London’s culinary scene might be as diverse as its citizens. But Japanese dishes have been holding their own quite well in their culinary scene. These dishes hold a particularly revered place in the hearts of the Japanese people in the city, or just about anyone who loves good food and is ready to take an adventure.
From the quiet opulence of the sushi to the comforting warmth of okonomiyaki, there is a slice of Japan at different corners of London waiting for anyone who wants to give it a try.
The best restaurants in Japan range from upscale fine dining restaurants that create culinary masterpieces with internationally renowned dishes. And also, the affordable traditional dishes that feel like homemade delicacies, which pay homage to the Japanese food culture.
5 Best Japanese Restaurants In London
1. Sushi Kanesaka
2. The Aubrey
3. Umu
4. JinKichi
5. Abeno
Best Japanese Restaurants In London
Here are some of the best Japanese restaurants in London:
1. Sushi Kanesaka
Hidden within the second floor of the elegant 45 Park Lane hotel is a windowless, Michelin-starred gem that serves omakase-style dishes to guests. It takes the pressure of deciding a meal from the diners and gives it to the internationally renowned chefs. This helps boost artistic liberty to make use of the best seasonal ingredients and the flavor of the food. The indoors incorporate many of the Japanese styles of decor and aesthetics and are made with cypress wood, bamboo highlights, soft lighting, and panels of intricate kumiko traditional woodwork.
Dinner is usually quiet and contemplative while you sit at the cedar-wood counter watching a team of three chefs make your meals. The menu ranges from different varieties of sushi and seafood, like the Unagi Kabayaki roll or the Lobster Cream Croquette, which is made with only the freshest locally sourced fish/seafood. Their ingredients come from the best Japanese prefectures, paired with traditional sake and Hibiki whiskey, whose recipes have been handed down through generations to help enhance the flavors of the food. Apart from the great food, Kanesaka boasts a deeply admirable omotenashi and compassionate approach to serving guests.
Going out of their way to care for your needs before you even realize it, such as noticing a guest’s left-handedness and positioning their cutlery and drinks in that direction. A simple act that warms the hearts of many guests who visit the restaurant to dine.
Kanesaka also offers a private four-seater dining experience to guests who prefer privacy, complete with their chef. True, the restaurant is quite pricey, but it is worth it with divine food and impeccable service that takes you right to the heart of Japan.
Location: 45 Park Lane, London, United Kingdom
Price Range: £420 – £450
Hours Open: 6:00 – 10:00 pm (Tuesday – Saturday)
2. The Aubrey
Situated within the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and inspired by the home of famous British illustrator Aubrey Beardsley. The Aubrey is designed in the Japanese Izakaya casual tavern style and tastefully laced with over 250 flamboyant Japanese art hallways and rooms.
It is a glamorous, buzzing space that blends both Japanese and British designs and cuisines together. It creates a deeply immersive experience for guests. The restaurant makes use of a custom-made robata-style grill that cooks with charcoal and serves Edomae-style sushi and sashimi made from Hokkaido rice and traditional red vinegar from ginjo sake.
You can go for the Wagyu or Kobe beef with veggies or brunch options of Tonkatsu or Okonomiyaki, all plated in grand style.
The ambience within the Aubrey is always energetic, fun, and sometimes a tad bit loud, with nightly live DJs. Decor is a bold, maximalist look decorated in rich wood, dark marble, soft lighting, and earth-toned furniture.
Many guests particularly enjoy their time spent at the Sando bar, complete with crustless Shokupan bread and tonkatsu sauce. Usually, in addition to meals like the Chicken Katsu Sando or the Wagyu Katsu Sando and rich Japanese cocktails, it is open daily only in the evenings.
If you prefer an exclusive experience, the Ukiyo or private dining room is a beautiful addition to enjoy the Aubrey. Hidden behind a discreet door, as many as 12 guests can dine in relative privacy while sharing a 10-course omakase menu and an impressive wine list.
Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge, London, United Kingdom
Price Range: £120 – £450
Hours Open: 5:00 pm – 1:00 am (Monday – Thursday)
5:00 pm – 2:00 pm (Friday)
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm (Saturday)
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm (Sunday)
3. Umu Restaurant
Employing the Japanese style of Kyoto-Kaiseki. Umu delivers one of the most refined Japanese fine dining experiences in the heart of Mayfair, London. The name “Umu,” which means “born of nature,” is reflected in its dishes. It makes use of Japanese culinary practices like the ikejime to ensure that their dishes are fresh and flavorful. Umu’s menu usually evolves with the season. It incorporates fresh seafood sourced from British waters and prepares it in the Japanese art to create delicate, flavorful sashimi and tender Wagyu beef.
Lunch can include several courses or servings of bento dishes like the Shokado Bento. These bentos come complete with grilled fish and chicken tempura paired with sashimi. The restaurant also serves several dessert dishes, such as the Warabi Mochi, Japanese Tiramisu. They also offer a selection of seasonal fruits and, of course, an extensive array of sake by the bottle. Sake lovers particularly love that bottles range from the Nishinoseki to the Saika and many other options.
Umu’s decor is pretty minimalist but very warm, designed with dark wood, stone, and soft lighting. It has an open kitchen paired casually with comfortable, simple furnishings that somehow still maintain an air of formality.
Location: 14 – 16 Bruton Pl, London, United Kingdom
Price Range: £100 – £450
Hours Open: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm (Tuesday – Saturday)
06:00 pm – 10:00 pm (Monday)
4. Jin Kichi
One of the only affordable restaurants on this list, Jin Kichi, is Hampstead’s answer to Tokyo’s cozy back-alley eateries. Or maybe it is more of an Izakaya-style bar. It serves some of the best Japanese dishes just a stone’s throw from Hampstead Station. While London may boast plenty of flashier spots, Jin Kichi keeps things grounded, warm, and very tasty.
The restaurant is particularly famous for its high-quality yakitori chicken skewers, tasty sashimi and sushi, and steaming miso soup. It also boasts a menu of about 100 dishes, including noodles, rice, vegetables, fish, meat, and pan-fried dishes.
Jin Kichi is very cozy, with minimal, simple furnishings placed right in front of the chefs’ counter so you can watch and eat at the same time. However, it also has a dining area all around the restaurant in a labyrinth-like layout. The dining room revolves around a robata grill and a sushi bar, built with traditional wood paneling and snug booths. The service is pretty friendly and welcoming, but also no-nonsense and straight to the point.
The owners of Jin Kichi seem not to care much about promoting their restaurant, and yet the place is the best-kept open secret in the area, attracting a lot of regulars, especially for the evening rush.
Location: 73, Heath Street, Hampstead, London, United Kingdom
Price Range: £50 – £79
Hours Open: 12:30 pm – 2:15 PM, 6:00 pm -10:00 pm (Tuesday – Sunday)
5. Japanese Restaurants In London: Abeno Restaurant
Departing from the well-trodden sushi path, Abeno takes you straight into Osaka’s street food culture. Most especially the okonomiyaki pancake scene. This signature dish is cooked right on your table on a teppan grill many times by the chef. But sometimes, if you are a bit of an expert, you can do the cooking yourself.
While they also serve a selection of teppanyaki and tempura dishes, Abeno was the first okonomiyaki restaurant to earn a Michelin listing. It serves a pretty large array of okonomiyaki in pork, squid, bacon, and even vegan options.
Other menu options include Rice and Natto paired with Japanese gin and beer. These drinks range from gins like the Wabi Sabi Sakura gin to Japanese vodka, and of course, the infamous sake. Dessert options include hotcakes like the Wafu and ice creams, or Mitsumami and Sundae.
The dining space revolves around hot plates at every table, the sizzle of meat and loud conversation making it a warm, informal, and bustling place. Abeno is a great place to bring a group of friends or dine alone and leave smelling like spice.
The restaurant is small, and the decor is very minimalist and casual with hardly any frills. Guests sit on long tables and couches/chairs that hardly leave room for any space to walk by comfortably. It has very minimal space, which means they can’t have too many customers at once, so be sure to make a reservation before visiting.
Location: 47 Museum Street, London, United Kingdom
Price Range: £25 – £80
Hours Open: 12:00 pm – 9:30 pm (Monday – Saturday)
The Japanese food scene in London is not just a trend but the highlight of dining for many Londoners. You have a full choice of omakase temples to loud, energetic izakayas, ensuring there is a place for every craving, budget, and mood for diners looking for culinary precision and the comfort of a grilled skewer with a cold beer.
