Finding good Japanese food in London hasn’t always been the easiest task, given the city’s abundance of mediocre sushi takeaway spots and gaudy central London restaurants serving sub-par fish dressed up with too many bells and whistles. (No piece of sushi has ever needed gold leaf so liberally applied.) Historically, to eat well, you’ve had to splurge: it isn’t cheap, after all, to source top-quality fish in the British capital, and it’s still worth saving your pennies for a blowout meal at one of the city’s top omakase counters, such as Sushi Kanesaka or Sushi Tetsu.

But in truth, you don’t need to break the bank to eat Japanese food well in London: just take the well-priced lunch set menu at Kiku Mayfair, or the reliably fresh sushi at any Eat Tokyo outpost, or the excellent quality-to-price ratio at Bond Street institution Chisou. (Its former location next to the old Condé Nast offices on Hanover Square led it to be nicknamed the “Vogue canteen.”) And that’s without mentioning beloved neighborhood spots like Uchi Hackney, or Jin Kichi in Hampstead, or Temaki Brixton (even if the latter is making the move to Mayfair later this year).

From exclusive six-seat counters to beloved West End izakayas, here is our definitive guide to the Japanese restaurants in London that are truly worth the hype.

Sushi Kanesaka

Photo: Courtesy of Sushi Kanesaka

Located within the ritzy 45 Park Lane hotel, this Michelin-starred, omakase-only destination with 13 seats is as atmospheric a sushi experience as you’ll find anywhere in London. Step through the discreet noren curtain that marks the entrance, and you’ll feel as if you entered a portal straight to Kyoto, with the gently lit interiors—all hinoki wood, lime plaster walls, and intricate kumiko lattice work—serving as a delicate backdrop for the equally delicate flight of dishes that follows. Helmed by legendary chef Shinji Kanesaka, the 13-seat restaurant offers a masterclass in traditional Edomae-style omakase using an impressive array of locally sourced ingredients: a silky pot of chawanmushi topped with the briny sweetness of fresh Cornish crab; marbelized, melt-in-your-mouth fatty tuna nigiri with perfectly seasoned rice sourced from Japan’s Yamagata Prefecture; a Scottish lobster presented on a board then whizzed up into shatteringly crisp morsels of tempura. With a price tag of £420 per person, it isn’t for the faint of heart—but for those seeking true perfection, it’s London’s ultimate bucket-list sushi destination. —Liam Hess

Kiku Mayfair

Photo: Courtesy of Kiku Mayfair

A true Mayfair stalwart, Kiku has been serving the neighborhood since 1978, making it one of the oldest Japanese restaurants in the city—and unlike some of its flashier neighboring sushi restaurants, Kiku’s vibe is one of calm, quiet elegance. It’s the place to go for a consistently excellent, no-frills sushi experience where the quality of the fish speaks for itself, whether it’s the salmon and tuna in a classic sashimi set, or rare delicacies like Hokkaido sea urchin and sweet prawn served on perfectly seasoned rice. The tempura here is world-class, with a light, lace-like batter, and the £40 lunchtime set menu—which consists of yakitori, tempura, sushi, miso soup, and a dessert—is one of the best deals in central London. The ultimate seal of approval? It’s a favorite spot among the staff at the nearby Japanese Embassy on Piccadilly. —L.H.

Sushi Kyu

Photo: Courtesy of Sushi Kyu

This low-key but stylish joint, which opened in 2024 last year in a bijou shopfront on Brewer Street, is the brainchild of chef Takamasa Mogi—also the founder of popular Mayfair spot Cubé—and serves up astonishingly good sushi to the 10 seats that surround its subdued but stylish hinoki wood counter. (Soho regulars will remember the building’s former life as a manga store and karaoke bar—it turns out there’s still a karaoke room downstairs if your omakase dinner ends up getting a little raucous.) I was especially impressed by the creative but not overdone nigiri, including smoky slivers of seared Korean turbot and Spanish tuna with Oscietra caviar, served atop pillowy beds of red vinegar-seasoned rice. Given the quality, it’s excellent value too: the lunchtime menu offers salad, seven pieces of omakase nigiri, and dessert for £51.80, while the dinner menu of two appetizers, nine pieces of omakase nigiri, a temaki roll, and dessert comes to £89. (They also do a well-priced pre-theater menu if you’re planning to catch a West End show.) —L.H.

