Kumquat Bar & Restaurant in Tunbridge Wells

The Kumquat Restaurant is a culinary haven that masterfully blends the rich traditions of Chinese cuisine with refined European influences. Located in the historic Pantiles, this gourmet destination offers an unparalleled dining experience that delights the senses. Chef Patron Alex Boyd has curated a menu that showcases the finest ingredients, ensuring every dish is a testament to quality and freshness. From the delicate balance of flavors in the dim sum to the innovative fusion of European techniques with classic Chinese recipes, each plate is a work of art. The attention to detail and commitment to excellence are evident in every bite, making Kumquat a true masterpiece of culinary craftsmanship. The ambiance at Kumquat is equally captivating. The thoughtfully designed interior exudes elegance and warmth, creating a perfect setting for both intimate dinners and celebratory gatherings. During warmer months, the option to dine al fresco on the Pantiles adds a charming touch to the experience. The attentive and welcoming staff further enhance the atmosphere, ensuring that every guest feels valued and pampered. Kumquat is more than just a restaurant; it is a journey through the harmonious fusion of cultures and flavors. Whether you're savoring their Bao Bun Dishes or indulging in a multi-course feast, the combination of exceptional food and ambiance makes Kumquat a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts.

Me and my mum went here for Mother's Day and we had a great time. Service was great, food was delicious, great experience beginning to end. Bit pricey though. But overall, fantastic and would probably come again.

A Hidden Gem in the Heart of Tunbridge Wells From the moment we stepped into Kumquat Restaurant, we were greeted with warmth and hospitality by Virginia and Alex, making us feel right at home. Kumquat is truly a hidden gem, especially for food enthusiasts seeking something unique. Our dining experience was exceptional from start to finish. We initially shared a starter and ordered two main courses, but by the end of the meal, we were both so captivated by the flavors that we ended up indulging in a three-course meal each. Each dish was creatively crafted, with flavors that complemented each other perfectly. We found ourselves eager to try more, as every bite offered something new and exciting. The ambiance of Kumquat adds to the charm. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, making it an ideal spot for a romantic evening for couples, yet welcoming enough for families or groups of friends. What stands out is the variety of dishes. Whether you enjoy subtle, delicate flavors or crave a bit of spice, Kumquat has something to cater to every taste. The fusion of ingredients and cultures truly delivers an unforgettable dining experience. If you're looking to explore new tastes and enjoy outstanding food, we highly recommend Kumquat. It’s a true culinary delight that will leave you wanting to return for more. Having traveled all the way from Cardiff after two years, we were eager to see if Kumquat still lived up to our fond memories and they exceeded our expectations. The exceptional flavors, warm hospitality, and inviting ambiance made our return visit just as memorable, if not more so. We’ll certainly be back again! Sam & Sheema

Amazing lunch at the Kumquat Restaurant in Tunbridge Wells. I love its atmosphere. Food was delicious and staff were friendly. You will definitely love this place once have tried the food.

I have been to Kumquat Restaurant a number of times previously. I travelled there from west London, for lunch on Monday 22 November. I love the creative fusion menu. The food was exceptional. First I had sourdough toast with toppings from the brunch section, then confit duck with tasty salad and finally pulled beef on brioche bun with Korean coleslaw. The hot chocolate was to die for. The presentation was superb and was also so tasty. Strongly recommended, I can't wait until the next visit.

This hidden gem in Tunbridge Wells truly impresses. The decor, ambiance and food quality evoke fine dining, yet the prices are surprisingly reasonable. I indulged in the Asian fusion tapas—signature leaves and tuna tartare—both expertly crafted. The leaves featured a delightful mix of tofu, vegetables, and seafood, showcasing freshness. The tuna tartare was a standout, perfectly balanced with wasabi mayo and finely diced cucumbers. For our main course, the slow-cooked pork belly bao bun was incredibly tender. The friendly owner made us feel at home, creating lasting memories. Thank you for a wonderful dining experience!

