The V&A East may not be cutting the ribbon for another year, but we’re already pretty sure what its greatest exhibit will be.
You see, Ravinder Bhogal, the genre-defying chef behind Jikoni in Marylebone, is set to open a restaurant & cafe there with her business partner Nadeem Lalani Nanjuwany. And Jikoni is restaurant that feels completely unique, from its electrically comfy, living room-like interior to its similarly passport-shredding ethos in the kitchen – a ‘no borders’ approach that draws from Britain, East Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, then puts them into an almost literal metaphorical melting pot.
As of yet, the only concrete details about it come via a few quotes from the pair, who have cannily elected not to say anything too definitive lest the fickle hand of fate drastically, tragically, or worse, bureaucratically change anything over the next 12 months. They will apparently be “focusing on seasonal ingredients, sustainability, and supporting local producers,” which isn’t exactly a shocker, but they’re also pretty determined to involve themselves in the fabric of the local community, with a stated aim of “inclusivity, collaboration, and connectivity.”
But part of what makes Jikoni itself so great is its refusal to conform to any known stereotype – so the hope is that they’ll follow suit here, with something that, come spring 2026, will speak for itself.
NOTE: The V&A East Museum, and Ravinder Bhogal’s restaurant, will open in spring 2026. We’ll be back then with the full scoop. In the meantime, you can keep an eye on Jikoni’s Insta.
V&A East | Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, E20
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