Yuki Bar

Under former Noma sommelier Yuki Kaneko’s ownership, Yuki Bar has transcended East London’s small plates and orange wine scene. Within the low-lit, 20-cover spot soundtracked by disco J-pop, dishes riff on French and Nordic classics with Japanese inflections, like a sesame-studded take on oeufs mayonnaise, embracing home-style cooking and a choose-your-own-adventure menu of “snacks, littles, and larges.” A few portions of house-made potato crisps with sansho pepper and grilled onigiri kick the evening off, while rotating mains have included an aromatic chicken hot pot and blushing strips of beef tataki silken with soy sauce and mustard. Go with a group, be greedy, and get a few bottles recommended by Kaneko. —Anna Cafolla

Taku Mayfair

Photo: Courtesy of Taku Mayfair

Chef Takuya Watanabe (formerly of the Michelin-starred Jin in Paris) brings a minimalist, laser-focused approach to the food at this Albemarle Street spot—but there’s still a delightful air of ceremony and theatricality about it all, as the doors are unbolted and you’re ushered in to take one of the 16 seats that line the pale English oak counter to the swooshing sound of yanagiba knives being sharpened. The omakase menu is authentic but playful, making excellent use of British produce—Cornish sea bass, Orkney scallops, Scottish cod, Hampshire trout—though the surprise highlight was a superbly balanced hand roll, featuring fatty tuna and pickled radish wrapped in exceptionally crisp, high-grade nori. No wonder it secured a Michelin star within just months of its opening in 2022—it’s firmly deserving of its status as a major player in London’s high-end sushi hierarchy. —L.H.

Sushi Tetsu

Tucked behind a bright white storefront in Clerkenwell, this seven-person omakase experience is among the city’s toughest reservations to secure. Husband-and-wife duo Harumi and Toru Takahashi are behind the operation (the latter being the chef), both of whom are famously warm and welcoming; fostering a convivial atmosphere versus the buttoned-up formality of traditional omakase settings. The seasonal menu relies on what is strongest in the market that day, but expect sushi so fresh it melts in your mouth and impeccable sake pairings. The restaurant sits along Jerusalem Passage, an 18th-century path to the priory of the order of St. John of Jerusalem which later transformed into a pedestrian walkway linking St John’s Square to Aylesbury Street. —Nicole Kliest

Uchi Hackney

If you’re craving sushi but aren’t in the mood for a formal omakase environment, Uchi Hackney achieves an exceptional balance. This ultra-cozy spot in a residential area of Hackney leans on traditional Japanese design motifs (linen, ceramics, wood), and even encourages guests to kick off their shoes and slip into a pair of provided slippers. The restaurant began as a delivery service in 2015 and now offers a high-quality menu in its brick-and-mortar location, serving both brunch and dinner. As for the dishes, expect a variety of hot favorites such as grilled pork belly skewers and lightly deep fried tofu, and savor the selection of fresh sushi and sake to round out the experience. (An aside: Uchi Hackney’s intimate ambience makes for the perfect date night locale.) —N.K.

Eat Tokyo

Photo: Courtesy of Eat Tokyo

In operation for over 40 years, this beloved sushi institution now operates across eight outposts in London (plus six in Tokyo). For those who favor great value and generous portion sizes, this restaurant chain consistently gets top marks. Choose from a menu of sushi, sashimi, nigiri, chirashi, unagi, or opt for a bento box to get the full experience. Their latest creation worth dining out for? Wagyu with black tobiko (or a ‘sushi taco’, as it’s so nicknamed). —N.K.