We arrived to a confused and somewhat frantic atmosphere, nobody greeted us and we were left to stand in the middle of the restaurant in everybody's way for an awkwardly long time...we then waited 45 minutes for a drink and over an hour for starters, we also didn't get everything we ordered, but by that time had given up caring. While the service was laughably bad, they were clearly busy and looked to be quite unorganised, maybe new staff or something? I was also a little annoyed that there wasn't really any acknowledgement of how bad things were... However despite this the food was great, really interesting flavours and nothing disappointed, so much so that I would go back, just maybe avoid the busy times!

I really enjoy the food in kumquat , the service is good and the chef is very talented to create all these dishes I had a great time and a great meal

We were excited to try this place since it is supposedly "south east Asian" only to read the menu on arrival and notice the majority is decidedly east Asian, with mainly Japanese and Korean inspired dishes up for grabs. A bit disappointed ☹️

Average food, great service and friendly staff.

The most wonderful meal (we had every starter!) with delightful service from Toby the waiter - he kept our wine topped up, was attentive throughout and ensured he held the door kindly as all diners left. We will definitely be back, thank you!

Toby was amazing, man deserves a raise. Jack of all trades, ten ten

We popped in here tonight for supper. Charlie was not only in charge of the kitchen but of the table service as well. He did brilliantly! Food was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. Unusual dishes on offer full of flavour and a work of art on the plate. Thank you for a lovely evening and thanks to Charlie a young and very gifted chef.

Quite slow service and was left to wait over half an hour for two starters. When they eventually did come they were quite cold but the flavour was alright. Not sure I would come again due to slow service

Fabulous food, great service. Will definitely return.

Great place. The food is quite good. And the staff were extremely nice. The Gyoza is frozen but it was ok. The Salmon and English muffin was very good. They didn’t have the Bao buns at first, but then they got it delivered just in time. And we enjoyed the Bao buns. Very nice place. I recommend it.

Wow! Just wow! Where do I start!?! The ambiance, service, staff and drinks.. but the food is out of this world. So good in fact I had 2 lamb shanks! The chef is amazing. If you’re ever in Royal Tumbridge Wells, you have to go here!!

The food and service were both so good. We came as a group of six, and were all really impressed with everything. Thank you for having us!

Hidden gem located on the picturesque Pantiles! Great cocktails with beautiful presentation, and the Asian tapas-style cuisine is simply To. Die. For!! 🤤👌 Plus the fact that Alex and Virginia are genuinely caring people that just want to share a slice of their world with you, this is simply one of my favourite spots in TWells. 🫶🍸🥢

Faultless experience! Food was amazing-so flavoursome and beautifully presented. Staff and service was top class and they couldn't be more polite and attentive. We had the bottom floor for a private party and the setting was perfect-such lovely decor and ambience. 100 percent would recommend and come back- especially for a group booking/special occasion. Thank you again for the perfect evening :)

I have lived in the UK for 3 years and this restaurant is the best! Really want to scare Li Shi

Their food is fresh and tasty, especially the sea bass and my family also had extremely tender lamb shank. Attractive decor. Will organise our next meeting there as well.

Food was delicious and super service.

Amazing foods and friendly services

Wow this was a really great find on the Pantiles. The food was excellent. We had the poached eggs on toast with crispy back and mushrooms. It was a really well executed dish and beautifully presented. Highly recommended. Update: October 2024. Had another great meal and great service. However I have noticed a few scathing reviews recently. I cannot comprehend what dimension of reality these reviews were written in but they are certainly NOT genuine and most likely from a disgruntled competitor pay them no heed. This is great place.

Unbelievably good food and service! Great choice of Asian cuisines. I cannot recommend this place enough. The owners Alex and Virginia have created something truly special here

Charming and delicious. Staff was very friendly and the food was incredible. Highly recommend the chicken satay skewers, the peanut lime sauce was delicious and the chicken was perfectly prepared, but really you can't go wrong with anything on the menu.

Wonderful food. Every time we visit there is new, fresh, incredible Asian fusion flavours with amazing presentation. Lovely service. A must visit.

Really lovely restaurant in the pretty Pantiles area of Tunbridge Wells. Virginia and the team go out of their way to make sure you have a wonderful dining experience. The food is prepared with care and skill and beautifully presented. The waiting staff were really helpful and friendly. All in all, a great evening! Thank you!

