The Best Japanese Restaurants in London, From Omakase Counters to Neighborhood Gems

A true Mayfair stalwart, Kiku has been serving the neighborhood since 1978, making it one of the city’s oldest Japanese restaurants, and unlike some of the flashy sushi restaurants nearby, Kiku’s atmosphere is one of calm, quiet elegance. Here you can enjoy a consistently high-quality, no-frills sushi experience, whether it’s salmon and tuna in the classic sashimi set or rare delicacies like Hokkaido sea urchin and sweet shrimp served with perfectly seasoned rice, the quality of the fish speaks for itself. The tempura here is world-class, with a light, lacy batter, and the £40 lunch set, which includes yakitori, tempura, sushi, miso soup and dessert, is one of the best prices in central London. The final seal of approval? This is a favorite spot for Japanese Embassy staff near Piccadilly. —LH

The brainchild of chef Takamasa Mogi (also founder of popular Mayfair restaurant Cubé), this understated yet stylish restaurant, which opened in 2024 in a jewelery storefront on Brewer Street, serves delicious sushi with 10 seats around an understated yet stylish hinoki counter. (Soho regulars will remember the building as a former comic book shop and karaoke bar—there’s a karaoke room downstairs if your chef-driven dinners get a little rowdy.) I was particularly impressed by the creative but not overdone nigiri sushi, which included strips of smoked Korean turbot and Spanish tuna with osetra caviar, served on fluffy red vinegar-seasoned rice. It’s also great value considering the quality: the lunch menu offers salads, seven pieces of chef’s nigiri and dessert for £51.80, while the dinner menu includes two starters, nine pieces of chef’s nigiri, hand rolls and dessert for £89. (They also offer a reasonably priced pre-theatre menu if you’re planning on seeing a West End show.) —LH

Under the leadership of former Noma sommelier Yuki Kaneko, Yuki Bar has transcended East London’s small plates and orange wine scene. In this dimly lit restaurant, soundtracked by Japanese disco-pop, dishes are themed around French and Nordic classics, infused with Japanese influences such as sesame mayonnaise, home-cooked cooking and an adventurous menu of “snacks, side dishes and large dishes.” A few orders of house-made potato chips with sansho pepper and grilled rice balls kicked off the night, and rotating entrees included savory chicken hot pot and red shredded beef slices dipped in soy sauce and wasabi. Go with a group, be greedy and buy a few bottles of gold recommended. ——Anna Kafora