LDNReview

Yen is permanently closed

Yen review image

Yen

££££

190 Strand, London
View WebsiteEarn 3X Points

Everybody has a different way of getting away from it all. It being London. The all being your inescapable life. Some people have The Archers and a CostCo box of PG Tips. Others have the cinema and a family pack of Minstrels. A lucky few have gym memberships and motivation. We, on the other hand, have Yen and a bowl of soba.

Yen is a big, high-end Japanese restaurant on the Strand making very nice handmade soba noodles and sushi. You enter here to leave out there. Because Yen is almost completely at odds with the outside world. The room is spacious and peaceful. The service courteous and considered. The food understated and tasty. Imagine being underwater, with noise cancelling headphones on, while wearing something from Muji. That’s what being in Yen is like.

Yen review image

photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch

Aside from respite, you come to Yen to eat. The soba comes hot or cold, and while the hot soba is good, we think the cold noodles with broth are the way to go. They lie there all pale and doughy, asking you to dip them like one of your French rolls. You’ll happily pick, dip, and slurp until you’re soba-less, before topping up the leftover broth with hot noodle water, and throwing it down the hatchet. It’s a delightfully satisfying process. And one that makes you think the British should really be doing more with leftover gravy. Like drinking it.

Besides soba, the sushi (seabream and yellowtail in particular) is good, and the homemade tofu salad excellent. That said, a lot of the prices can leave you feeling a bit chilly. 12 pieces of sashimi for £40 is steep, over £20 for cold dipping noodles with tempura is dizzying, while 30-odd quid for a small bit of chargrilled black cod gives us a mild case of vertigo.

But this is why we said Yen was ‘almost completely at odds’ with normal life. Because like a lot of things in London, and as the name suggests, it’s expensive. That said, despite the prices, Yen makes for a perfectly nice environment to have a bowl of soba, and a much-needed breather.

Sign up for our newsletter.

Be the first to get expert restaurant recommendations for every situation right in your inbox.


By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Food Rundown

Chawan Mushi With Foie Gras and Scallop

If you thought custard was best paired with a crumble then think again pal. This egg custard with foie gras and bits of scallop is rich and pretty enjoyable.

Yen review image

photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch

Tofu And Wakame Salad

This bowl of super smooth homemade tofu with seaweed and tangy but (ultimately still foamy) ponzu foam is incredibly fresh. A definite order if you’re doing starters.

Yen review image

photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch

Cold Soba With Assorted Tempura

While the tempura is undeniably light and delicious, £22 is a bit much for this. Going for the cold plain soba is the best thing to do at Yen. It’s chewy and tasty, plus you get to drink all the broth at the end.

Yen review image

photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch

Hot Soba And Duck in Broth

Depending on the weather - which is never something you can do in London - you may want a bowl of steaming hot soba instead of the cold ones.

Yen review image

photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch

Sashimi

Yen’s sashimi is very tasty, but it doesn’t come cheap.

Yen review image

photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch

Black Cod Marinated In Miso

We know black cod is expensive but, honestly, a bit of rice wouldn’t have gone amiss with this main.

Suggested Reading

Cora Pearl review image
8.0
Review
Cora Pearl

Cora Pearl is an smart restaurant in Covent Garden serving excellent tarted up versions of the classic British meat and two veg.

Sushi Atelier review image
8.4
Review

Not only is the sushi at Sushi Atelier on Great Portland Street great, it’s also very affordable. Sit at the bar and get the 12-piece omakase.

Frenchie review image
8.3
Review

Frenchie is a beautiful, modern brasserie in Covent Garden, serving excellent food.

Sweetings review image
8.3
Review

Sweetings is a classic spot in the City serving seafood lunch and dollops of nostalgia to suited business types.

Infatuation Logo
2023 © The Infatuation Inc. All Rights Reserved.

FIND PLACES ON OUR APP

Get it on Google PlayDownload on the App Store