National Sushi Day: The Best Restaurants In London To Maki You Happy
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1 month ago
National Sushi Day is 18 June – here’s where to find the best rolls in town
When sushi first arrived in London, in the 70s alongside affluent Japanese businessmen, it was treated as an expensive novelty (and with suspicion: the British population, about to enter the aspic-80s, weren’t so sure about raw fish). The scene has evolved enormously since and today, authenticity is the main item on the menu, as well as exciting fusion cuisine that turns the dial on how we think about nigiri; London is comfortably one of the best places in the world to find great sushi. But where to go? Hint: it’s not Yo!Sushi. We’ve sorted the wheat from the chaff to bring you a definitive list of the very best in the capital. Whether it’s the big fish names or small fry secrets, innovative fusion or traditional Japanese, there’s a spot for you in our list of the best sushi restaurants in London.
Where To Find London’s Best Sushi
The Araki
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At one time, there were only ten restaurants in the whole of the UK that hold three Michelin stars, and The Araki was one of them. It was a shock in 2020 when the restaurant lost all of its stars – probably a result of its head chef Mitsuhiro Araki returning to Japan. But don’t let this deter you. Marty Lau is currently at the helm of the kitchen after many years training alongside Araki himself, and with seats for only nine people, snagging a reservation here remains no mean feat. In its intimate setting you’ll watch in awe as the kitchen expertly prepares the raw stuff right in front of your eyes with exceptional precision. In terms of dishes, ordering here is fairly simple given that there’s only one set menu (of a staggering 15-to-17 courses) available – but we urge you to trust in it. At around £400 a head, you’re looking at an undeniably expensive bill, plus that long waiting list, but for sushi fanatics and restaurant connoisseurs, The Araki is a bucket list spot you have to tick off. – Ellie Smith
Address: Unit 4, 12 New Burlington St, London W1S 3BF, the-araki.co.uk
UNI
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Ask for one of the curtain-clad booths when you visit UNI – with low-lighting and all that velvet, it’s undeniably decadent and sexy: the perfect date-spot. But this Japanese restaurant in Belgravia is well worth the visit for more than its sex appeal; it boasts a fun contemporary-fusion menu. It’s nominally Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian), but draws occasionally from all around the world – UNI is, for example, an excellent place to discover what a formidable duo parmesan and wasabi make (thanks to its wasabi caesar salad with gnocchi and candied walnuts). And as for its sushi and hand-rolls? Expect exceptional grade cuts and seafood on the menu, including Chu-Toro and sea urchin (from which it takes its name). – Tessa Dunthorne
Address: 18a Ebury Street, Belgravia London SW1W 0LU
Tobi Masa At The Chancery Rosewood
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It looks like pasta. It tastes like pasta. And it’s made entirely from fish. The Masa Pasta is just one of many spellbinding courses in Tobi Masa’s new Omakase offering at The Chancery Rosewood. Here, seven exclusive seats are treated to a front-row view of the sushi-making experience, as chefs offer up a mesmerising dance of fish-slicing and rice rolling. You will be guided through their craft, learning how the tuna here is cut differently to your average sushi joint, and discovering why the meat that is usually discarded will make an appearance on your plate later than evening. The food is, frankly, exceptional, with fatty clouds of fish that melt in the mouth and exacting levels of wasabi that serve-up a perfectly powerful punch. The staff, meanwhile, are equipped with a keener-than-average eye, topping up whatever you need before you even know you needed it. – Isabel Dempsey
Address: 30 Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, W1K, London, rosewoodhotels.com
Dinings SW3
Helmed by the quiet genius Masaki Sugisaki, Dinings SW3 is a shining light in the constellation of London sushi restaurants. Everything in this Knightsbridge restaurant is thoughtfully and warmly done, from the elegant, low-key interior to the charming, unassuming staff to the sleek table settings – and that’s before you even get to the food.
Styled as a modern interpretation of a traditional izayaka (an informal Japanese bar that serves drinks and snacks) Dinings SW3 serves up seasonal sushi and sashimi using the freshest seafood from Cornish day boats, as well as a menu of select dishes like delicious hand-dived scallops, moreish wagyu beef and potted lobster served in an unctuous buttery sauce. To wash it all down are unusual wines from around the world, as well as the usual crowd-pleasers, plus the restaurant’s signature cocktails, which are bespoke takes on classic drinks. Try the Dinings SW3 Negroni, with Roku gin, ginger, Campari, nori seaweed and blended Mancino vermouth.
