Spitalfields, Japanese Restaurant Guide

These “functional Japanese canteen-style restaurants” serve “lovely udon noodles at cheap prices” – “possibly the most reasonable in London” – along with tempura, rice bowls and “fabulous chicken katsu curry”. The Kobe-based chain has more than 1,000 branches around the world, with a dozen across the capital since arriving in 2021.

“Tasty, good-value noodles” in a “relaxed environment” make this 12-year-old London chain (14 branches, plus Brighton and Brum) “worth a visit”. The “ramen is deep and fabulous” if “limited in range (no fish-based dishes except prawn)”, and is augmented by “quite acceptable katsu curry”. Aficionados should head to the Haggerston branch to watch the noodles being made.

“Top-end sushi for a fair price” is the deal at this Bethnal Green izakaya from Claire Su, who delights her guests with “the freshest sushi and some great hot dishes too”. The weekday bento-box lunches are extremely good value, and the “unlimited brunch (starters, sashimi and maki rolls) on Saturdays is fantastic”. Top Menu Tip – “don’t get me started on the butter fish”.

“The ramen is excellent” at this West End-based group from the Japan Centre’s Tak Tokumine – although “the rest of the menu is not as good” and the venues tend to be “too cramped and/or noisy to be ideal”. A drive to expand via franchise operations has apparently stalled since the summer 2022 opening of a branch in Kensington High Street – a possible sign that “we may have passed peak noodle”.

2023 Review: Kaz Tateishi’s “conscientious and consistent” (and therefore very Japanese) sushi shop with eat-in seats is tucked away in Islington’s cute Camden Passage. A meal here (or taken away in a box) “always feels like money well spent”. There is now a second outlet in Shoreditch.