From discrete omakase counters to lively izakayas, London has become a playground for Japanese food lovers.
This guide showcases the city’s most compelling Japanese dining experiences, celebrating craftsmanship, seasonality and the people behind the plates.
Each restaurant listed below promises something different, Whether it’s a 20‑course tasting menu, a smoky yakitori grill or a soulful home‑style meal and provides the contact details you’ll need to plan your visit.
1. Endo at the Rotunda – Omakase mastery in Shepherd’s Bush
Chef Endo Kazutoshi’s ten‑seat counter on the eighth floor of the former BBC Television Centre offers a 20‑course omakase that changes daily. Expect rare ingredients sourced from Britain and Japan, such as Cornish lobster brushed with miso or delicately aged bluefin tuna. The intimate dining room overlooks White City through floor‑to‑ceiling windows, while the wine and sake list showcases small producers.
Cuisine & Style: Edomae sushi and kaiseki‑inspired small plates served at a 10‑seat counter.
Why go: One of London’s most sought‑after reservations, it retained its Michelin star in 2024 and redefined omakase dining in the UK.
8th Floor, The Helios, Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, W12 7FR
2. Humble Chicken – Beak‑to‑tail yakitori turned chef’s counter
Chef Angelo Sato reinvented his Soho yakitori bar into an intimate 16‑seat counter serving two multi‑course tasting menus each night. The menus explore different regions of Japan, with dishes like miso‑glazed cod with shiso oil, slow‑braised chicken oyster skewers and wagyu tartare with smoked daikon. For a more casual experience, there is a lunch omakase featuring yakitori skewers and rice bowls.
Cuisine & Style: Progressive Japanese cooking inspired by street yakitori and kaiseki traditions.
Why go: The ever‑evolving menus showcase Sato’s creativity and are paired with an adventurous sake selection.
3. Maru – Dry‑aged sushi in Mayfair
Chef Taiji Maruyama’s tiny Shepherd Market restaurant seats just ten guests at a horseshoe‑shaped counter. Each evening he serves a 20‑course omakase featuring fish that he dry‑ages in‑house, a rare technique that deepens flavour and texture. Signature dishes include hand‑rolls of aged seabass with shiso flowers and koshihikari rice cooked over charcoal. The atmosphere is serene, with warm wood tones and soft lighting.
Cuisine & Style: Intimate omakase with dry‑aged fish and seasonal British vegetables.
Why go: Maru’s meticulous preparation, personal service and sake pairings make it a pilgrimage for sushi aficionados.
4. Sumi – Endo’s casual sibling in Notting Hill
As the relaxed offshoot of Endo at the Rotunda, Sumi offers high‑quality sushi and Japanese comfort food in an airy space on Westbourne Grove. The menu features sashimi platters, pressed sushi, wagyu beef tataki and tempura platters, alongside Japanese‑inspired brunch dishes such as fried chicken katsu sandos. There’s a terrace for summer dining and a casual cocktail bar.
Cuisine & Style: Casual yet refined sushi and robata dishes, perfect for lunch or dinner.
Why go: Ideal for those who love Endo’s style without the formality, with excellent quality at more accessible prices.
5. Taku – Michelin‑starred omakase in Mayfair
This 16‑seat counter by chef Takuya Watanabe earned a Michelin star within months of opening and offers one of London’s most lavish omakase experiences. Guests choose between a 17‑course lunch and a 20‑course dinner, featuring premium ingredients such as Hokkaido uni, Scottish langoustine and A5 wagyu. The minimalist dining room feels like a gallery, and the wine pairings lean heavily on rare sake.
Cuisine & Style: High‑end Edomae sushi and modern kaiseki.
Why go: A masterclass in technical precision and product quality, with just two seatings per evening.
6. Sushi Kanesaka at 45 Park Lane – Tokyo craftsmanship in Mayfair
Legendary chef Shinji Kanesaka has brought his two‑Michelin‑starred Tokyo omakase to the UK. Hidden behind a discreet sliding door in the 45 Park Lane hotel, the nine‑seat counter serves an elaborate tasting menu using fish flown in from Japan’s Toyosu market and rice seasoned with red vinegar. Expect immaculate nigiri, seasonal appetisers and an attentive tea ceremony to finish.
Cuisine & Style: Traditional Tokyo‑style sushi with rice cooked fresh for each seating.
Why go: For a rare taste of one of Tokyo’s most celebrated sushi masters, without leaving London.
7. NIJŪ – Home‑style katei ryōri in Mayfair
Chef Endo Kazutoshi’s latest project celebrates katei ryōri, the wholesome meals cooked in Japanese homes. Dishes are designed to share and cooked over a traditional konro grill, such as grilled chicken with fermented yuzu kosho, miso‑glazed aubergine and tempura of locally foraged vegetables. The adjoining cocktail lounge, Nipperkin, specialises in Japanese whisky and creative highballs.
Cuisine & Style: Modern home‑style Japanese cooking with an emphasis on sharing dishes.
Why go: The menu offers a comforting take on Japanese cuisine, with a warm atmosphere and late‑night bar.
8. Kioku by Endo – Rooftop retreat at The OWO
Perched on the sixth floor of The OWO hotel, Kioku by Endo combines panoramic views of the Thames with a luxurious omakase menu. Guests sit at an elegant counter or out on the terrace for lunch or dinner. Chef Endo Kazutoshi and his team present seasonal dishes that might include line‑caught Cornish sea bass sashimi, tempura courgette flowers and aged wagyu nigiri.
Cuisine & Style: Refined omakase with a view; there’s also a separate sake bar on the ground floor.
Why go: The location, outlook and precision cooking make Kioku a destination for special occasions.
6th Floor, 2 Whitehall Place, The OWO, London SW1A 2BD
9. Sachi – Kappo dining and rooftop cocktails in Belgravia
Set within the rejuvenated 19 Motcomb Street development, Sachi pairs an open kappo kitchen downstairs with a Kyoto‑inspired rooftop bar upstairs. The restaurant serves omakase sushi, kushiyaki skewers, robata‑grilled meats and an extensive sake list. On the rooftop, the cocktail menu references Japanese proverbs and uses seasonal herbs and fruit.
Cuisine & Style: Kappo‑style multi‑course menus prepared in front of diners, plus a rooftop bar with sharing plates.
Why go: An immersive space for a celebratory dinner or drinks, with both an intimate counter and a lively rooftop.
10. The Aubrey & Ukiyo Room – Izakaya chic at the Mandarin Oriental
The Aubrey at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is a glamorous izakaya where plush velvet banquettes meet hand‑painted Japanese screens. The menu roams from sashimi and wagyu skewers to truffle hotpots and inventive cocktails. Behind a hidden door lies the Ukiyo Room, a 10‑seat omakase bar serving a personalised ten‑course tasting paired with bespoke cocktails or sake.
Cuisine & Style: Japanese izakaya with a late‑night atmosphere and a hidden omakase bar.
Why go: Perfect for a decadent night out – start with cocktails in the bar, dine on sharing plates and finish with a private omakase experience.
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA
London’s Japanese dining scene is rich and diverse, spanning omakase temples, convivial pubs and stylish rooftop bars. Secure your reservation and immerse yourself in the artistry of Japanese cuisine right here in the capital.
