London’s best Japanese restaurants

It’s hard to find something more comforting than a hearty bowl of udon, and this casual, counter service-only noodle bar on bustling Broadway Market is sure to hit the spot. A smaller outpost of Koya (which also has locations in Soho and the City) the quality of the delicious handmade noodles, which are crafted daily in a workshop close by, and the delicious dashi, feel more comfortably at home in this environment, It’s reminiscent of train station noodle bars found throughout Japan, where some of the most reliable bowls of udon can often be found. If noodles aren’t your thing, they have an extensive offerings of donburi rice bowls too, and some of the best fried chicken karaage. Go for the constant stream of quirky, imaginative specials, and some of the best Japanese breakfasts you’ll find in London, made up of traditional grilled fish, pickles, miso soup and side of rice.

Time Out tip Don’t miss the earthy, nutty flavour of the kinako (roasted soy bean) ice-cream, served with kuromitsu (a dark sugar syrup) - a collaboration with the cheekily named Happy Endings.

The selection of gorgeous Japanese baked creations from the WA Cafe looks like something out of a Studio Ghibli film. While it might be the glistening display cases of yuzu cheesecakes, matcha crepe cakes and Mont Blancs that lure you in, it’s the more visually unassuming options such as kare-pan (curry bread), melon pan (melon bread) and anpan (sweet red bean buns) that will keep you hooked. The patisserie offers plenty of drink options for tea lovers, perfect for sipping on while you satisfy your sweet tooth. With additional locations in Covent Garden and Marylebone, it’s a popular place to get your hands on the beloved strawberry shortcake often enjoyed in Japan around Christmas time.

Time Out tip Check out the yakisoba pan (fried noodle bun), the matcha version of the melon bread, and the cream buns.

Blink and you might miss the discreet entrance to Mayfair’s Umu, which only adds to the feeling of being a spot for true kaiseki aficionados. Umu provides guests the opportunity to experience the Kyoto-style kaiseki – or traditional Japanese multi-course dinner – at the highest level, proven by its Michelin starred status. The Executive Chef is an outspoken proponent of the rather more human ikejime method of handling the catch, which is apparent throughout the dining experience. While the kaiseki menu starts at a whopping £250 per person, several of their lunch options are a quarter of that. The dessert menu features twists on the classics - matcha tiramisu, or chocolate fondant with buckwheat ice cream. 

Time Out tip This is the perfect place for top quality sushi and sashimi. Come here to see how traditional Japanese fishing techniques are being employed in Cornish waters.

Come to Moto for the cocktails, stay for the food. Primarily a sake bar and bottle shop, Moto reflects the symbiotic relationship between food and alcohol in Japanese drinking culture. The otsumami menu of Japanese style tapas is designed to elevate and enhance their sake offering, with a series of down-to-earth, home-cooking style comfort dishes. Their bento boxes are great when you’re looking for something substantial, but it’s the smaller dishes that really stand out. You’ll be craving chawanmushi (savoury egg custard), butakushi (pork skewers with asparagus) and nasu no nibitashi (simmered aubergine) once you’re a couple of cocktails in. The team at this cosy and intimate Covent Garden spot are knowledgeable and welcoming, and able to give considered suggestions for what will best complement the sake of your choosing.

Time Out tip Keep an eye out on their event page listings. They frequently have exciting pop ups and collaborations, as well as bespoke sake classes and tastings.

Dalston is teeming with some of the best neighbourhood spots in London, but Angelina – a spectacular fusion of Japanese and Italian – is the jewel in the crown. The seasonal, ever-changing menu is an homage to Japanese flavours and ingredients, but used in kooky ways you think can’t possibly work until they’re presented beautifully in front of you. It’s a great shout if you love Japanese food, but also love bread – their kombu focaccia is sensational, as is their near constant staple of Hokkaido milk bread. Although able to accommodate for dietaries, Angelina does not do a la carte; you can opt for a 10 course kaiseki, or four course omakase, both with the option to add a wine pairing. The latter in particular is excellent value, and while there’s not much that’s ‘traditional’ or ‘authentic’ about Angelina, it’s a place that reignites a sense of excitement around Japanese fusion cuisine, which can sometimes feel dated or tired.