If I could rate it zero I would! Worst service I have ever had in my entire life. I’m such a foodie and always do my research on where to go / what to recommend for my clients and this place could not be more opposite. Took 40 minutes for drinks and then another hour for 1 of the 3 starters to arrive. Once my friend had finished her starter we questioned where ours was and got given a silly excuse after the drink order already getting messed up. There were 4 tables that arrived after us and were already on their mains by the time the first starter arrived. After another 30 minutes wait we were then asked again what we had ordered for the main (we’re now approaching hour 2) instead of anyone owning up they just acting as if it was okay. Once the mains had finally arrived I was so hungry but also so over it as it was my birthday dinner and it just felt ruined as it should have been a special event. Food was not worth it and the cost was absolutely ridiculous. Disgusted that for 4 drinks (one alcoholic) 3 starters and 4 mains it was over £220? Disgusting and with horrible service. 0/10 would recommend. Go next door or across the street, don’t even waste your time or money

Great outside dining last weekend. Amazing food. Lovely waitor. Wines was brilliant too. I think the best restaurant in Tunbridge Wells.

Wonderful weather (not by the restaurant) but ambiance is wonderful. Great service and nothing is to much. Especially Louis who is very helpful with choosing things from the menu.

Friendly helpful service and very tasty food but quite expensive for a family meal for what were relatively small portions. However, biggest issue was the noise. No soft furnishings, open kitchen and noisy waters dropping cutlery into trays and cleaning plates and glasses. Not the the relaxed and subdued atmosphere one might have hoped for from a top end classy meal. Felt more cafe than restaurant sadly. But as I say, food and service great.

As a group of 10, I cannot fault the service or food we enjoyed today. The manager was brilliant with my children and didn't mind them having a walk outside between courses. The food was incredible, between us we tried most of the menu and there was not a bad plate. The Japanese Leaf Bites were the highlight. In addition we sample a number of the cocktails and coffees, a few tweaked to personal preference which was no trouble at all to the staff. The restaurant may look small but its got a big personality. Thank you for a great meal and afternoon.

Male waiter made us 3 younger woman feel uncomfortable by his creepy comments and kept coming over unnecessarily. Food was good but would not come back due to the above.

We had a load of sharing plates as there was only one vegetarian main. The miso aubergine was excellent as were the cocktails and Japanese leaf bites. The gyoza was crispy and that and the fritters were tasty but we felt something was lacking in the sauces. Waiting staff were very helpful

At first the service was great as there was only two tables then around 6 tables all together in the restaurant and it was like Ramseys kitchen nightmares and that was it we were forgotten the food is very small and rushed we ordered 6-8 small plates all gone by the time we had one drink we waited to order more drink but no one came back then they gave us dessert menus and never came back to collect the order then took so long to collect the check we just left our money and left such a shame as it could be good but a bit like faulty towers

Amazing little gem on the Pantiles! Incredible dining experience with excellent food and the staff are wonderful. Would really recommend!

It was an absolutely lovely experience to visit Kumquat, the food was delicious and I had to admit the service 10 out of 10, definitely gonna be back!

What a lovely place, I came there with friend for breakfast and coffee. Food was amazing, my poached eggs were cooked to perfection 👌 Staff were friendly and very helpful.

The honey glazed Bao buns was amazing it was cooked very tenderly and the chief did a fantastic job, the waitresses and staff are really kind. 5/5 will come again

It is safe to say this family-run business arguably offers the most unique food on the pantiles. After seeing the size of their kitchen, I was remarkably impressed by the pace of the service. The staff were consistently polite and attentive, acting as a huge credit to this company. Apart from another bathroom, there is genuinely nothing I could fault this restaurant on.

I recently came down here for a family meal, and we all left super happy and satisfied. The atmosphere was cosy and comfortable, and the servers were friendly and maintained a fast service on a busy night. The food was sublime, particularly the Japanese Leaf Bites and Lamb Shank. I would definitely go back again, as I’d love to try their other plates

What an absolutely splendid dining experience I had. This cosy yet classed restaurant has a comforting atmosphere and the most attentive, joyous staff members you could ever want. However the food was without a doubt, the stars of the show - gorgeously hand crafted Asian fusion dishes that are simply the best. Every bite is nothing but perfection. I would most definitely recommend the fusion bao’s and honorable mentions to the Japanese leaf bites. As someone from Hong Kong I was more than pleased to find such comforting dishes that felt like home, the kindness of the staff deeply amplified the amazing experience “kumquat” offered to me and my family.

