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Edinburgh Live
2 days ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh chef who started own restaurant at 23 now one of 'Scotland's best'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An award-winning Edinburgh founder chef has discussed the difficulties of being a young restaurateur in the capital's vibrant hospitality sector. Jun Au, from Polwarth, admits he was never any good at school when it came to academics and so he knew he wanted to do something more 'physical.' At age 18 he set his sights on becoming a chef and honed his art working in the kitchens on Castle Terrace and the Green Store on Victoria Street before its closure. After earning a degree in hospitality, he ventured into the world of PR, representing several businesses in London. But when the Covid pandemic hit, the PR firm lost all of their clients which led to him moving back to Edinburgh with some saved up cash. Feeling there was nothing to lose, he decided to launch Pomelo at the age of 23 on Strathearn Road. Now in his current location on Sciennes Road, the 27-year-old has tasted success, earning an Acorn award as well as being named "Best Asian Chef in Scotland' by the Asian Catering Federation and one of CODE 30 under 30 in 2025. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. 'I would say it was the best time for us to start out,' he said. 'Lockdown started relaxing and people were allowed outside again, and with us being a new eatery, we drew them in. 'We rode that wave of enthusiasm but I was quite naive having never run a business before. It was a steep learning curve. You have a lot to think about as a small business such as staffing costs, taxes and your bills." It has not been all plain sailing, with Jun arguing more needs to be done to help the sector during a period of rising costs. 'The biggest difficulty of running a restaurant in Edinburgh is monetary,' he said. 'Prices are skyrocketing and on top of that you have high rents, taxes and growing wages. 'I know they have to find a difficult balance but hospitality is one of the largest employers in the country. They have put a burden on restaurant owners and small businesses have a lot of pressure on them." 'My advice to anyone starting out is be flexible and nimble so you are able to switch things up when costs rise.' Jun does not feel his youth has held him back and credits his staff and family for helping making the venture a success. 'For me I was never a party person,' he said. 'I liked to be by myself and now I like to be with my wife and dog. 'The people around me made a lot more sacrifices. My staff work long hours to support the business and my wife is my biggest supporter. 'She is my front of house manager who handles all the admin which I don't have the capacity to deal with. She sacrifices so much which means a lot to me. 'My parents have also put so much effort in, with my mum continuing to help out with the accounting. My chef team is also amazing. It is so hard to find competent people who really want to work and have a passion for that work.' Winning an Acorn and being recognised by his peers was important for Jun as he admits he suffered from impostor syndrome during the early days. 'When you are as young as I am, you can be a little scared or concerned you are doing the right thing,' he said. 'You definitely have to be really passionate about when starting out as you work a lot of hours. 'I am very not calm at all. But I see my anxiety as an advantage, I never switch off and I do not know if that is a super power however if it is, then it is the worst one you can have.' Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox Jun describes Pomelo as creating a menu inspired by the three chefs' heritage. At present there is a Chinese, Filipino and Maltese chef who all borrow from their own life experiences and childhoods. Jun grew up in a Chinese family who explored their culture through food, whether it was his mother cooking in the kitchen or his grandmother passing down recipes. He believes has created a space where diners can have fun exploring fusion cuisine. Things like the Pomelo chicken sandwich, which is made using a pineapple flavoured brioche style bun with a cookie-like crust on top, filled with fried chicken, encapsulates perfectly what Jun and his staff are all about. 'I would say we are fun,' he said. 'The menu is really inspired by our childhoods and our heritage while also focusing on produce that is in season.' Pomelo is open for brunch and dinner bookings. To visit Pomelo's website, click here.
