Spitalfields, Japanese Restaurant Guide

“High-quality udon” – Japanese wheat noodles served with a wide choice of extras, including tempura, katsu curry and various soups; plus the option of rice-based dishes – are the USP of this Kobe-based global chain which arrived in the UK three years and now has nine branches across London (plus one in Reading) to add to its 800+ back in Japan and further 250 globally. Be prepared to specify what you want at the counter as you enter – then you collect your cooked-to-order dish, add garnishes and find a table.

This 15-strong London noodle chain (now with branches in Brighton, Birmingham and Bristol) is “a good stand-by” – perhaps it’s “not as good as some of its competitors”, but it is widely seen as “good value”: in particular “the lunch-time meal deal” is a winner.

“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”.

“You can’t go wrong if you order tonkotsu” at this ramen group from Tak Tokumine of the Japan Centre – the noodles and 12-hour pork bone broth are “authentic” and some of the “best in town”. The venues can be “cramped”, and “the constant banging of a drum to indicate dishes being ready can grate”.

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.

‘Rebel against the establishment and join the sushi revolution!’ – purists should steer clear of this small Brixton pitstop, where various funky meat, vegan and veggie options sit alongside more traditional Japanese sushi combos. Feedback was limited this year, but continues to rate it positively all-round. And they must be doing something right, as a new Shoreditch branch opened in June 2024.