My absolute favourite restaurant to go to, staff are so friendly, service is great and food is incredible.

Wonderful food, beautifully presented! The waiting team were excellent, attentive but not overbearing.

The food was incredible with friendly knowledgeable staff. Expensive but absolutely worth it! Good vegetarian selection even though the menu is relatively small. Really recommend the Japanese leaf bites with tofu for fragrance, sweetness and crunch. 3 small plates and 3 large shared between 3 people was exactly the right amount of food for us, but the portions are quite small.

Loved dining here! Went on a Saturday night, very busy but staff were very welcoming and service was great! I would definitely recommend going to this restaurant.

the lamb shank and the pork belly bao bun were amazing! for drinks, I particularly like the vanilla popcorn milkshake!

Exquisite cocktails, delicious food and amazing service. Such an nice experience dining here! Definitely will be returning.

A splendid place to eat! After much deliberation, my partner and I decided on this tidy little place in the Pantiles for an evening meal. What a decision it was! I must say, the staff were tremendously helpful and gladly presented us with beautiful food in good time. Although I was somewhat disappointed at the lack of gluten free options, the staff were quick to recommend a range of dishes that would be appropriate for my partner. The food itself was delicious. We ordered a wide variety of dishes to share, sampling most of the menu, before each indulging in a larger dish. Overall, I would highly recommend Kumquat restaurant if you find yourself in the Tunbridge Wells area!

Another brilliant experience here. Came at a busy hour and staff still held up to expectation serving their best knowledge and expertise! Nevertheless, the food was exceptional- will definitely be back!!

Delicious food cooked by chef Toby and friendly, efficient service. I will definitely be back!

Very good and kind service on a busy Saturday afternoon. Lots of help with my walker for the disabled. Katie.

Amazing food and accommodating staff. Virginia and Alex take pride and it’s shown through their service and quality. Great coffee too!

Food brilliant but service was very very slow with the need to remind staff of our orders. Not helped by the statement on the menu that poached eggs are cooked for 1hr 25 mins.

Portions were small, prices high, and menu very limited. Had the tofu bao buns - £20 for 5 slices of tofu, 3 small mushrooms and two bao buns that came in the steamer and had to be constructed. If you’re into Asian food go to DoDoMi, Kitsu or Kiko

We came here spontaneously today. Ordered the Bao Buns with the glazed pork belly and the tofu. It was super tasty. We treated ourselves to the shrimp chips and the pancakes with spring onions, simply excellent.

Here after a year - once again, best food in Tunbridge Wells, great vibe and good service. Alex and Virginia are a fab team!

Food was very good! Service also brilliant -the female owner was lovely. Will definitely return.

Drawn here by recommendation. But closed. Door says open on Tuesdays, no notice, nothing. I can’t be the only one who doesn’t like that kind of “flexible” opening hours. Edit: Thank you for your reply! Much appreciated. Will try again very soon

We came here for lunch on the weekend. After reading the reviews, we decided to give it a try. I've eaten Asian food alot, so this Asian fusion food was not bad. One thing I would comment is to serve the steamed bao with the stuffing. It was presented separately, and we were struggling with the bao because it was delicate and hot.

What an absolute jewell of a restaurant. A beautiful setting with a delicious menu. Staff very polite and knowledgeable. The cocktails menu is fantastic

What a wonderful experience, couldn’t recommend enough. I’m a vegetarian and I had the soulful sweet potato and tofu bao buns - a taste sensation. My family had the chicken satay, leaf bites, salmon beef pho to name a few and absolutely loved it. The wonderful service made this a fine dining experience and I look forward to returning again!

Scrumptious and Brilliant Service !

Wonderful Asian food. Being from Hong Kong we are spoilt for really good Asian food, normally we struggle to find good Asian food in England, but Kumquat would be able to fit in in Hong Kong no problem. Really tasty food, very well cooked and presented. Will definitely come back. I love the Taiwanese fried chicken with coleslaw

Food has been fantastic everytime i’ve been. owners clearly care about their customers and the service is always great

Not sure what's happened at Kumquat Had an impromptu dinner there last night with my partner Expecting good things considering the reviews My partner choose the vegatarian option Seoul inspired sweet potatoes I had Wild tuna tartar and chunky chutney satay as two sperate plates This with a few house Kumqout Mojitos.. The meals were dissapointingly bland and the drinks also, I wonder if Kumquat can continue to justify its high prices for such average quality. Have to say we won't be going back and wouldn't recommend it,

Superb. A cut above the rest of the pantiles.