The Guardian
12-02-2025
- The Guardian
10 restaurants not to miss in Edinburgh – 2025's ‘most exciting food destination'
Edinburgh is having a foodie moment. Last week it was named the Most Exciting Food Destination for 2025 by The Good Food Guide. This week, the Michelin Guide Ceremony (Great Britain and Ireland) – held in Scotland for the first time – saw new stars awarded to Lyla and Avery, and new Bib Gourmand awards for Ardfern and Skua. The city is not immune from hospitality sector pressures, but there has been wave after wave of new openings recently, from casual cafes, pizza and taco bars to fine-dining, and everything in between. After seven years reviewing restaurants in the city, it's hard to narrow down my favourites … but here are 10 places that I'm always thrilled to eat at, for every budget. Few restaurants have claimed the heart of Edinburgh residents quite like The Palmerston. It's a bright airy space, a former bank branch transformed into an elegant easy-going restaurant. Sustainability and local produce guide the menus, with proper starters, mains and puddings. Settle in with a large plate of baked Berkshire pork shoulder, swede mash, January King cabbage, cider and sage (£27) with a glass of something delicious from the cellar. The weekday set lunch (Tues-Fri) is a steal (two courses £21, three courses £24). 1 Palmerston Place, This relaxed all-day cafe and wine bar from Edinburgh-born, award-winning chef Roberta Hall-McCarron is next door to her flagship restaurant The Little Chartroom. While the Chartroom is dreamy for a special occasion, Ardfern has become part of the fabric of Leith. The day begins with good coffee and fresh doughnuts (£4.50), pork belly brioche buns (from £6.50), and stacked hash browns (£8). Later, order barbecue aubergine tacos with sweetcorn, fermented chilli and feta (£13) or braised beef pie with beans (£20). 10-12 Bonnington Road, On cold days I daydream about hot hand-ripped noodles at Pomelo: chewy, spicy and singing with Sichuan peppercorns (£11.50). Chef Jun Au's vibrant take on modern Chinese cooking is fresh and fun with a small changing menu. Come for the noodles at lunchtime, or in the evening for family-style dishes to share (from £8.50). The windows steam up and you'll bump elbows with a neighbour, but I promise you won't care. 27 Sciennes Road, Every neighbourhood deserves a restaurant like this: one where you feel like an invited guest on every visit. This intimate family-run bistro has gorgeous views over Bruntsfield Links towards Arthur's Seat. On the menu you'll find the freshest Scottish seafood, cooked with creativity and care. Start with Shetland mussels (£12), then try sea trout with broccolini, olives, and wild garlic butter sauce (£20). 12 Barclay Terrace, Whether perched at the bar or tucked into a booth, Ka Pao feels like somewhere you can stay all night. Experimental small dishes are inspired by the flavours of south-east Asia, using Scotland's larder. A favourite is Arbroath smokie miang, with galangal, spinach and peanuts (£7.50) and the corn ribs with salted coconut, shrimp and lime are messy but addictive (£7). Take friends for the sharing menu to try as many dishes as possible (£30.50pp). St James Quarter, This bistro sets high standards for Japanese food in Edinburgh. There's a rustic feel to the space: exposed brick walls, rattan lights and fabric screens echoing ryokan walls. The food is incredible, the sashimi is light and delicate, arranged with precision and care, and always the highest quality (from £7). The £14.90 weekday lunch menu (and served 5pm-6pm) is unbeatable. 10 Gillespie Place, Sister restaurant to the Michelin-starred Timberyard, Montrose offers the same experimental approach to Scottish ingredients at a more affordable price. The award-winning drinks list includes low-intervention wines, and homemade bitters, liqueurs, vermouths and soft drinks. In the wine bar, order oysters and olives, then playful dishes like suyo cucumber, burnt vegetable dressing and egg yolk (£8). The weekend set lunch is a delicious demonstration of this kitchen's creativity (£20/£25 for two or three courses). Upstairs the restaurant is a more formal affair, also delightful (set menu £80).1-7 Montrose Terrace, If you're going to blow the budget in style: go to Lyla where Stuart Ralston – executive chef and owner of four restaurants in the city – is at the peak of his powers. Expect 10 delicate-but-dazzling seafood-focused courses from the open kitchen. A year since eating here I still recall tender cured plaice decorated with radish flowers, an individual exmoor caviar pearl in every bud; cured trout sashimi fanned into petals on smooth salty chawanmushi, with marigold, lemon and nori, and a fat langoustine wrapped in crisp pastry strands, dunked in burnt apple and sorrel ketchup. (dinner £165, lunch £65/£95 for five to seven courses).3 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh does cafes really well, with dozens of lovely spaces to while away an afternoon. Kitchen Table is one of the best, run by early Edinburgh sourdough pioneers Twelve Triangles. Pull up a mismatched wooden chair and order granola for breakfast with homemade yoghurt, berry compote, nut butter, and fresh fruit (£8.50), later perhaps a huge focaccia sandwich with black garlic roast aubergine, hummus, salsa and zhoug (£12.50). Co-owners Emily Cuddeford and Rachel Morgan have a cookbook out this spring and I dearly hope their Basque cheesecake (£6.50) has earned a page. 22-24 Easter Road, There's a soft minimal design to the interior at Eleanore, helping this small restaurant feel calm and relaxed rather than crowded. Think sleek lines, handmade ceramics and thick curtains, all allowing the focus to rest on the food, which is outstanding. There's a set menu, though do add the oysters. Recently, I loved a main of cod au poivre with creamed spinach and sweet roscoff onions, followed by Eleanore's cult Tirami-choux bun. (set lunch £38, dinner £70).30-31 Albert Place,
