Hackney, Japanese Restaurant Guide

“A clever, Italian-Japanese fusion that actually works well, who knew!?” – this tiny and original six-seater in Dalston inspires nothing but love amongst early reporters. “If you’re bored of the endless tasting-menus trend in the food scene, the one here is top notch” – with five courses for £39 (or you can order individually at £9 per plate). “Bargain!” – “I went back the next day...”

In early summer 2019 (just as our survey was getting underway), some of the backers behind P Franco and Bright opened this: another painfully hip, East End natural wine bar (on the former site of Hackney’s now-defunct Legs – geddit?). This time Australian chef Byron Fini is at the stoves cooking up a small menu of light, “Japanese-izakaya-style” bar snacks – including ferments and pickles, and majoring in grilled skewers (lots of them chicken-related) – which are served in a bright, stylishly-neutral, small space that’s very ‘now’ (communal seating, tabletops made from recycled yoghurt pots, vinyl soundtrack, etc). Foodwise, the odd disappointment is noted (“if you want Japanese, go to a Japanese restaurant”) but most reports are in line with the rhapsodic write-ups it’s received in the press, rating the dishes very good to exceptional.

After five years as a pop-up, Night Tales has found a semi-permanent home in two converted railway arches in Hackney. A future 'music destination', Night Tales boasts a 300-capacity nightclub, 8m waterfall, dedicated Asahi Dry bar, agave bar, private booths and outside space. Food will be provided in the form of ‘Fat Baby’, a Japanese izakaya-style grill, and NYC-style pizza from Sons of Slice.

In Hackney’s Broadway Market and next to the Regent’s Canal, this Japanese street food and ramen bar opened in December 2019. It’s smallish – 45 seats – mixing communal seating and some individual tables. Early reports suggest it’s an OK standby – not enough feedback for a more hearty endorsement at this stage.