanese omelette rice dish, offered in a prawn version among others. Yaki and kake udon, pasta, appetisers, soups and a short list of desserts and matcha drinks round things out. Most mains cost between £13.95 and £15.95. There's a dedicated vegan and vegetarian menu alongside the main one, and the allergen guide is published separately, which helps when you're feeding a group with mixed dietary needs.
Drinks
The drinks list is short and Japanese: Asahi Super Dry beer, sake including Hakushika Chokara, and umeshu, the Japanese plum wine. It's designed to go with the food rather than to serve as a full bar.
Good to know
Cafe Tamago closes on Mondays and Tuesdays and opens Wednesday to Saturday from midday until 10pm, with Sundays added in July and August. You can reserve a table via an online form or by email, and for eating at home the café delivers through Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats. Like any small independent, its hours are worth confirming before making a special journey.
Westbourne's café scene is the richer for Cafe Tamago, and it's worth a detour if you want a change from seafront fish and chips. Our food & drink guide covers more options in the area, and our things to do guide lists what else is close by.