Kensington, Japanese Restaurant Guide

Flying under the radar, as they have for over a decade now, Yasuhiro Mineno’s and Shinya Ikeda’s offbeat duo – a two-floor site in a Kensington backstreet (est. 2010), and the newer ‘Ocean House’ spin-off (est. 2013, in the quirky former Brompton Library) – never inspire a huge volume of feedback, perhaps because they are by no means cheap. The owners have fine CVs though and all reports continue to say the sushi here can be exceptional.

“A revelation!” – the “pricey-but-good” first-floor restaurant (or better still “the private tatami mat dining room”) at Kensington’s Japan House cultural centre serves “food close to what you eat in Japan” alongside an extensive sake menu, and “everything is beautifully presented”. “Quite apart from the food, the entire experience in the building and the Japanese welcome make a visit worthwhile”.

“Genuine Japanese-style ramen and dumplings” from Japan Centre owner Tak Tokumine hit the spot with “generous portions, excellent flavours” and “very good service” at his expanding group based in the West End. There are now seven venues in London, plus Ichiba food hall in Westfield Shepherd’s Bush and offshoots in Oxford and Manchester. The summer 2022 launch of a branch in Kensington High Street was expected to be the first of several under a new franchising arrangement.

“Very busy and bustling” – these “vibey” izakayas are part of Bone Daddies group, and provide an “inventive” mix of dishes from a wide-ranging menu: sushi, filled hirata buns, ceviche (not all branches) and a wide selection of other dishes. In addition to those in Fitzrovia and Covent Garden, they briefly added a Kensington site in 2022, but it is set to be converted to a Bone Daddies after just a few months.