Food was amazing as always and the new gentleman working tonight was very helpful.

Best restaurant in Tunbridge wells! I came across kumquat whilst walking down the pantiles. I was first drawn in by the beautiful decor inside and outside. The friendly waitress then welcomed us in and presented the menu (very well thought out menu) During our brunch we had the pineapple coconut cream pancake - very nice mix of flavours and fluffy pancakes. My friend had the English muffin with poached eggs and said it was the best breakfast she’s had in Tunbridge wells. The menu said the poached eggs were cooked for 1hr45 minutes which was very interesting and I had never heard of this before. Nevertheless they were phenomenal! I highly recommend stopping in the kumquat if you are in the Tunbridge wells area and are looking for a quality meal. Will definitely be back to try the dinner menu!

Absolute stunning restaraunt a real hidden gem on the pantiles convenient location which stands out with there elegant green and gold design I was welcomed to comforting service which makes you really feel like your in a family when eating there I ordered off the street food lunch and ordered lost of food stand out dishes would be the chunky chicken satay which they do not skimp out on chicken with two hearty skewers and I really enjoyed the corn fritters which were warm slight spice and refreshing thai basil youghurt Best restaurant in Tunbridge wells

Stopped here for a late lunch and my partner and I thought of ordering several different dishes. The Taiwanese chicken burger was great, would work really well with additional kimchi. The wonton soup was also nice, however the chorizo filling makes this Asian dish taste quite peculiar. The fried kimchi pancakes were a let down, unfortunately they just tasted of frying oil. Lastly, the chicken satay was very tasty, including the sauce and pickled radish. The quality of the chicken in the two dishes ordered was excellent. Something to consider as well with the service would be to have all dishes ready to be served at once. All in all, we would return here gladly.

I don't usually write reviews but after eating here for a few times, I have to say this is a little gem in the pantiles. The staffs are so friendly, the food is beautiful and unique. Working in hospitality is so hard but the staffs still smiling a lot. I just love here and I will continue come back and try other dishes. Well done to the Kumquat team

A wonderful experience from Virginia and the team. Booked a couple of seafood mains 48 hours in advance as advised on their website; we were very pleased. We were warmly welcomed by the team, which added to lovely ambiance of the restaurant. The Singapore chilly crab was just like being back at Jumbo East Coast Park in Singapore, and the steamed Seabass was an authentic Asian experience and tasted devine. The team were very pleasant, professional, and even our pup enjoyed himself. Next, go back and try the rest of the menu, including breakfast. FYI, the price represents our choice of indulgence for our anniversary😁😁 Thank you again xx

Fantastic fusion food! Amazing flavors, cozy atmosphere, and friendly staff. A must-try! I love the tuna tartare and fried chicken!

Disappointing… raw tuna tasted weird, korean chicken was so overfried, some pieces couldn’t eat, leaves with prawns were so sweet, I couldn’t taste anything else apart from sugar. The only thing was ok-aubergine miso, but also too sweet imho. Maybe I was just unlucky, but it was really disappointing 😔

5 of us had a delightful evening eating new, exciting & very tasty food, beautifully cooked & presented by Theo & cheerfully, knowledgeably & professionally served to us by Josie. Lovely setting, good unobtrusive music. A real find & on our favourite list. Highly recommended.

Thank you, Josie and Theo, for making our birthday dinner so memorable last night. The service was delightful, the food delicious and the Riesling spot on. The dishes are so imaginative and prepared so carefully, with presentation to match. Bravo.

First time visitors, will definitely return. Delicious flavours, exquisitely presented in a warm atmosphere.

