The Food Wanker

When I decided to write a series of articles about my favourite food-related things Jersey, there was really only one place to start…

About 3 years ago, I heard about a new “pan-Asian” restaurant opening on Halkett Place. It was offering small plates, a concept still fresh to Jersey after conquering seemingly every other city, and those small plates were a cacophony of exciting flavours not available anywhere else on the island. 

So I did what any self-respecting Thicc King would do, I took an afternoon off, booked a table for one and ordered everything on the menu.

That first lunch, which went from an everyday lunch to an accidental self-imposed food challenge, was when I first met one of the owners, Stephen. He came out from the kitchen because he’d heard some weird bloke out front was eating his way through the entire menu. At this point I was both very embarrassed and unbelievably full, and still had a whole bunch of stuff coming out, but what was I going to do, admit defeat?

Suffice to say I did not, and after a 2 hour walk to work it off, my fate was sealed. 

I was addicted to Awabi.

It started with the food, as it should. The rice cakes (tteokbokki) in sticky gochujang sauce, the wings that would go on to become an institution, the perfect dumplings, and of course, Spam in the fried rice. Spam! In Jersey! Clever twists on Jersey classics like a whole deep fried sea-bass kept the menu connected and pseudo-familiar, but this wasn’t a place that was worried about Jersey and its old fashioned ways, we’d catch up!

(Below are original photos from my first visit to Awabi, retrieved from the archives by… taking screenshots from Instagram, which seems normal)

Add to that that the most entertaining social media of any restaurant on Island, excellent music, the spartan, modern interiors, inventive cocktails, great beers (courtesy of Batch) friendly staff and they hadn’t just opened a restaurant, they’d opened a place where we could go and enjoy all of this, and feel a little cooler for it, a little more 2020 and a little less 1980, which is a rare thing in Jersey sometimes.

Over the last few years I’ve taken every visiting friend and family member, every visiting colleague from work, had birthdays, anniversaries, and made up about a thousand reasons to go. Not that you need a reason other than that Hot & Sour Aubergine.

To my mind, after Awabi opened we seemed to get a new spate of more interesting offerings. All seemingly opening now that Awabi had proven that Jersey people will eat food that isn’t seabass and royals. I’m not suggesting its 100% down to them, but what a proof of concept! 

The menu changes relatively frequently, with interesting spins on classics or just traditional food from places you cant say and had never heard of, which keeps you coming back. And just when you think it’s a totally new menu or they’ve run out of ideas, it’s time for the wings to make a comeback in some form of competition, or they’re battering some rabbit legs, what’s not to love?! 

So if you haven’t been, do. Like now. Stop wasting your time on this horseshit and get down there, they might have room if you sit at the bar. 

Mike’s Classic Awabi Order.

Rice Cakes

House Kimchi x 2

Szechuan Wings (Extra Hot) 

Hot and Sour Aubergine

Deep fried Wontons

Kimchi Pancake

Crispy Deep Fried Sea Bass

Kimchi Fried Rice WITH Spam

A good long walk then a good long lay down.