Japanese

  • Mayha omakase restaurant comes to Marylebone via Beirut

    Mayha omakase restaurant comes to Marylebone via Beirut

    New omakase restaurants are quite the trend in London at the moment. Recently, we've seen the openings of Roketsu and Roji and now comes Mayha, an omakase restaurant that first opened in The Middle East.

    It's from the Nothing But Love group, which started in Lebanon and who now have a number of restaurants in the Middle East alongside Mayha, including Meat the Fish, Maryool, and The

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  • Test Driving Roji - an omakase hideaway in Mayfair

    nigiri1

    Top Japanese restaurant Chisou has opened a tiny (but beautiful) omakase restaurant called Roji next door. We went down to try out the experience.  

  • Shoryu Ramen and Sticks'n'Sushi pick West London for their next openings

    shoryu kensington high street

    West Londoners who love Japanese food have something to cheer about this autumn. Two Japanese restaurant groups, Shoryu Ramen and Sticks'n'Sushi, are opening new branches in Kensington and Westfield London respectively.

    Shoryu's new Kensington High Street branch will have room for 70 ramen slurpers in a room that mixes counter dining and mini dining pods. There'll be a separate bar are for sake cocktails and

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  • Cult Japanese brand Lemonade by Lemonica is popping up in Soho

    lemonade by lemonica pop up london

    When life gives you a heatwave, go in search of lemonade. It looks as if cult Japanese brand Lemonade by Lemonica has chosen pretty much the perfect time to launch its first UK pop up shop, which opened over the weekend in Soho.

    Originally from Kanazawa, the idea is that each glass of lemonade is made to order. In London the options will be their original lemonade, matcha lemonade, and fruity lemonades

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  • Manga Banga takes over from Firebrand on Lisson Grove

    manga banga lisson grove

    London's restaurant scene is a tough old business. Barely a week after Firebrand Pizza finished their last service after six years on Lisson Grove comes the news that a new Japanese restaurant will be taking their place.

    Manga Banga is going to be a Japanese izakaya-style spot inspired by Manga and serving up a menu of snacks, bao, gyoza and small plates, including:

    • Sticky wagyu short rib
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  • Anime-themed restaurant Uzumaki is heading to Bloomsbury

    uzumaki anime restaurant off tottenham court road

    Last year you may have spotted the arrival of London's first anime-themed ramen restaurant, Uzumaki. It popped up on High Holborn serving a selection of ramen, sushi and bubble team in a Naruto-themed restaurant. And when we say anime themed, we really mean anime-all-in because the restaurant became known for its cosplay and ramen promotions where customers were encouraged to turn up dressed as their

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  • Ichiba opens a sake and oyster bar at Westfield London

    sake and oyster bar ichiba westfield

    If your idea of a good shopping trip is one interspersed with multiple pitstops to eat and drink, then Ichiba's new addition at Westfield London is worthy of note.

    Japan Centre Ichiba recently opened a sake and oyster bar at its food hall there. On offer you 'll find over 20 sakes to choose from which they're serving up with fresh Jersey oysters. You'll get two for a fiver served with ponzu sauce to go with your

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  • Flesh & Buns head to Kensington for their latest restaurant

    flesh and buns kensington london

    25/2/22 - updated with launch details

    Flesh & Buns are heading west for their third restaurant, opening up their latest just off High Street Kensington. Taking over what was previously Sticky Fingers on Phillimore Gardens, the new site will be their biggest yet and will offer Flesh & Buns’ usual Japanese izakaya and Nikkei-inspired dishes, along with whisky, sake, and beers for the full

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  • Test Driving Dai Chi - deep-fried skewer action in Soho

    steak

    The people behind Dalston's Angelina have come to Soho with Dai Chi, a restaurant that's all about deep-fried skewers. We went down to try it out. 

  • Fuwa Fuwa bring their Japanese soufflé pancakes to Soho

    fuwa fuwa soho london

    If you're on Food Tok you'll know that Japanese souffle pancakes are A Big Thing. There are countless videos of the fluffy delights being flipped on the grill before being topped with all manner of sweet delights.

    There are two big players right now on the scene, Hefaure in Chinatown and Fuwa Fuwa at the Brunswick Centre. And now Fuwa Fuwa has moved into town, having opened their second store in the heart of Soho just a few weeks

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  • Hot Stone relaunches in Fitzrovia as RAI and it's all about omakase

    Hot Stone relaunches in Fitzrovia as RAI and it's all about omakase

    Mid-pandemic, Hot Stone launched their second restaurant in Fitzrovia - but now it's getting a relaunch as a completely new restaurant called RAI.

    Still led by their Executive Chef Padam Raj, It'll be a full omakase-style tasting menu affair, combining primarily Japanese and British ingredients. Particular attention is being paid to high-grade sourcing from Japan,

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  • Daisuke Hayashi is opening Roketsu Kaiseki restaurant in Marylebone

    Daisuke Hayashi to preview Roketsu restaurant at Brown's Hotel

    22/11/21 - updated with the opening date

    After previewing the restaurant in a residency at Brown's, chef Daisuke Hayashi is getting ready to open Roketsu in Marylebone.

    Hayashi came to London after training at the Kikunoi Ryotei restaurant in Kyoto and as a protege of seven-Michelin-starred chef Yoshihiro Murata. He has since been

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  • Dai Chi sees the Angelina team deep frying skewers in Soho

    Dai Chi sees the Angelina team deep frying skewers in Soho

    A Hot Dinners exclusive

    The people behind Angelina are getting ready to launch something a bit different in Soho. It's taking over the spot they previously opened as the bar Golden Gai, which is now going to be transformed and relaunched as their second restaurant - Dai Chi.

    Dai Chi will be all about bringing Osaka's kushikatsu dining to Soho (that's kushi for

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  • Yatay is a new Japanese grill restaurant for Soho

    Yatay is a new Japanese grill restaurant for Soho

    Taking the place of Ichibuns in Chinatown, Yatay is a new Japanese robatayaki grill restaurant, inspired by the izakayas and street vendors of Tokyo (indeed, ‘Yatay’ is a reference to those very street vendors).

    In addition to the aforementioned grilling, pickling and fermenting will be a big thing on the menu by Head Chef Marco Ardemagni, who comes from Sushisamba. That

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  • Katsute100 Japanese tea room arrives on Brick Lane

    katsute100 brick lane

    7/6/21 - amended with new opening date

    Islington's Japanese tea room Katsute100 is on the move - they're opening a second tea room, this time in Shoreditch.

    So, if you're on Brick Lane and suddenly get a craving for green tea and matcha crepe cake, this'll be the place to come. The new tea room and cafe will offer the same menu as their original Camden Passage space, so think fruit katsu sandos, nerikiri

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