Sushi cravings aren’t something that should be taken lightly. Unlike your need for chocolate cake which can be satisfied by eating a Mini Roll with your eyes closed, when you start seeing fatty tuna and seared salmon belly in your sleep, there’s really no option but to get some sushi in your system. And when that time inevitably comes, this list of London restaurants will point you in the direction. From affordable tempura maki to an 18-course omakase that will probably change your life, it’s all here.
THE SPOTS
Roji is a plan ahead, book in advance, get excited for kind of restaurant. The 10-seater omakase spot in Mayfair is a special place that comes to mind when we get the inevitable “what is your favourite restaurant in London?” question. The intimate setup, with wooden wrap-around counter seating, gives you a front-row seat to the open kitchen. Description of each course, from the oyster limushi to the eight rounds of nigiri, only adds to the anticipation, especially when you see the wide-eyed astonishment of people served before you. The cost is also pretty serious at £170, but it feels like a fair price to pay for a meal so memorable.
There are plenty of omakase experiences in London and they’re almost always a special experience, but there’s something about Kurisu Omakase that feels a little different. The unique 18-course sushi experience mixes Japanese cooking with Thai-Colombian influences, genuine brilliance, and inimitable made-in-Brixton charm. There are only eight seats in the intimate restaurant, and you’ll find yourself gawping at flame-torched pieces of fish, losing words over truffle and caviar-topped otoro, and genuinely belly laughing at the stories you’re told. £145 is a lot to pay, but this feels like value for money.
Sign up for our newsletter.
Be the first to get expert restaurant recommendations for every situation right in your inbox.
The thing that will stand out at this Japanese restaurant, located in the basement of a huge, almost 200-year-old, white stuccoed, doric-columned building, is the coolness of it all. From the front-of-house staff and servers who greet you with an air of nonchalance to the sushi chef slicing hamachi behind a counter, and the shadow-heavy Japanese aesthetic. It’s all very effortless. The sushi—including a creamy hotategai on warm vinegar-ed rice, melt-in-the-mouth hamachi, and buttery otoro—is among the best you’ll find in London. It’s not cheap, but the five-piece moriawase for £24 is a recipe for a good time.
When you’re looking for some high-quality sushi, head to Sumi. The second restaurant by chef Endo, this Westbourne Grove spot is more down-to-earth than his eighth-floor omakase counter in White City, with a calming interior and a covered front terrace offering a mix of big sharing tables and tables for two. Despite being a lot more low-key, the sushi is still the same sky-high standard, so even with a small-ish à la carte menu of main dishes like mushroom gohan, and a sushi menu of nigiri, sashimi, and handrolls, you can’t really go wrong. The nigiri is exceptional and if you’re not in the mood to spend £100+ on lunch, stick to the raw fish and steer clear of the ‘main’ section.
It’s worth noting that Temaki doesn’t exclusively serve, well, temaki. There are a few other things on the menu, including zesty yellowtail sashimi, monkfish karaage, and a cosy hug in the form of their excellent miso soup. But coming to Temaki and filling up on the small plates is like going to Burger King and ordering a salad or asking your dental hygienist for a wax. Trust us, that doesn’t end up well for anyone involved. No, you’re here for the truly excellent handrolls and for the casual price of £39 you can try the set menu involving akami tuna, lobster, salmon, otoro, prawn tempura, and BBQ eel rolls without even having to do any draining arithmetics.
So low-key you’ve probably passed it a dozen times if you frequent Hammersmith and Kensington, this Japanese restaurant should not be missed. A cosy family-run spot with sleek interiors and a sushi bar, Kampai knows a thing or two about seafood—and it shows. The menu has everything from yaki gyoza and katsu curry, to an excellent horenso salad, but our favourite move here is to go HAM on the sushi. Load up on nigiri—the scallop is top-tier—and get some of the chef’s special rolls, or alternatively come with a group and go hard with the sashimi boat.
If you like your sushi with a side of ‘the grandparents of this scallop like Beethoven and long walks on the beach’, then you’ll like Rai. A serious omakase operation in Fitzrovia, everything here leans towards expensive and theatrical. The eight-course tasting menu will set you back £130 per person but it also means you get to try their excellent hand-dived ponzu scallops with sweet umeboshi and the meaty fatty tuna roll.
If you happen to meet us in 10 years time and discover that our firstborn is called ‘double crab roll’ then please know that Dinings is to blame. At this serious sushi restaurant inside a Georgian townhouse, you’ll find their sushi counter shoehorned into what was once simply a casual hallway. As you might have guessed, it’s quite a snug situation but it’s entirely worth squeezing in for excellent sushi classics and fun modern creations. Expect spicy akami tuna rolls, the signature sea bass carpaccio, and a big bill if you don’t opt for one of the daytime lunch deals.
If you’re near Great Portland Street—or even if you’re not—you should eat the sushi at this Fitzrovia spot. It’s got what we like to call the holy grail of sushi: high-quality, affordable, and exciting. The sushi and sashimi are solid, and although the toppings can get a little theatrical, it doesn’t take away from the quality. The omakase starts from £21 for six pieces, making it some of the best-value sushi of this quality that you’ll get in London.
