The Best Japanese Restaurants in London

If you want to immerse yourself in Japanese culture before eating, then Japan House in Kensington High Street is the place to go. It not only hosts exhibits and events but also has a shop full of exquisitely designed goodies. You’ll find this restaurant upstairs, where the robata grill is used to great effect. Come for a bento box at lunchtime or enjoy a more extensive menu at dinner.

The iconic Television Centre in White City has hosted many treasured cultural moments over the years, so it’s fitting that it now provides a home in which to indulge our love affair with Japanese food. ‘Sushi in the clouds’ is how Yokohama-born Endo Kazutoshi describes his restaurant on the top floor, where guests gather round a counter to enjoy his beautifully crafted creations.

When eating out in Japan, you tend to decide what style of Japanese food you want and then go to the appropriate restaurant, as most specialise in just one type of cuisine, be it sushi, tempura, ramen, etc. This long-standing institution in St James’s offers, in effect, three restaurants in one, as it boasts three counters at which you can enjoy sushi, teppanyaki or robata.

Soho may be a long way from Shibuya, but when it comes to kicking back after a day’s work, nothing beats meeting up with friends, heading to an izakaya and enjoying yakitori. Frith Street is where to come if you want to experience one of food's great pairings: nihonshu and skewers of chicken. You’ll soon realise just how many different parts of the bird there are to enjoy.

Anyone who’s tried finding a restaurant in a Tokyo side street will be familiar with the bewilderment induced when scurrying around Shepherd Market in search of Maru’s front door. There’s extra pressure from knowing that guests are all served together so you need to be on time. This counter restaurant comes courtesy of a Nobu alumnus and his omakase menu features plenty of Cornish seafood.

Go to any major city around the world and, chances are, you’ll find a Nobu. London’s branch was an early member of the international group, opening in 1997, and while it may not have the cachet it once did, it still offers a glamourous night out. Its much-copied style of Japanese food comes with influences from South America; the classic black cod with miso spawned a multitude of imitations.

Endo Kazutoshi features twice on this list, as SUMI is his de facto diffusion line; a baby sister to Endo at the Rotunda. His Notting Hill restaurant comes with a laid-back, neighbourhood vibe and a younger crowd. The cocktails are great and temaki is the highlight of the menu.

The beautiful city of Kyoto, Japan’s former capital, is where many traditions are still faithfully honoured and that includes the art of kaiseki. Here at the impeccably run Umu, the subtlety of Kyoto cuisine is combined with top quality ingredients from around the British Isles. Tables and chairs may be preferred to tatami, but you’ll still leave feeling as though you’ve had a special Japanese experience.