‘Where should I eat in Edinburgh?’ is the question I often get asked by friends who plan to visit Scotland’s capital for the first time.
Edinburgh gives a glimpse of Da Lat – a highland city of Vietnam where has cold weather and makes me feel hungry all the time.
When in the United Kingdom, the best advice for breakfast is to take a full English breakfast and a hot teapot of Earl Grey or Peppermint. Just 10 mins walk from my accommodation to Bruntsfield Place which is filled with many lovely coffee houses, restaurants, and traditional pubs in the south-west of central Edinburgh. Popping into a random restaurant named Montpeliers that has a pretty corner with lots of flowers where I can enjoy my brunch while looking at people passing by.
I tried The Monty dish including Pork & herb sausages, Ayrshire bacon, poached eggs, potato scone, Heatherfield haggis, black pudding, tomato, mushrooms & baked beans, served with toast, tea & orange juice. Another dish with Scrambled egg, thick wholemeal toast, mushroom, and sausage.
At the time I saw the black pudding – a type of blood sausage originating in Great Britain and Ireland, I really wanted to try because it’s quite similar with a Vietnamese dish that made from pork blood. However, the British black pudding is dry filled with pork fat or beef suet, and a cereal (usually oatmeal, oat groats or barley groats) while Vietnamese pudding is more juicy and softer included pork meat and herbs.

Whoever sees a full English breakfast dish for the first time, will think it might not be enough to start a day. But those are having eyes bigger than their stomach. Since the portion contributes enough energy and nutrient for our body with some bits of egg, mushroom, meat, and toast, it doesn’t make us feel too full in the morning.
It’s quite weird to visit such an old Scottish place to eat Asian food. But Kanpai Sushi is the best Japanese restaurant in the United Kingdom that I have found, located near Edinburgh Castle. Considering how amazing, tasty and delightful the food was, I thought the price was affordable with £65 for two.

Teppan 8oz Sirloin on traditional Japanese clay pot is honestly the star of this whole meal. Steak is cooked to the perfect medium rare level on an iron plate, then served at the table by a hot clay pot to keep it warm to the last piece.

For a great Scottish dinner, I think it worth going to a traditional pub near The Scottish National Gallery, namely Whiski Rooms.
A very classic Scottish pub serves the very best of local, seasonal Scottish produce and a selection of whiskies for tasting and exploring the different characteristics of malt whisky.
Looking at the menu, I choose Macsween’s Haggis served with bashed neeps, potato, leek, whisky sauce which has long been concerned as the must-try traditional dish in Scotland – a type of savoury pudding combined meat with oatmeal, onions, salt and spices. Haggis is traditionally cooked in a sheep’s stomach that is a historic way of preserving meat. But don’t worry, most haggis nowadays is served and cooked in a synthetic sausage casing.

The Whiski Haddock & Chips includes rolled & breaded east coast haddock, peas & tartare sauce – a fish & chips dish in a fancy style. With drink, I order the Highlander that is described as ‘the fresh smell of the Scottish highland’ with Glenmorangie 10 year old malt whisky, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup, stirred and charged with ginger ale. Moreover, the staffs are absolutely amazing, attentive and well-trained who can provide a lot of suggestion and knowledge about drinks and foods.

A valuable experience in Scotland you must try is Whisky tasting. As told that I hadn’t attempted Whisky, the waiter suggested me to try the Whiski Tasting Flight 2 – A selection from the 4 main regions – Lowland, Islay, Speyside & Highlands, including Auchentoshan 12 YO, Glenfarclas 10 YO, Caol Ila 12 YO, Dalwhinnie 15 YO.

The night in Whiski Rooms is one of my most memorable things since I had a great seat by the window and enjoy a cozy dinner with my soulmate in such a beautiful ancient city in Scotland.
Only an hour and fifteen minute’s flight from London, why not make Edinburgh as a destination for your weekend break? It is a foodie or Whisky-holic’s paradise, indeed.