Simple, to the point, tasty and cheap: a five quid bento box lunch with tagalong miso soup from ICN Gallery makes a lot of sense if you find yourself hungry and hanging around in the Shoreditch Triangle. And if you can spare a bit of time to check out what's up on the walls in ICN's gallery space, then so much the better.
ICN (International Creative Network) has been open on artily edgy Leonard Street for a little while now. It's a contemporary art gallery with an aim “to showcase and share with the UK public upcoming and young contemporary artists from Japan and other Asian countries.” The gallery has a low key but nonetheless stylish little cafe that makes for a comfy, friendly and economic option for lunch as well.
Offering “healthy, authentic home-cooked Japanese lunches” with plenty of vegetarian options and lots of varieties of green teas, it's good for a quickie or a more lingering midday session. Umami out with dishes such as harusame glass noodle salad, green beans in sesame paste and sautéed burdock root and be glad that the chicken teriyaki and karaage fried chicken are made with the tastier cuts of poultry.
ICN Gallery is located at 96-98 Leonard Street London EC2A 4RH. Visit the gallery's website for opening hours and exhibition info.
Photo/Chris Osburn