Time Out tip Don’t skip past the cocktail list. Italian bitters and fermented Japanese rice wines feel like they shouldn’t mix particularly well, but at Angelina they consistently hit the nail on the head.

Booking dinner at Sushi Tetsu is the best training a person can have for the emotional rollercoaster that is trying to get tickets for Glastonbury. But frantically refreshing a website page, hoping for additional booking spaces to magically become available is definitely infinitely more preferable to Tetsu’s previous method of booking – desperately calling a permanently engaged phone number at the beginning of every month. Not many places can sustain the longevity of being a hot ticket since 2012, but this seven-seater sushi bar in Clerkenwell has that honour. A huge part of the charm of this omakase – or chef’s choice – restaurant comes from the intimate atmosphere supplied by the husband and wife team of chef Toru Takahashi and his wife, Harumi. Muted mastery takes place in front of you, and is consistently hailed as a game-changing experience.

Time Out tip The intimate nature of the restaurant and the theatre of watching an expert craftsperson at work in front of you is thrilling in itself, and doesn’t necessarily require company. I’ve managed to go by popping my name down on the waitlist as a solo diner for a mid-week evening with some degree of success.

Wakon yōsai refers to a sense of Japanese spirit infused with Western learnings, and is the guiding principle behind Aun, an independent izakaya-style restaurant in Stoke Newington. The focus is on Japanese food made using British ingredients and techniques served in a relaxed atmosphere. Exposed brick walls, beautiful earthenware crockery and a charming Church Street setting give you the feeling you’re in the home of a close friend, and an imaginative and creative one at that. The five course set menu options include twists on classics like breaded pork tonkatsu but with stilton sauce, sundried tomato sushi rolls, or somen noodles in a spicy, tahini style sauce. The colourful, vibrant small plates are truly memorable, at an incredibly reasonable price for the number of courses and quality of ingredients.

Time Out tip Weekend lunch special courses are incredibly good value, with four courses for under £30 and their ‘tempura unagi (eel) and chips’ set menu coming in at just £18.

Nothing packs that pungent punch of umami flavour quite like a bowl of creamy, tonkotsu ramen at Kanada-Ya St Giles, the first UK outpost of the ramen-ya from the city of Yukuhashi. Tonkotsu – or pork bone broth ramen – is prepared by boiling bones for a significant amount of time, and Kanada-Ya’s offering is incredibly rich and deliciously viscous. There are rice based dishes like curry, or onigiri (filled rice balls) for those who are averse to noodles, but the original tonkotsu ramen, served at your desired noodle texture (soft, regular or firm) is incredibly hard to resist. The speedy nature of ramen and the sheer number of Kanada-Ya locations dotted around the West End make it ideal for a quick meal before catching a show. The black truffle salt and yuzu oil are a fun way of spicing up the basic bar snack of edamame, and toppings are taken pretty seriously at the chain - truffle oil and spicy yuzu featuring heavily throughout. Their signature dishes are under £13, which includes complimentary toppings for your ramen too.

Time Out tip If it’s a nice day, arrange a click and collect – with fully customisable topping options – which comes with a drink for 30% off the dining-in price.

You got to some places to set the mood, and others purely for the quality of the food. Sushi Show is wholeheartedly in the latter camp. The Shoreditch branch, unlike the original Camden Passage location, feels a little bit more inviting, and less like a shop made for takeaway. What Sushi Show lacks in ambiance it makes up for in its mission to bring high-quality and affordable sushi to Londoners. Whether you eat in or have it to go, is up to you. Set up by Kaz Tateishi, a fish supplier, the dining experience at Sushi Show evokes the feeling of cutting out the middleman and shopping wholesale. It’s fine dining but without the pomp and pretence. It has the added benefit of stocking a selection of snacks and condiments, like a mini conbini-style grocery shop, ideal for those who want to combine a meal out with running a couple of errands.

Time Out tip The ‘Party Plate’ offering (for two, three or four people) would cost almost double for the same nigiri selection elsewhere. It’s a great deal.

