Chef's table: Isaac McHale, chef at Upstairs at The Ten Bells restaurant, Spitalfields

Isaac McHale, co-founder and chef at Upstairs at The Ten Bells tells us why he likes eating at Koya in Soho.

Where would you pay money to eat and how often? "I went to Rita’s Bar & Dining in Dalston last night. It was fun. Places I go back to again and again include Koya (49 Frith Street, W1D, koya.co.uk). But also Quo Vadis is great, I’ve always loved St John’s Bread & Wine, or there’s a really great place called Yipin China on Liverpool Road. Oh, and The Ledbury for special occasions, having worked there for a long time. I try and get there once a year at least. And a special mention to Keu, the bahn-mi place on Old Street which is untouchable in the world of banh-mis for us."

Why? "Koya is a really interesting take on Japanese food seen through a British lens. I’ve been there a lot and we’re friends with Junya Yamasaki who runs it. It’s used by Japanese people as a place to get amazing udon noodles and by us as a place to get really interesting Japanese food using very, very seasonal British ingredients – by way of the specials boards."

Who would you take? "It’s a sort of social place. We got and have meetings there or just whenever we’re in town, it’s the place to go to."

What do you eat there? "All the specials whenever we go in and then whichever noodle takes my fancy that day."

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