Watford, Japanese Restaurant Guide

This “consistently good local Japanese” near Golders Green station is nowadays owned by Japanese fish and seafood wholesaler T&S Enterprises (who run the Atariya brand), and serves “fantastic food at very reasonable prices”. It remains a pretty functional little space which has “maintained high standards” for sushi and sashimi over more than two decades.

“A wide range of typical Japanese dishes that have not been anglicised, including sushi that’s always fresh and well-prepared (with true tastes, unlike at the ubiquitous chains)”, helps inspire a big fan club for this “homely” chain. They are “not the grandest of places” – with service that’s “quick and efficient” rather than particularly charming – but it “always feels like you are eating in Japan” here; and “they get the job done with decent value for money”. They must be doing something right as they are “always packed” and there are “often queues out the door”. Top Tip – “the bento boxes are particularly good and with generous portions”.

“A wide range of typical Japanese dishes that have not been anglicised, including sushi that’s always fresh and well-prepared (with true tastes, unlike at the ubiquitous chains)”, helps inspire a big fan club for this “homely” chain. They are “not the grandest of places” – with service that’s “quick and efficient” rather than particularly charming – but it “always feels like you are eating in Japan” here; and “they get the job done with decent value for money”. They must be doing something right as they are “always packed” and there are “often queues out the door”. Top Tip – “the bento boxes are particularly good and with generous portions”.

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.

“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.

This “top-value Japanese for its quality, now happily doubled in size”, has drawn aficionados from across London to its Hampstead premises for decades, to sample sushi, yakitori and other delicacies. Guests can perch at sushi or grill bars where “you can watch the genuine article being prepared under your nose” – or sit at tables where “we were allowed to drink tea all afternoon when lunch just wasn’t long enough”.

“Wow! – How to describe the extraordinary gastronomic experience created by master sushi chef, Endo, and borne from his obsession with quality and refusal to compromise on even the tiniest detail?” Diners are blown away by Endo Kazutoshi’s 16-seater on the eighth floor of the old BBC TV Centre in White City, where he presents over 20 courses at the cost of £250 per person. “Every dish is an experience and the theatre of chef Endo’s entertaining presentation and explanations is a delight. It may seem like no bargain, especially if you take the (recommended) sake pairings, but it is nevertheless excellent value”. It closed for a five-month refurb over summer 2024 – “Good luck getting in here after the reopening!” Since 2020 it has been recognised by Michelin, but “we have no clue as to how this has just a single star, while Alain Ducasse for example has three!”

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.

This “excellent small sushi bar with no frills” near Turnham Green tube may look unprepossessing, but is above par for a local Japanese café.

“Lovely Japanese dishes in a charming minimalist room” win ongoing acclaim for Endo Kazutoshi’s Notting Hill venue (named for his Mum!), which is much more laid-back than his famous Endo at the Rotunda. Sushi is the mainstay of the menu produced by chef Christian Onia, but there are also a smattering of robata and gohan (rice) options. It has a mutedly stylish, café-like interior and an outside sunny-days terrace.

This “great little yakitori restaurant” near Stamford Brook station specialises in grilled Japanese skewers “cooked to order” as you watch, ideally from a perch at the counter. It’s a “simple local” spot, scoring well for authenticity.

“A wide range of typical Japanese dishes that have not been anglicised, including sushi that’s always fresh and well-prepared (with true tastes, unlike at the ubiquitous chains)”, helps inspire a big fan club for this “homely” chain. They are “not the grandest of places” – with service that’s “quick and efficient” rather than particularly charming – but it “always feels like you are eating in Japan” here; and “they get the job done with decent value for money”. They must be doing something right as they are “always packed” and there are “often queues out the door”. Top Tip – “the bento boxes are particularly good and with generous portions”.

“Excellent, innovative and delicious food” – a surprising Mexican/Japanese fusion dubbed ‘Baja-Nihon cuisine’ by its founder, restaurant entrepreneur Markus Thesleff – has made quite an impact at this “amazing” Notting Hill three-year-old (on the former site of famous chippy Geale’s, RIP), leading to the launch last year of a City branch with a huge rooftop terrace next to Liverpool Street station. Top Tip – “everything in this restaurant is gluten-free and suitable for coeliacs” (it’s also nut- and celery-free).

“A wide range of typical Japanese dishes that have not been anglicised, including sushi that’s always fresh and well-prepared (with true tastes, unlike at the ubiquitous chains)”, helps inspire a big fan club for this “homely” chain. They are “not the grandest of places” – with service that’s “quick and efficient” rather than particularly charming – but it “always feels like you are eating in Japan” here; and “they get the job done with decent value for money”. They must be doing something right as they are “always packed” and there are “often queues out the door”. Top Tip – “the bento boxes are particularly good and with generous portions”.

“The food is always spectacular”, say fans of these top-quality, low-profile Japanese restaurants, which we continue to list under their common brand even though the ownership of the business was split between the individual chefs who run them a few years ago. Reports remain almost indistinguishable between them, although SW3 under chef Masaki Sugisaki inspires more feedback and has more of a “neighbourhood gem” feeling than its W1 namesake, perhaps thanks to its “really cosy” setting off chichi Walton Street.

Traditional yakitori from a grill using charcoal created from Japanese oak is the speciality at this three-year-old restaurant towards the very north of Seymour Place, just before it hits the Marylebone Road. They know their way around a chicken here, with skewers from the thigh, neck, gizzard, heart, liver… Order à la carte, or there’s an omakase for £70 per person (and drinks pairings from £55 per person).

One of London’s original beacons of “modern Japanese sushi dining” to those in-the-know, Yasuhiro Minemo & Shinya Ikeda’s surprisingly under-the-radar venture has lit up a Kensington backstreet for 14 years – it can be “hard to find as it doesn’t look like a restaurant and the only sign is a blackboard, but it’s well worth it”. “Focused on quality ingredients and an authentic approach” – it’s far from inexpensive but consistently inspires “outstanding” feedback from its fans. It has spawned two offshoots: Ocean House in the old Brompton Library near South Kensington tube; and Sushi Kamon in Arcade Food Hall on Oxford Street.

“A showcase for good Japanese cuisine” – the first-floor restaurant in Kensington’s Japan House cultural centre wins particular praise for its “lovely Japanese afternoon tea”. Fans also say it’s “consistently excellent” for more substantial meals – with a “sake menu that’s worth a visit in its own right” – but it can also “feel expensive” for what is delivered.