An evening at Dinings SW3 is always an evening well spent – but be warned, you might just be tempted to order everything on the menu. –ES
Address: Walton House, Lennox Gardens Mews, Walton St, London SW3 2JH, diningssw3.co.uk
Los Mochis
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Let me deeply overshare: I was dumped by an ex-boyfriend the night I took him to Los Mochis’ original Notting Hill spot. And yet the restaurant still holds a special place in my heart. Though the Baja-Nihon menu is located just two minutes from Notting Hill Gate station, and thus one of the busiest tourist tracks in London, it still has a ‘hidden’ feel to it. Interiors are vibrant – Mexican artist Jorge Tellaeche contributed the colourful murals – but the terrace is the spot you really want for the summer, and, given this restaurant has the second largest tequila collection in Europe, it’d simply be rude not to sit here and sample the frozen palomas. The menu offers a fresh take on the Japanese staple food with a pan-pacific reinterpretation (think shrimp tempura maki rolls stuffed with spicy aioli, et al). The menu has a secret, too: each dish is gluten and nut-free, making it perfect for the coeliacs in your life. A restaurant to cherish, but maybe bring mates over dates. – TD
Address: 2-4 Farmer St, London W8 7SN, losmochis.co.uk
UMU
Forgoing the theatrical bells and whistles found at London’s more name-checked Japanese establishments, Umu favours a more refined, less Westernized cuisine that won it a Michelin star within months of opening. Around 70 per cent of the fish served is British, and such is chef Yoshi’s dedication to the highest quality produce that he personally trained Cornish fishermen in the ikejime method of killing and preserving fish to ensure it met his exacting standards – order the mixed sashimi and you’ll taste the difference. But it’s not all about the sushi – the seasonal kaiseki tasting menu takes you on a journey of elegant, traditional and previously unheard-of dishes, with many of the top contenders being fully vegetarian. – ES
Address: 14-16 Bruton Place, Mayfair, London W1J 6LX, umurestaurant.com
NOBU Hotel London Portman Square
Few names are as recognisable in the restaurant (and now hotel) world as Nobu, and it’s one that lives up to its reputation. The chef’s Peruvian-Japanese dishes are raved about the world over; rap songs, Trip Advisor, and movies included. It may be cliched but don’t leave without sampling the restaurant’s beloved Black Cod Miso, or the soft shell crab roll and the ‘New Style’ sashimi you’ll see on the menu. – ES
Address: 22 Portman Square, London W1H 7BG, noburestaurants.com
Zuma
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Just a few moments from Harrods is one of London’s most acclaimed Japanese restaurants, Zuma, which is a suitably glamorous neighbour. The restaurant itself is vast, with a sushi counter, robata grill and sparkly sake bar, and always full to the brim with a mix of stylish locals, discerning fans of Japanese cuisine, and high-end shoppers dressed head-to-toe in designer clothing, all drawn by Zuma’s globally excellent reputation (there are over 20 other restaurants worldwide). Having tried it ourselves, we can confirm that the hype is strongly rooted in fact – the menu features modern yet authentic dishes which will equally satisfy the guest looking for a recognisable Instagram post as the one on a real foodie pilgrimage. Once you’ve resigned yourself to the fact that a meal here will be pricey, you may as well go all out on the menu – so order the seared wagyu with truffle, fatty tuna with chilli, coriander and sesame, mixed sushi and sashimi (trust the house on this one), spicy beef tenderloin and finish with the classic Zuma melt-in-the-middle chocolate cake. Don’t skip the cocktails. – ES
Address: 5 Raphael St, London SW7 1DL, zumarestaurant.com
How We Curated This List: The C&TH Food & Drink Promise
From Michelin-starred dining rooms to hidden neighbourhood gems, the C&TH team is dedicated to guiding you to the best culinary experiences. Our editorial independence is paramount. While our editors and writers occasionally accept press invitations to review a menu, nobody pays to be featured in our guides – nor will we include anything that doesn’t meet our editorial standards. On those occasions, we will typically give feedback to the restaurant on exactly why we couldn’t include them. Whether a restaurant has been rigorously tested by our team on the ground, or included for its undeniable industry reputation and exceptional chef credentials, we only ever recommend places that will be worth your time and money.