Bordering on Hyde Park in Mayfair, Sushi Kanesaka is purported to be the most expensive omakase menu in the UK. For this hefty price, the intimate 10-seat restaurant provides a level of care and consideration that evokes a sense of omotenashi or artful compassion. A meal at Kanesaka evokes a sense of ichigo ichie, the ephemeral, unrepeatable and once-in-a-lifetime conept of every living moment. This comes through subtly, in the explanations of each course; where it was sourced, and how, as well as the symbolism of the particular piece of cut edo kiriko glass you have chosen to drink your sake pairing from. The experience at Sushi Kanesaka has the power to transport you. An omakase meal served in the Edomae-style will leave you feeling elated and a little bit dazed as you leave, armed with your menu, printed as a keepsake on delicate washi paper.

Time Out tip While it’s not the done thing to order a post-dinner digestif that might mask the delicate flavours of your dessert of fruit, I’d highly recommend finishing off this exquisite meal with a matcha liqueur served with a dash of tonic.

If the world of Edomae-style sushi had the equivalent of legendary rockstars, they would be like Kazutoshi Endo, the renowned chef behind Endo at the Rotunda. High up in White City’s old BBC Television Centre, a meal here is dizzying. Perhaps it’s the altitude, but most likely it’s the insane level of attention to detail, combined with the muted confidence of someone taking you on a journey, as if they were born to it - and you find they are. Endo’s a third generation sushi master, which feels like an odd contrast to such lush and modern surroundings, with slick interiors and a dramatic panoramic view. This is luxurious Japanese cuisine - elegant and sky-high. 

Time Out tip Ask for a sake pairing if you're feeling flush. The venue is renowned for partnerships and collaborations exclusive to the restaurant, so you’re bound to find something you like.

Located in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel by Hyde Park, every moment as a diner at The Aubrey feels extraordinarily decadent thanks to gorgeous wood panelled rooms and Victorian-inspired furnishings. Chicken karaage, a fried chicken dish that is a staple on many Japanese menus, is given the little black dress treatment, marinated in charcoal and elevated almost beyond recognition. In addition to the beautifully presented nigiri and other classic dishes given a luxurious twist (think lobster fried rice), the team at The Aubrey push boundaries by using surprising and unusual ingredients, such as passionfruit in a maki roll, or ants as a topping for some hamachi (yellowtail). It’s also home to the UK's only female sushi master, Miho Sato. While the pumping sounds of a live DJ next to the dining room might not be to everyone’s taste, the team will win you over with their charm and attention to detail.

Time Out tip The Aubrey is one of the best bars in west London to have a cocktail in, be sure not to miss out.

Kensington High Street’s Japan House is a cultural centre showcasing the best of Japanese art, culture and craftsmanship. They feature a robust programme of mostly free events, with a ground floor cafe and shop along with a gallery space highlighting the depth and breadth of different Japanese regions and their cultures. Sushi, sashimi and robata grill dishes are on offer at first floor restaurant Akira, along with a wafu or Japanese style afternoon tea. Enjoy a brief sojourn to Japan after your meal, with thought-provoking exhibitions, film screenings and proper Japanese style toilets to complete your experience. For those wanting to have a go at recreating their meal at home, the cultural centre has an ‘Essentials of the Japanese Kitchen’ YouTube series, where chef Akira demonstrates different techniques and recipes.

Time Out tip Japan House like to create a limited edition cocktail alongside their exhibitions, incorporating ingredients and liqueurs reflecting or inspired by a regional location or theme. Drink one!

Tucked away in Soho’s Ham Yard, Engawa is the place for a fabulous fix of succulent and gorgeously marbled Kobe beef. While the sushi and sashimi are visually stunning, it’s their wagyu beef you’ll come back for – buttery soft and almost creamily rich. The intimate venue seats 29, and feels incredibly cosy, particularly when your beef is served on sizzling hot stones, a sense of theatre that seems appropriate given your proximity to the West End. The bento boxes are artfully prepared, and exquisite small dishes great for those who want a bit of variety, but the restaurant’s edge definitely comes from the in-house butchering of the whole Kobe beef cow, which they import from Japan whole. 

