The best Japanese restaurants in London
From traditional Edomae sushi to authentic Wagyu beef, the capital’s Japanese food scene is thriving
Japanese food is a culinary art. The country’s cuisine is a popular choice among foodies around the world thanks to its diverse range of flavours and cooking techniques. London has a plethora of Japanese restaurants to choose from but a few do bring some extra oomph to your table. Here is our pick of the best spots in the capital.
1. Sushi Kanesaka
45 Park Lane, W1K 1PN
This Michelin-starred sushi restaurant is nestled in the corner of 45 Park Lane, writes The Week’s Deeya Sonalkar. Stepping into the 13-seat space will make you feel as though you have teleported to Japan. The wooden furnishings and subtle music create the perfect ambience. An 18-course menu might seem daunting but watching chef Shinji Kanesaka at work behind the counter makes every bite feel special. The talented chef has such mastery over the knife, it makes what he does look easy. His gentleness and precision is what takes this experience to the next level.
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Among the highlights on the menu is the phenomenal octopus sunomono (a traditional Japanese salad of sliced octopus and cucumber) and the melt-in-your-mouth binchotan grilled kobe beef. A diverse range of sushi is served but the sushi of yariika with beluga caviar is the star of the show due to its unique texture. You can choose to pair your food with the Japanese whiskies or sakes on offer. The price may be on the steeper side but if you think of it as taking a trip to the other end of the world, which is what the experience felt like, it is actually a pretty good deal.
2. Engawa
2 Ham Yard, W1D 7DT
Not only is Engawa one of the few menus in London to boast authentic Wagyu beef, but it claims to be the only UK restaurant to import the whole cow. Butchering in-house means diners have a range of cuts to choose from. Continuing the premium theme, the five or three-course omakase menu features the chef’s daily selection of fish, Wagyu and vegetables, with complementary wine pairings chosen by the in-house sommelier. For “serene ’n’ clean” Japanese fare in a lovely corner of Soho, Engawa “ticks all the (bento) boxes”, said Time Out.
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3. Roketsu
2 New Quebec Street, W1H 7RW
Roketsu is London’s first authentic kaiseki restaurant, meaning “a formal meal consisting of a dozen or so meticulously prepared dishes served in a prescribed order”, explained the FT. Its origins lie in the ceremonial meals served to Buddhist monks, and it retains a monastic sense of discipline. There are just ten seats at Rokestu, with each dish meticulously prepared by owner and chef Daisuke Hayashi. The menu changes frequently, but dishes can include pureed asparagus, seasoned with little shreds of crisped wagyu and served cool, or lobster deep fried in a light batter.
Read our full review here.
4. Maru London
18 Shepherd Market, W1J 7QH
Maru’s minimalist dining room directs attention to the food – and to the chef. Guests sit side-by-side, facing the counter at which Taiji Maruyama will prepare their meal. He works, where possible, with produce from the UK. The tuna served at Maru may come from Spanish and Portuguese waters, but the rest of the menu – with scallops from Orkney, trout from Hampshire, mackerel and shellfish from Cornwall and squid from Devon – is a tour of the British coast. Each ingredient plays its part in the omakase service, a Japanese concept which translates literally as “I’ll leave it up to you”.
Read our full review here.
5. Junsei
132 Seymour Place, W1H 1NS
Junsei, which opened its doors in 2021, is one of London’s few Japanese restaurants focused around yakitori – the practice of grilling food, ordinarily chicken, using skewers over a charcoal fire. Located on Marylebone’s Seymour Place, this intimate and elegant restaurant places an emphasis on zero-waste cooking, using every part of the animal, from hearts and neck to arteries and gizzard. Alongside the meat skewers, veggie skewers, donabe (rice) bowls and seasonal Japanese hot plates are also on offer, as well as a wide variety of sake, wine and cocktails.
Read our full review here.
6. Yashin Ocean House
117-119 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3RN
Upon opening, renowned patron chefs Yasuhiro Mineno and Shinya Ikeda based their restaurant around utilising all parts of the fish, using traditional methods to serve roe, flesh, skin and everything in-between. While Yashin Ocean House is “fairly expensive, especially given the small portions, if it’s flare and creativity you’re after, you’re in the right place”, said Time Out.
7. Sachi at Pantechnicon
19 Motcomb Street, SW1X 8LB
This dining spot in the heart of Belgravia opened its doors in 2021 and recently updated its seasonally-focused menu. Dishes crafted by head chef Collin Hudston (formerly of Roka) include fire-cooked Scottish trout marinated in miso and hand-dived scallops served with a comforting smoked broth. The restaurant, which is now open at lunchtimes as well as evenings, is located on the lower ground floor of Pantechnicon – the swanky, five-storey Nordic and Japanese food and shopping centre. Guests can choose to sit at a central table, in a noren-covered private booth or at the eight-seater sushi counter, crafted from warm oak, brass and blue clay brick, to watch the chefs at work.
Read our full review here.
8. Nobu
19 Old Park Lane, W1K 1LB
If you have not yet made it to one of Nobu’s 40-plus restaurants, spanning five continents, you’ve at least seen a paparazzi shot of celebrities leaving one. However, when you sit down at London’s original location on Old Park Lane, you certainly don’t feel like you’re in a chain. The Japanese-Peruvian fusion menus are individually stylised for each location, and options on Old Park Lane include yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno and tea-smoked lamb anticucho. “The laid-back feel of modern day Nobu London Old Park Lane is far more appealing than its early days as a celebrity magnet,” said Country and Town House. “And, importantly, the food is better than ever – a result of many years of fine tuning.”
9. Sumi
157 Westbourne Grove, W11 2RS
Sumi sits at one end of a short parade of restaurants on the leafy Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill. Named after sushi master Endo Kazutoshi’s mother, it’s unassuming from the outside and cosy from within – all golden wood and gentle lighting. But at this newish spot, “spectacular provenance and exacting craftsmanship meets an unexpected human warmth and looseness”, said the London Evening Standard. And, if you’re lucky enough to be sat on one of the four stools facing the chef’s table at Sumi’s entrance, you’ll be witness to the chefs’ punctilious artistry – and organised chatter – throughout your meal.
Read our full review here.
10. Aqua Kyoto
240 Argyll Street, W1B 3BR
With its moody interior, Instagram-perfect lighting, eye-wateringly expensive cocktails and slightly hostile “if your name’s not down, you’re not getting in” vibe at the reception desk, Aqua Kyoto certainly feels like a “scene” – or at least a direct import from party capitals Ibiza or Mykonos. Headed up by Pavel Kanja, who is known for his Japanese, Korean and Nordic-inspired dishes, this Oxford Circus eatery is the Japanese branch of the Aqua restaurant group’s large portfolio, which includes Aqua Nueva and Aqua Shard. But it’s important not to judge a book by its cover here. With its gloriously fresh sashimi, stunning sushi platters and creative dishes – including soft-shell crab tempura with yama gobo slaw, katsuobushi (fermented tuna) floss and tentsuyu broth – Aqua Kyoto is far from style over substance.