DYZYN Living's Guide To Cardiff

Food scene

Heaneys Restaurant

Heaneys opened at the end of 2018 in a spot that's been renowned for housing some of Cardiff's best restaurants, including Le Gallois and Arbennig. Heaneys, though, is arguably the best yet. Owner and chef Tommy Heaney became known around the UK after appearing on Great British Menu and anyone who walks past his floor-to-ceiling glass-fronted place can see the busy, buzzing atmosphere inside. And the food is superb, a menu of small plates that can be enjoyed as tapas or served as a 10-course tasting menu (though the dishes are still shared). Think cod with cauliflower, cider beure noisette and herring roe, or dry-aged Welsh sirloin with miso and kimchi. It's a fantastic range of dishes and intense flavours being served at what is now arguably Cardiff's best restaurant. He also runs Uisce next door, a wine bar also selling cracking food.

22 personas locales recomiendan

Heaneys Restaurant

6-10 Romilly Cres

22 personas locales recomiendan

Heaneys opened at the end of 2018 in a spot that's been renowned for housing some of Cardiff's best restaurants, including Le Gallois and Arbennig. Heaneys, though, is arguably the best yet. Owner and chef Tommy Heaney became known around the UK after appearing on Great British Menu and anyone who walks past his floor-to-ceiling glass-fronted place can see the busy, buzzing atmosphere inside. And the food is superb, a menu of small plates that can be enjoyed as tapas or served as a 10-course tasting menu (though the dishes are still shared). Think cod with cauliflower, cider beure noisette and herring roe, or dry-aged Welsh sirloin with miso and kimchi. It's a fantastic range of dishes and intense flavours being served at what is now arguably Cardiff's best restaurant. He also runs Uisce next door, a wine bar also selling cracking food.

Nook

Nook has only been open a couple of weeks but has jumped comfortably straight into this list. It's a small, super-friendly place serving small plates and natural wines at good prices. You can read our review here. The menu features sharing dishes like burrata with fermented chilli, lemon, olive oil and dukkah or crispy enoki (a thin, Japanese mushroom) with runner beans, miso and sesame. The wines are available by the glass or the bottle, and you can even buy the bottles to take away. Sample dish: Mutton and aubergine arancini with tomato and caper ketchup

7 personas locales recomiendan

Nook

587 Cowbridge Rd E

7 personas locales recomiendan

Nook has only been open a couple of weeks but has jumped comfortably straight into this list. It's a small, super-friendly place serving small plates and natural wines at good prices. You can read our review here. The menu features sharing dishes like burrata with fermented chilli, lemon, olive oil and dukkah or crispy enoki (a thin, Japanese mushroom) with runner beans, miso and sesame. The wines are available by the glass or the bottle, and you can even buy the bottles to take away. Sample dish: Mutton and aubergine arancini with tomato and caper ketchup

Sushi Life

The 1980s-style red-brick building you'll find it in couldn't be further away from the colourful makis, California rolls, ramens, curries and rice dishes you'll find on the plates inside. 'Hell in the Kitchen' rolls come filled with prawn tempura, cucumber and avocado, topped with tuna, Japanese mayonnaise and sriracha sauce, while spicy tuna rolls combine tuna (obviously), avocado, cucumber, sesame seeds, that mayo, chilli powder and chives. Wow.

11 personas locales recomiendan

Sushi Life

Wellfield Road

11 personas locales recomiendan

The 1980s-style red-brick building you'll find it in couldn't be further away from the colourful makis, California rolls, ramens, curries and rice dishes you'll find on the plates inside. 'Hell in the Kitchen' rolls come filled with prawn tempura, cucumber and avocado, topped with tuna, Japanese mayonnaise and sriracha sauce, while spicy tuna rolls combine tuna (obviously), avocado, cucumber, sesame seeds, that mayo, chilli powder and chives. Wow.

Saray Restaurant

If you want authentic Turkish cuisine you must try Saray. But be prepared to book a table — the restaurant is full most evenings. You get given a free selection of starters with fresh bread and chilli and garlic dips. Don't eat too much of this as you won't have space for any of the mains, which include classics like lamb shish, lamb ribs and chicken kofte. After that (if you're still physically able to) save yourself for the complimentary baklava, which is made in the kitchen and served with Turkish tea. They also serve a variety of fresh fruit smoothies and juices and during Ramadan they serve lentil soup with the fresh bread and dips for people who are breaking their fast.