Time Out tip If you opt for the a la carte, order the saikyo miso black cod karaage. The deliciously marinated fried fish is incredibly moreish.

This Japanese-owned chain has been going for four decades, and has locations dotted throughout the capital, but it’s their second Golders Green restaurant that gets top billing for us, due to its focus on shabu shabu. A hotpot dish, it’s made for sharing and eating ‘family style’, with thinly sliced meat and vegetables cooked at the table and served with a selection of dipping sauces. They have an all-you-can-eat meal deal, which has a time limit of two hours and starts from £27 per person. Other branches have different focuses – ramen, or chirashi sushi – and the vibe is relaxed, casual and no-frills. Eat Tokyo is more like a canteen, with brisk, reliable, and consistent, hearty fare, with curries and bento boxes in the £10-15 range.

Time Out tip The Covent Garden location has a hiyayakko (chilled tofu with bonito flakes) appetiser that is full of umami flavour, for less than £3.

Kintan has a real do-it-yourself feel. Each table has a built-in grill, so diners can cook their choice of meat and vegetables to their desired preference, yakiniku-style. Sake barrels adorn the walls of their Holborn outpost, and there is something charming about the participatory nature of this style of dining – it’s perfect for a first date. Grilling your own meat also reveals the quality of the ingredients, it’s quintessentially Japanese, letting the flavours reveal themselves with minimal intervention.

Time Out tip Make sure you check out the discounts and savings at Kintan’s decent happy hour.

Located inside the lavish Prince Akatoki hotel on the cusp of Marylebone and Marble Arch, Tokii feels extremely opulent, thanks to dark wood room dividers and mirrors. Their 11 course omakase offering features mussel miso soup, and a playful experimentation with flavours and textures. The fried lotus root topped with tuna and caviar is a particular highlight. They also offer a Japanese twist on afternoon tea, and a sushi masterclass.

Time Out tip Tokii have an extensive programme of events, with classes in flower arranging (ikebana), kintsugi (the practice of repairing broken ceramics with golden lacquer) and origami (paper folding).

Sushi Atelier feels young, vivacious, and fresh. People often confuse youth with inexperience, but this is not the case with Sushi Atelier – it’s the cooler, more chilled-out cousin to Chisou, run by the same team in Knightsbridge and Mayfair. It’s got some of the best value omakase in Central London – 12 pieces for £39 – but it’s the conscious lean into a sense of fun, both with the decor and with the use of ingredients (basil pesto? In a sushi roll?) that gives Sushi Atelier its heady charm. 

Time Out tip Order the scallop and asparagus starter, which is served with a yuzu basil miso. The salty, sweet freshness of it along with the seared scallop is nothing short of inspired.

Vegetarians and vegans love Dinings SW3, a cosy izakaya-style restaurant in Knightsbridge. Steamed mini tofu burger buns, buckwheat and girolle risotto, tomato ceviche are just a few of the creative, plant-based options available here, where food is very much influenced by modern European ingredients and techniques. Fans of fusion style sushi rolls will find much to delight at here, and the desserts are real knockouts. You’ll keep on thinking about the tahini creme brulee with goma (sesame) tuile and the fabulous dark chocolate nemesis, complete with hojicha (roasted green tea) ice cream.

Time Out tip If you’re blessed with good weather, ask to be seated in the courtyard terrace.

On a residential Hackney street, someone’s Pinterest board has come to life. At least, that’s how this Japanese restaurant feels: from the brushed gold countertops to the untreated wooden stools and pretty glass vases with delicate foliage. The menu boasts all the usual suspects: thickly sliced, melt-in-the-mouth tuna sashimi; piping-hot, fatty karage (fried chicken) with an interesting chilli-kick; succulent charred pork skewers.

Time Out tip Veggie dishes really stand out. A ‘seaweed and carrot salad’ might sound like food for an amphibious bunny, but it was deep, earthy and full of umami satisfaction. And the texture of the sweet miso aubergine is perfect: soft but still solid and not in the least bit sloppy.