Hey!Chili on Heathcoat Street
Signature Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen
The place we'd chosen for this review has changed names so many times over the last few years it's hard to keep up. This manifestation is called 'Hey!Chili', a Japanese restaurant on Heathcoat Street. Formerly it was Udon Canteen, maybe Chinese, or Noodle Canteen - or something else before that, but I can't rightly remember.
It was Thursday night, and Man United were playing Bodo Glimt in a European game - this was a deciding factor, with the pressure on, much like Ruben Amorim in his second game in charge. We'd originally planned to hit Bunkers Hill for a deep-fried calzone during the match, but discovering their kitchen was closed forced a quick pivot. Walking into Hey!Chili five minutes before kick-off, we lucked out as a table for three had just become free. "You've got a phone with TV apps," noted Anthony. "Great idea," I responded, settling in for what was shaping up to be a proper evening rather than our planned rush job.
A delightful server guided us through the menu and specials while sake and beers appeared at our table. Within a minute, United were 1-nil up. "Get in!" Ant and I shouted, while Andy, being a Forest fan, remained indifferent, muttering something about ordering ramen.
The food started arriving just as Glimt had managed to equalise and then take the lead. "For fuck's sake," Ant and I grumbled, exchanging that knowing look only United fans share when watching the same old issues plague a team that should be challenging for the top spots. Meanwhile, Andy regaled us with tales of his sofa delivery woes: "They wouldn't take it up the little hill, so they just drove off," he complained.
Our feast began with the small plates, prompting a chopstick battle royale. The Japanese Octopus Balls (£6.80) sparked the inevitable jokes about "poor things" but proved absolutely delicious as we stuffed them into our mouths, as did the perfectly crispy Chicken Gyoza (£6.90). The Crispy Pork Chitterlings (£10.80) prompted Andy to declare, "Think this might replace my death row dish" - a bold statement considering our previous review of Bar Iberico.
Caramelised Slow-Cooked Pork Belly Don
My Signature Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen (£15.90) was a thing of beauty - bamboo shoots, spring onions, grilled chashu pork belly, and a perfect hanjuku egg. The lads both went for the Caramelised Slow-Cooked Pork Belly Don (£12.80), but that didn't stop them from making unexpected raids on my bowl, despite singing the praises of their slow-cooked pork with crispy onions and steamed rice.
The Karaage Chicken (6 pieces, £7.80) from the specials board arrived next - crispy, perfectly marinated with soy sauce, sake, ginger, and what I suspect was a touch of mirin for sweetness. The Japanese Seaweed Crackers (£5) with yuzu sea salt were an unexpected highlight. By this point, United had equalised and taken the lead at 3-2, though we'd mostly lost track, too engrossed in the food to properly follow the replay.
Octopus Balls and Karaage Chicken
Crispy Seaweed Crackers
We capped the evening with some Japanese shots to toast United's victory - though I'm sworn to secrecy about exactly what they were, a pact made with both staff and my foodie companions. Hey!Chili does what they do extremely well, maintaining that welcoming canteen vibe that makes walk-ins feel right at home. Just don't forget to check the specials board on the wall - the main menu might hypnotise you, but there are hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
Dinner:
Signature Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen - £15.90
Caramelised Slow-Cooked Pork Belly Don - £12.80
Crispy Pork Chitterlings - £10.80
Caramelised Pork Belly Lettuce Wrap - £13.80
Chicken Gyoza - £6.90
Japanese Octopus Balls - £6.80
Karaage Chicken (6 pcs) Specials Board - £7.80
Japanese Seaweed Crackers with Yuzu seasalt (4 pcs) - £5
Sake (hot) - 300ml - £9