Koya Soho

Photo: Courtesy of Koya

This Japanese udon noodle bar opened its doors in Soho back in 2010 and has since expanded to three popular London locations, plus a shop offering provisions such as chilli oil and jars of Fukujinzuke. The original location is worth a visit for the freshly made noodles and dashi alone, but don’t sleep on the weekly blackboard specials either (previous highlights include grilled corn with miso butter and fried white bait with shibazuke cucumber). Koya Soho is walk-ins only and is open from breakfast through to dinner. —N.K.

Chisou

Photo: Courtesy of Chisou

This is where you go when you want authentic Japanese food and a killer sake selection, all in a calm, relaxed setting. Chisou’s two central London locations—Mayfair and Knightsbridge—treat guests to seasonally changing dishes and a menu of wow-worthy raw fish, with the option to sit at a sushi bar or at an intimate table. And back to the sake for a moment: Chisou prides itself on having one of the largest menus around, with experts on hand to suggest pairings and special events like sake and British cheese pairing classes led by specialists. —N.K.

Roketsu

Photo: Courtesy of Roketsu

A charming, intimate spot tucked away on New Quebec Street in Marylebone, Roketsu recently relaunched as a rare example in London of kappo-style dining, where the chefs will whip up a customized set menu based on a conversation about your preferences at the beginning of the meal. Chef Daisuke Hayashi (a protégé of the legendary three-Michelin-starred Kikunoi Honten in Kyoto) takes a creative approach to classic Japanese cuisine, folding in a handful of French flourishes: most notably, perhaps, with one of the restaurant’s signature dishes, an opening bite of a crisp wafer filled with 10-day miso-marinated foie gras. (Other highlights included Cornish cod with a vibrant nori sauce, and flame-grilled wagyu beef with yuzu oroshi for a clean, citrus-forward finish.) With an open kitchen behind a hinoki wood counter, Roketsu is an elevated, classically Japanese dining experience—but it also comes with an element of choose-your-own-adventure fun that makes it feel genuinely unique. —L.H.

Juno

Photo: Courtesy of Juno

If you’re seeking a quirkier spin on omakase dining, head over to Notting Hill, where you’ll find the six-seat Juno hidden in a speakeasy-like space at the back of Los Mochis, the popular neighborhood Mexican-Japanese restaurant on Uxbridge St. The dining room’s delightfully funky, “Tokyo-meets-Tulum” decor—bamboo, seagrass, high-gloss wallpaper—should serve as an initial clue for what to expect here: the textures and flavors of Japanese cuisine are lent a fresh twist courtesy of a bold, Mexican-inspired toolkit of spices, acids, and smoke. (Think chutoro spiked with a sharp kick of fermented jalapeño, or red bream brushed with lime aioli and topped with a sprinkle of crushed-up Oaxacan flying ant for a surprisingly delicious note of nutty earthiness.) Bring your friends and make it a party. —L.H.

Roka

Photo: Courtesy of Roka

Roka is a classic for a reason—and while the brand now has restaurants everywhere from Dubai to Mallorca, the original, flagship outpost on Charlotte Street is still a buzzy, crowd-pleasing hit. Over two decades after the restaurant ignited London’s obsession with robatayaki, the lamb cutlets with Korean spices and beef fillet with ginger—all cooked on the open flames of a binchōtan grill, of course—still pack a deliciously smoky, umami punch. And the sushi here is still very good, too: don’t miss the new-style sashimi of paper-thin buttery hamachi in a yuzu-truffle vinaigrette, or the classic prawn tempura maki with a generous drizzle of dark, sweet soy. It’s the antithesis of the hushed, monastic sushi counters of Mayfair, and that’s why it remains a true London institution. —L.H.

Jin Kichi

A neighborhood restaurant in the truest sense, Jin Kichi’s cult following makes booking a table a competitive sport. This tiny, two-floor restaurant is cozy, often crowded, and wonderfully authentic. While the yakitori is a major draw, the sushi and sashimi are of a quality that rivals the city’s most expensive counters. It’s the kind of place where the chefs know the regulars by name (and where said regulars might be the likes of Kate Moss and Harry Styles). —L.H.