Saray Restaurant

164-166 City Rd

If you want authentic Turkish cuisine you must try Saray. But be prepared to book a table — the restaurant is full most evenings. You get given a free selection of starters with fresh bread and chilli and garlic dips. Don't eat too much of this as you won't have space for any of the mains, which include classics like lamb shish, lamb ribs and chicken kofte. After that (if you're still physically able to) save yourself for the complimentary baklava, which is made in the kitchen and served with Turkish tea. They also serve a variety of fresh fruit smoothies and juices and during Ramadan they serve lentil soup with the fresh bread and dips for people who are breaking their fast.

Salkaara

2018 was a vintage year for restaurant openings in Cardiff. Here's another restaurant rated among the best in the city after just a year doing business. It's also another that made the number one spot on TripAdvisor. Chef Santhosk Nair says the majority of the dishes have a south Indian influence because that is where his roots are. There's an emphasis on seafood (starters include an ocean platter and beach crab, while mains include fish curry and sea bass). It may be a little more expensive than your average Indian restaurant but the friendly staff, wonderful flavours and sensational naan breads (they deserve special mention) mean you won't feel out of pocket.

Salkaara

125 Station Road

2018 was a vintage year for restaurant openings in Cardiff. Here's another restaurant rated among the best in the city after just a year doing business. It's also another that made the number one spot on TripAdvisor. Chef Santhosk Nair says the majority of the dishes have a south Indian influence because that is where his roots are. There's an emphasis on seafood (starters include an ocean platter and beach crab, while mains include fish curry and sea bass). It may be a little more expensive than your average Indian restaurant but the friendly staff, wonderful flavours and sensational naan breads (they deserve special mention) mean you won't feel out of pocket.

La Pantera

Weekly changing Taco menu, relaxed and soetimes slightly rude service but always a hell of a lot of fun

6 personas locales recomiendan

La Pantera

5 Quay Street

6 personas locales recomiendan

Weekly changing Taco menu, relaxed and soetimes slightly rude service but always a hell of a lot of fun

The Classroom

This remarkable restaurant is staffed by those honing their culinary and service skills at Cardiff and Vale College. And it's based in the floor-to-ceiling glass dining room on the top floor of the college’s city centre campus. The menus change with the season and bread is freshly baked each day in the in-house bakery.

The Classroom

Dumballs Road

This remarkable restaurant is staffed by those honing their culinary and service skills at Cardiff and Vale College. And it's based in the floor-to-ceiling glass dining room on the top floor of the college’s city centre campus. The menus change with the season and bread is freshly baked each day in the in-house bakery.

Yakitori 1

Yakitori1 is a fresh take on traditional Japanese food. Inspired by Japan’s fast-paced restaurants and communal nature, we set out to bring the fresh, vibrant flavours of Japan to all.

6 personas locales recomiendan

Yakitori 1

6 personas locales recomiendan

Yakitori1 is a fresh take on traditional Japanese food. Inspired by Japan’s fast-paced restaurants and communal nature, we set out to bring the fresh, vibrant flavours of Japan to all.

Culley's Kitchen & Bar

Classy bar and Kitchen open from breakfast lunch and tea

Culley's Kitchen & Bar

Classy bar and Kitchen open from breakfast lunch and tea

Chapel 1877 Bar & Restaurant

Located in central Cardiff, Chapel 1877 pays homage to its past, magically combining the medieval chapel built in 1877 with modern artistic touches and contemporary dining. A unique dining experience, visitors can expect sophisticated surroundings based on French-Italian themed designs courtesy of 1800s architect Henry C Harris. Welsh-style dishes on the menu include mouth-watering pork belly, Roast Middlewood Farm Breconshire venison loin, and succulent Pembrokeshire spatchcock poussin. Diners can follow with delicious desserts including tasty tarts and sweet sorbets, before heading to the bar for after-dinner drinks.

23 personas locales recomiendan

Chapel 1877 Bar & Restaurant

Churchill Way

23 personas locales recomiendan

Located in central Cardiff, Chapel 1877 pays homage to its past, magically combining the medieval chapel built in 1877 with modern artistic touches and contemporary dining. A unique dining experience, visitors can expect sophisticated surroundings based on French-Italian themed designs courtesy of 1800s architect Henry C Harris. Welsh-style dishes on the menu include mouth-watering pork belly, Roast Middlewood Farm Breconshire venison loin, and succulent Pembrokeshire spatchcock poussin. Diners can follow with delicious desserts including tasty tarts and sweet sorbets, before heading to the bar for after-dinner drinks.