How long has it been since you’ve been fed? No, we don’t mean since you’ve last eaten. We mean fed. Well at this eighth floor 10-seater omakase restaurant in White City, you will be hand-fed. Well, hand-to-hand fed. And you will savour every bite. Not just because head chef Endo stands in front of you peering into your soul after placing fatty tuna wrapped in nori in the palm of your hand, but because the food is excellent. Yes, it's 20 courses and yes it costs £225 but it will be worth it. This is the best sushi experience you can get in London.
If you’re a sushi purist then you may want to skip ahead or be prepared to get some strong feelings and Arthur-clenched fists when you see things like sushi topped with barbecue sauce. But bear with us. Because the maki rolls at this Japanese/Danish-influenced spot in Covent Garden are fresh and exciting. All the makis are solid, but we’d go for that barbecue sauce number, a.k.a. Hell’s Kitchen, as well as ebi panko, and spicy tuna. And some extra spicy mayo for good measure.
At Ikeda, there’s a personal note from Paul Simon by the toilets. There’s one from Steven Spielberg (and other celebrities) too. Fergus Henderson says it’s one of his favourite restaurants in London. But those aren’t reasons to go to this old-school Japanese spot in Mayfair. Ikeda’s supreme assortments are. Each one comes with a mix of fatty to very fatty tuna, yellowtail, octopus, and more. It’s delicious, high-quality fish that melts away until you’re mourning it. And, importantly, the rice is also perfect. It's warm, with a touch of vinegar—you’ll want to get a handroll packed with the stuff. It’s worth knowing that Ikeda is expensive. But it’s also very worthwhile.
We all love Kensington. The museums, Hyde Park, that pretty street that you aren’t allowed to take pictures of. But we’ve got another reason for you to love it: Yashin Sushi. Why does this restaurant deserve your precious love? Because it’s serving some excellent and creative sushi using high-quality fish topped with things like yuzu salt, edible flowers, parmesan, truffle, and sun-dried tomatoes.
If you’re of the opinion that sushi should always come with its own little party hat made out of fried fish then you’ll like Charco Charco near Russell Square. Although this cheerful, cherry blossom-packed restaurant specialises in yakiniku, we’d recommend you start your Japanese BBQ experience here with a round of sushi. Despite requiring some jaw gymnastics, the thick uni crab roll is a highlight thanks to all that sweet crunch factor and there’s also plenty of classic sashimi and affordable bento boxes to choose from. As you’d expect from a BBQ restaurant, the real standout here is the wagyu aburi maki roll which is both delicious and Exhibit A in our upcoming thesis, All The Reasons You Should Be Eating More Meaty Sushi.
Although this spot is just off Oxford Street, it’s not the kind of place you head to after a long day of shopping. This Japanese restaurant and terrace bar is more the kind of place you plan your visit around. Their à la carte menu has a selection of sashimi, platters, and maki rolls. And although you can’t go wrong with any of the sushi here, there are some that are more memorable than others. The tuna and spicy tabiko, soft shell crab tempura, and prawn tempura and scallop are all excellent. And for upwards of £17 a roll, you’re going to want to remember it.
You remember Yashin Sushi? Yeah, well meet sister restaurant, Yashin Ocean House. It’s bigger, has a longer menu, and has some newer things on that menu, like lobster sitting over dry ice, and candy floss over wagyu beef. But you’re here for the sushi, and the same high-quality sushi with interesting toppings like truffle or caviar makes it a great spot for a group meal or a fun sushi date.
This tiny sushi counter in Clerkenwell only seats seven guests at a time which makes it somewhat difficult to get a reservation. But that shouldn’t stop you, because it’s well worth the effort. There are two seatings every night and the sushi is made by a single chef behind the counter. All you really need to know is that the fish is never less than outstanding and everything, from the yellowtail sushi to extravagant pieces of king crab, is excellent and well worth the price tag.
Our second favourite thing to do in Knightsbridge, after leaving Harrods empty handed, is to visit this little Japanese spot on Beauchamp Place where you can get some seriously good sushi. The menu has a range of Japanese classics, from tempura, to udon noodles, and a signature baby spinach and spicy prawn salad which you should definitely get involved in. The inside out rolls are all excellent as are the Chisou rolls, and if you’re struggling to choose just know that the soft shell crab and hot sake maki should 100% be on your table. As can be expected from the location, it’s not cheap, but come in a small group, order a bunch of sushi rolls, some noodles, and that salad, and you can leave around £40 lighter.
Ohisama
If low-key, quick-in-quick-out sushi is what you’re after, you’ll be hard pressed to find better quality sushi in Marylebone than Ohisama. This utilitarian spot has tables downstairs but upstairs is almost entirely counter seating, and that’s where you want to be. If you go for one of the excellent omakase options, dinner will easily end up costing you £70 or more. But we tend to go for one of the lower-priced sushi or sashimi sets which should be more than enough if you’re not quite up for making a night of it.
