Guide to the best Japanese restaurants in London

This Michelin-starred spot is one for special occasions. The menu features refined Japanese dishes inspired by the food of Kyoto. The menu uses only the highest-quality fish line-caught from the shores of Cornwall, which is then cooked using historic techniques dating back to the Edo period.

Sanjugo is definitely still a bit of a hidden gem when it comes to Japanese cuisine in London. They serve the finest grade-A sashimi, as well as a range of sake and whisky. The head chef here boasted the title of head chef at Sushisamba for over 20 years. If you're a meat-eater, then the pork and ginger donburi bowl is an absolute must.

Akira at Japan House is a high-end spot serving delicious Japanese dishes for lunch and dinner. You can expect to see things like bento boxes, sashimi, and noodles taking centre stage on the menu, as well as traditional Japanese drinks like sake and a range of cocktails.

A lot of people come here for the tastiest wagyu beef, which is cooked on a hot stone at 400 degrees right in front of you on the table. The menu also features a range of fish dishes, like seared butterfish with spicy truffle ponzu and melt-in-your-mouth tuna carpaccio served with a mango and jalapeno salsa.

This Japanese restaurant first opened in Soho back in 2010 specialising in handmade udon noodles and dashi. Nowadays there are three London locations as well as postal kits featuring Omiyage boxes to enjoy in the comfort of your own home.

This restaurant in the heart of Soho specialises in authentic Japanese cuisine with an innovative twist. Feast on a selection of sashimi, sushi and maki, as well as the highest-quality wagyu beef. There’s also an eclectic variety of sake and wine to choose from to accompany your meal.

For mouthwatering bowls of steaming hot ramen, head to one of Kanada-Ya's restaurants located all around the city. They specialise in authentic tonkotsu, which is a classic bowl of ramen made with a rich pork broth.

This is one of those places for special occasions. This stylish spot showcases the finest Japanese cuisine, like Nobu's iconic bento boxes, which include their miso black cod and baby tiger shrimp with three sauces. People come here to feast on delectable sushi as well as a range of refreshing cocktails

This restaurant offers something slightly different - a twist on the traditional Japanese izakaya style of casual dining. The menu is packed with Japanese dishes with a contemporary twist, like chicken wings in sake, and shrimp tempura with shish and citrus mayonnaise.

This iconic Japanese restaurant has made a name for itself as a special occasion spot specialising in Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian-inspired dishes with a menu that features contemporary, vibrant food.

For pretty plates of food that look like little works of art, head to one of Sticks'n'Sushi's restaurants located around the city. The menu here specialises in traditional sushi and yakitori stick from the grill, like salmon with miso aïoli, trout roe, chives daikon and lime marinade.

Nowhere does ramen quite like Ippudo, which is probably what earned them their well-deserved Michelin star. According to founder Shigemi Kawahara, every bowl of hot Japanese soup here tells a story and is influenced not only by flavour but by books, music and creativity, too.

Chisou offers a cosy and authentic Japanese dining experience in the heart of central London where they serve a menu based on seasonality and presentation. Choose from a variety of sushi, sashimi and noodles, as well as a selection of other side dishes and sharing plates.

This community-based ramen restaurant is located at different locations all around the city. They mainly specialise in Japanese food with a western twist, like the original tonkotsu with chashu pork belly, spring onion, bamboo, beansprouts, burnt garlic and a Clarence Court egg.

Engawa is one of London’s most authentic and traditional Japanese restaurants that specialise in Kobe beef, the world’s most premium beef offered in a range of cuts. Sample the best beef in the city here, or opt for a selection of fresh sushi and sashimi.

This little Japanese restaurant in central aims to share the wonderful taste of Japanese food with whilst spreading the warmth of Japanese hospitality. It’s the first Japanese-style yakinuku (grilled meat) in the city, and every table comes with its own smokeless roaster so that guests can cook their own food in front of them.

Come to Roka for award-winning Japanese cuisine, specifically modern robata Japanese cuisine. The setting is contemporary, sleek and stylish and the menu is filled with thoughtful Japanese dishes, like sake teriyaki salmon with sansho salt.

The sushi and sashimi selection at the intimate Sachi restaurant is vast, as are the rice wine and whisky menus that have been hand-picked by a sommelier. You can expect to see dishes like pork belly with apple barley miso and halibut with wild garlic and yuzu.

Nowhere does a bowl of tonkotsu quite like Shoryu, it's the place to go if you just can't seem to kick that intense ramen craving. You'll find them dotted all over the city, ready to serve you up a slurpy bowl of top-notch hot Japanese soup.

Shiro joins Aqua Group luminaries such as Aqua Shard and Hutong in the capital, bringing its famed crystal sushi to two floors and an outdoor terrace at Broadgate Circle. The Hong Kong-based brand reinvents the classic sushi roll with a layer of flavoured jelly, carefully draped across for maximum flavour and visual impact. Other Japanese delicacies are available as well, including lunchtime bento boxes.