What an absolutely smashing little gem! This cosy restaurant boasts a delightful atmosphere and the most attentive, smiley staff you could hope for. The food, however, is the true star of the show - exquisitely crafted Asian fusion dishes that are quite simply out of this world. Every bite is sheer perfection. As someone who is lactose intolerant, I was a tad disappointed to find I couldn't indulge in any of their desserts. But the wonderful team went above and beyond, whipping up a sublime lactose-free treat for me on the spot. Needless to say, it was positively delicious. I cannot recommend this place highly enough. It's an absolute must-visit that will undoubtedly become one of your favourite haunts. Simply top-notch!

Really superb flavours. Very fresh. Original and highly Recommended. Don’t expect standard fayre - this is a special place.

The food was amazing. We were a large party and they did well If there was a slight negative it would be the drinks were a little slow but that is nit picking as otherwise top notch.

Best restaurant in Tunbridge Wells

Amazing food, friendly service. Lovely atmosphere. Perfect for a romantic meal or a meal with family and friends :) The Fusion Bao Buns and Lychee Martini are a must x

My wife and I had a truly wonderful meal at this restaurant. The food was exquisite and the service friendly & efficient. Highly recommended

Wonderful food and great service. The corn fritters were top class and the veg gyozas were fantastic. Highly recommend.

Avoid the brunch. Luke warm poached eggs served on tepid toast with ice cold tasteless ricotta and avocado. A deeply weird and unpleasant combination . Really disappointing as the regular menu and reviews suggest the food is usually very good, but this certainly did not translate to what we were served. It also took forever to arrive despite not being too busy.

Wonderful place. The staff are incredibly friendly and the foods blows your mind!

What a discovery. Food absolutely delicious. Some leaves with wonderful prawn mixture. Amazing aubergine miso. Lamb shank wow wow wow. And also great service

What a find! Gorgeous flavours and beautifully put together. Enjoyed every dish and will be back for more. Great tunes and decor, and really friendly/professional service. Highly recommended!

Had the prawn crackers, the prawn leaf bites, the porkbelly bao buns, and the Taiwan chicken burger, and topped it off with the cremeux. All of it was divine, and the service was top class.

Can’t believe we haven’t been here before! Asian fusion prepared and served to a very high standard. We had fish and tofu to start along with tuna tartare. The perfect balance of flavours that zinged around the mouth. The contrast between bitter, sweet & sour was finely balanced. Cocktails were reasonably priced and delicious. Main course we had monkfish Asian style with coconut rice , all worked very well and I sat there with a big smile on my face. My wife not such a spice fan had the pork belly and rated it highly . The service? Well they were rammed full and there was a full private party downstairs so it was a bit chaotic but it a local restaurant so no issue with us, the lady who runs the place came over several times and talked to us and apologised, she was friendly and really nice. Thoroughly recommended!!

Newly decorated Kumquat Bar Restsurant in Tunbridge Wells brings you on a food journey like no other restaurant in town. Head chef Alex Boyd brings a touch of sophistication to each plate of food presented with meticulous detail. Can highly recommend!

We are so fortunate to have found Kumquat. Having experienced Asian food abroad it is such a pleasure to know that we have such wonderful authentic dishes available close to home too. The other aspect of dining at Kumquat is the exceptional front of house team led by Virginia who has such genuine warmth and caring, ensuring that our visit was perfect. Thank you and well done to Alex, Virginia and the Kumquat team.

Lovely little place and food was beautiful but the pretty leaves and lovely sauce didn't hide freezer burn very bland gyoza. Pho was so bland was a shame, i requested chilli oil and more lime which they provided but the fatty beef rib floating in a soup just left my jumper needing a wash. Also added a 12.5% service charge on a table for 1 which felt cheeky.

Absolutely fantastic food, presentation and flavours were superb!!

The food was very average. The service was slow and food took a long time to arrive. Given the London price (£10-20 per tapas dish), I expect better!

Amazing! Highly recommend! Delicious!

We drove over 80 miles for our meal, and it did not disappoint. Reason we ventured out was because it kept popping up on my Fb feed, and the food looked fantastic. On arrival, we were greeted with a very warm welcome by the front of house young lady. The owners, Alex and Virginia then arrived after their break and again, gave us a very warm welcome. Virginia then introduced us to all the dishes to help us make our choices. The food that followed was just like in the pictures and flavours were amazing. Overall, great food, great hosts with good atmosphere. Will definitely be back soon.