New Flat Iron South Bank to open on 4 April
Popular steakhouse chain Flat Iron is set to open at Royal Festival Hall on 4 April.
County Hall's fine dining omakase restaurant Hannah has moved onto new pastures, and in its place comes a new concept dedicated to showcasing Japanese seasonal rice culture.
For seven years fine dining chef and sake sommelier Daisuke Shimoyama ran South Bank’s exclusive omakase Japanese restaurant Hannah, from a small and discreet spot tucked inside County Hall on Belvedere Road. The restaurant became renowned for its exquisite multi-course Japanese tasting menus and was described by the FT’s chief restaurant critic as ‘London’s finest omakase restaurant’.
In March 2025 the Hannah team announced the restaurant would be closing to move to Stratford with a new name and direction, while their old venue in County Hall was destined for a new direction built upon Hannah’s established reputation for meticulously crafted dishes.
On 4 April, the Hannah team's new concept restaurant, Donabe, opened. The team describes it as an opportunity to “Explore a fun yet authentic Donabe (Japanese Claypot Rice) experience that’s rare to find in London”.
As is standard from Chef Daisuke, there’s a focus on quality produce and bringing a truly fine dining Japanese flair to the neighbourhood. “Influenced by the popularity and good quality of various rice dishes such as Paella and Risotto, we have now turned our focus on properly introducing our Japanese seasonal rice culture to London as well”.
What’s on the menu?
Similar to earthenware or stoneware bowls, donabe is the Japanese name for a special kind of clay pot. Uniquely designed to slowly retain heat, preparing rice in these special pots ensures that it releases copious umami flavours.
As is to be expected, when it comes to sourcing fish – only the very finest will do! The new pared-down menu features donabe (clay pot) cooked rice dishes topped with sea bream, eel, crab and salmon.
There are also special donburi (rice bowl dishes) such as the Smoked Negitoro Don with wild tuna and salmon roe and the Chirashi Don with smoked trout, negitoro and salmon roe.
When’s it open?
Donabe is open Wed-Sun 12pm-2pm and 5pm-9pm (closed Mon and Tue).
Where is it?
Donabe is located in County Hall. Entrance on Belvedere Road, opposite the Locale restaurant.