Come to Sushinoen for an authentic Japanese experience. Staff wear kimonos and the dining room showcases traditional design with both Western and low seating available. The à la carte dishes include sushi, sashimi, and hot food. Set lunches are also available and it's all washed down with sake and sake cocktails.

Having refreshed his solo chicken yakitori venture in Soho, chef Angelo Sato (his credentials include Trinity, Story, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and many more fine establishments) serves an eight-course Japanese tasting menu with European inflections at Humble Chicken. Sample dishes at the 18-seater restaurant include delicacies such as miso-cured foie gras, or grilled slow-cooked short rib with lettuce. The space is designed to provide patrons with a kitchen theatre experience. A concise range of drinks is also available.

Expanding from their original location at the Green Rooms hotel in Wood Green, Oita's cosy Japanese cooking can also be found in Soho's Chinatown. Expect a menu of various Japanese delicacies, ranging from Oita's signature chicken karaage and yakitori skewers to freshly rolled sushi and steaming bowls of ramen, with a few location-exclusive specials thrown in for good measure. 

The Araki has only nine seats in the dining room plus a private dining room for six. This is an intimate and luxurious omakase restaurant with a crisp minimalist appearance. Sushi is served here and no menu is available - instead you get multiple indulgent courses that showcase the creativity and skills of chef Marty Lau.

Kibako, a contemporary Japanese restaurant located in Fitzrovia, offers a menu that blends traditional techniques with modern flair. The signature kibako, expertly curated omakase-style boxes, take centre stage and give the restaurant its name. The menu features re-imagined classic dishes that combine specialist Japanese ingredients with high-quality produce from around the world. This includes hand-picked Maldon rock oysters, Kagoshima wagyu beef, and Sanpuku nori.

Jeux Jeux is London's first Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki joint. This take on the popular Japanese savoury pancake is made by preparing the ingredients separately and stacking them up, unlike the Osaka approach, where the various ingredients are mixed together. This casual South Bank spot also serves Japanese street food specialities, for example katsu curry.

Yakiniku Like!! is a popular Asian chain that opened its first European branch in London. Unlike other Japanese restaurants, Yakiniku Like!! doesn't offer the usual raw delicacies or noodle dishes. Instead, it specialises in yakiniku, grilled morsels of meat you cook over a smokeless grill at your table. In addition to the entertainment value and the ability to cook your meat to your liking, you can try a variety of different cuts and sauces in one sitting this way.

All sharp lines and geometric shapes, this sleek contemporary izakaya in Embassy Gardens serves a range of Japanese small plates for dinner, from different sushi to delicacies such as mallard gyoza & sloe berry ponzu, or grilled red mullet with beans, girolles and leek miso. You can complement your meal with a carefully curated wine list or one of the Japanese spirits.

Titu is a cute Mayfair fusion restaurant with only six indoor tables and three outside. Origami cranes hang from the ceiling in this cosy space. Expect Japanese cuisine with global influences like pop shrimp tempura Wagyu beef and truffle tataki. It's also known for its gyoza selection. Sake and wine are on offer to complement your meal.

You get Japanese cuisine with a difference at Itadakizen. This is Europe's first vegan Japanese restaurant, and it has a comfortable traditional interior that gives it a nice atmosphere. At this intimate eatery, you can try lots of small dishes to share, with everything being completely plant-based. Expect the likes of sushi, gyoza, and croquettes.

Visit Taku for a luxury fine dining experience. This Michelin-starred restaurant specialises in upscale omakase meals, served in exclusive surroundings with only 16 seats. Chef Takuya Watanabe creates up to 20 courses per sitting, comprising high-end Japanese food prepared with the finest ingredients. The dining area is smart and sophisticated.

Marugame Udon has grown rapidly in London, and there are now multiple restaurants around the city. These are casual counter-service spots where you can grab a tray and watch the chefs prepare food right in front of you. Tempura and udon are the specialities here, plus there's a menu for kids.

At Machiya, you can have an affordable Japanese meal in the heart of London. The dining space is casual, modern, and homey. It's a simple menu of small plates, curry, and donburi, catering to diners who want a quick snack as well as those looking for a bigger meal. Sake and shochu are also served.

Luxury restaurant Ginza St James is considered one of the capital's top places for Japanese cuisine. The space is upmarket and elegant, with private dining rooms and an exclusive feel. A Japanese take on afternoon tea is served in addition to lunch and dinner. This restaurant offers a varied range of authentic Japanese dishes.

At Sushi Kanesaka, you can try luxurious sushi. This restaurant from Michelin-starred chef Shinji Kanesaka has only nine counter seats and four for private dining. The space is slick and well-curated. Regarding the food, expect a luxurious omakase experience of multiple courses prepared with authentic ingredients and UK seafood.

The stylish Koyn restaurant in is divided into two distinct dining areas, the dark and sophisticated Magma with a Robata grill and the light, lush Midori with a sushi bar. The food in both is prepared in an open kitchen, with the menu reflecting each area's speciality. The blend of modernity and traditional showcases Japanese culinary mastery, with signature dishes among the highlights. There's also a house bar with a bespoke collection of Japanese whiskies and sakes.