RestaurantsLondonCovent GardenWC2

survey result

Summary

£43
    £
4
Very Good
3
Good
2
Average
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Proper Kyushu-style ramen with a thick, silky broth” is the secret behind this small London noodle chain from former pro cyclist Kazuhiro Kanada. “Especially great on a typical cold, rainy London day”, it’s “a go-to for a quick, cheap and (relatively) healthy supper in town” (“I’ve stopped for ramen at all the main chains and a few indies, and for my money this is the very best bowl at a great price”). The sixth branch opened in summer 2024 at Westfield Shepherd’s Bush.

Summary

£42
    £
4
Very Good
2
Average
2
Average
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“The best ramen in London, IMO – the rich, porky broth is perfect”, say fans of former pro-cyclist Kazuhiro Kanada’s five noodle bars – in Angel, Piccadilly, Covent Garden, Carnaby and Ealing. “If you’re going to do one thing, do it well, and they do” – so they “deserve the frequent queues”.

Summary

£39
    £
4
Very Good
2
Average
2
Average
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

The “very rich and extremely meaty pork broth” wins plenty of admirers for what some consider “London’s top ramen”. Founded by former cycle racer Kazuhiro Kanada in Kyushu 14 years ago, the small group now has four branches in the capital – Angel, Piccadilly, Covent Garden and Carnaby – and provide “food to savour on a chilly winter day”.

Summary

£43
    £
5
Exceptional
2
Average
2
Average
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Truly outstanding ramen” – possibly “the finest in town” – have won a major reputation among the noodle cognoscenti for his small Japan-based chain, which has branches in Covent Garden, Piccadilly and Angel. “The tasty bowls are always more filling than they seem”, and fans put up with “so-so service and a hot, cramped venue” to secure their fix. The all-important 18-hour pork bone broth was developed to a secret recipe by former racing cyclist Kazuhiro Kanada, who opened his first noodle shop in his native Kyushu in 2009. A new branch in Ealing and a delivery-only kitchen for South London were scheduled to open in late 2021.

For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).

Have you eaten at Kanada-Ya?

Restaurant details

No dress code
Opening hours

Last orders: 10.30 pm, Sun 8.30 pm

Best Japanese restaurants nearby

Flesh and Buns
Japanese restaurant in Covent Garden
£72
  £££
3
Good
2
Average
2
Average
Wagamama
Japanese restaurant in Bloomsbury
£59
   ££
2
Average
2
Average
2
Average
Eat Tokyo
Japanese restaurant in Westminster
£41
    £
3
Good
2
Average
2
Average

Best similarly priced restaurants nearby

Flat Iron
Steaks & grills restaurant in Covent Garden
£40
    £
3
Good
3
Good
3
Good
Chick 'n' Sours
Chicken restaurant in Covent Garden
£44
    £
4
Very Good
3
Good
3
Good
Eat Tokyo
Japanese restaurant in Westminster
£41
    £
3
Good
2
Average
2
Average