For me, the first weekend in December is synonymous with three things – my dad’s birthday, Christmas decorations, and fried chicken.

A family of the 90s, our favourite fried chicken shop had to be KFC, and if I ever happen to be home on the first weekend of December, my family will still make the pilgrimage to KFC for their Variety Bucket (although sadly the Viennetta is no longer part of the meal).

So imagine my joy when I saw Shoryu had chicken karaage on their festive menu! A Christmas tradition that Japan and I share – fried chicken has been eaten in Japan since the 1970s as a festive meal. But our meal at Shoryu was much more than fried chicken; it was full of surprises and delights.

I went for the festive set menu so that I could try all of the Christmas goodies, and I started with the Shoryu Snow Buddy cocktail.

It was like a festive pina colada and definitely put me in the holiday spirit. It was photogenic to the point of Instagram bait (though the poor gingerbread man does eventually dissolve into the drink). It packed more of a punch than it appeared, thanks to the sake base. Sweet, playful – one I could have easily ordered again, and not just for the novelty. It was certainly alcoholic but really sippable.

The main meal was exceptional ramen.

I love ramen, and on first glance at the menu I wasn’t sure I was going to like this festive edition. Pork belly is one of my least favourite cuts of meat, and I couldn’t imagine what sausages in ramen would be like – I had visions of sausage-meat soup, but the reality couldn’t have been further! From the amazing chewy texture of the wood ear mushrooms to the creaminess that the boiled egg gave to the dish, and the complex, milky flavour of the soup, every mouthful was perfect. I did remove the cranberries as I’m not a fan, but this didn’t impact my enjoyment of the dish.

In the battle of the sides, the chicken karaage was miles above the Brussels sprout tempura. Even my partner – who is allergic to eggs – could enjoy it, thanks to Shoryu’s egg-free batter. As a die-hard KFC December pilgrim, let me tell you: this karaage had all the crunch I associate with my beloved Variety Bucket, just less salty and with a wonderful lemon spritz and mayo pairing that brought a rich, slightly spicy lift.

On the other hand, the tempura sprouts were a curiosity that turned out better than expected – well-balanced texture, not hard or soggy – but still a little muted in flavour for me. They’re the sprouts I’d happily eat, but next to the karaage, they didn’t stand a chance. (My partner pronounced them “fine” but thought the seasoning salt brought very little to the party.)

The restaurant itself was buzzing – busy in that energising, December lunchtime way which makes it feel like everyone’s celebrating something.

It struck me as the perfect spot for a festive work do: seasonal touches without being kitsch, a crowd-pleasing menu, and a price point that’s surprisingly reasonable – two courses and a drink in the centre of Oxford.

Across the table, my partner chose the curry. It arrived generous and comforting, with sticky rice that was easy to pick up with chopsticks. The flavour was filling and savoury rather than spicy — some might find it mild, but for anyone who doesn’t like heat it’s spot on.

Dessert was an adorable vanilla mochi snowman – almost too cute to eat.

Unfortunately, it was served very cold: the kind of cold where you’re waiting for its personality (and softness) to thaw. Once it did, it was rich, creamy, and slightly too decadent to finish after such a feast. The only thing missing were little eyes — a sprinkle of playful detail would have made it perfect.

By the end, we were thoroughly full to the point of defeat – we couldn’t finish everything, not for lack of trying. But fullness feels appropriate for a Christmas menu, and this one delivered more than I expected: thoughtful twists, playful presentation, and a ramen I genuinely thought I wouldn’t like but ended up loving. If you’re after somewhere festive with a bit of surprise – and yes, fried chicken – Shoryu might just be the December tradition you didn’t know you needed.

Shoryu
134, The Westgate, Queen St, Oxford OX1 1PB

Bitten were invited as guests, all views are our own