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Eh? This isn’t Casual Leopard!
No, it isn’t. The leopard has left the building.
Casual Leopard was a short-lived restaurant that opened in early 2025 in Balham, just a couple of doors down from Freak Scene Balham. It brought together bold, eclectic dishes and a different kind of energy for the neighbourhood.
Why the Change?
As the man behind the project put it:
“Casual Leopard just didn’t work the way I wanted it to. When you don’t feel it, you don’t feel it. I wanted to love the leopard, but I couldn’t — I’m not sure the leopard even liked me. So that sign came down, and new neon went up.”
The site has now transformed into Kuroyoko Balham — a restaurant that’s nothing like its predecessor. Where Leopard was eclectic, Kuroyoko is laser-focused: Japanese kushiyaki skewers grilled over hot coals, Tokyo-style neon, highballs, Kirin beer and sake. It’s a fresh start, and one firmly rooted in Asian cooking.
Thank You, Leopard
To everyone who ate, drank, staffed and supported Casual Leopard Balham — thank you. It may not have lasted long, but it was part of the story that led to something new.
