Mid Range — Best Japanese in London

Start with

12 Pieces of Omakase Nigiri

Critics describe this as '£33 well spent', featuring 'unctuous scallop' and 'delicately fatty chutoro' on rice that is 'still just warm' and 'lightly vinegared'.

Start with

Omakase Sushi

The restaurant is owned by fish wholesalers, ensuring exceptional quality; critics highlight the sea bream as a 'benchmark' and appreciate the use of freshly grated wasabi.

Start with

Chicken and Spring Onion Skewer

Universally praised as a 'jubilation' of charred, juicy thighs that 'practically burst in the mouth' and offer the savoury goodness one craves when 'teetering on tipsy.'

Start with

Udon with Aubergine

Described as a 'really nice bowl to chew and slurp on,' this dish features gooey aubergine slices and puffed tofu in a 'gentle but umami-rich' soy-based broth.

Start with

Abura Soba

Reviewers praise this 'soupless ramen' for its 'thick, bouncy ramen noodles' served on a 'sesame-oil based tare.' Time Out notes it is a 'unique variation' worth 'ticking off your list at least once.'

Start with

Smoked mackerel with fresh herbs and leaves on a bed of udon with a sensationally good sauce

A cold dish that was 'so vividly flavoured, and yet also so fresh and (thanks to the veg) so sharply green-tasting, that it added up to a perfect winter cheerer-up.' The noodles had 'a mystifying depth of flavour and a perfect texture'.

Start with

Zanmai Chirashi

A 'visually stunning' bowl described as having a 'superb' taste; it features high-quality ingredients including snow crab, scallop, yellowtail, and marinated mackerel on mixed vegetable sushi rice.

Start with

Beef Atsu-Atsu

The tender brisket and perfectly balanced hot broth make this a comforting, benchmark bowl for first-timers.

Start with

Matsumae sushi

Mugen's signature dish features rich, fatty Norwegian mackerel cured overnight with vinegar and topped with a layer of transparent konbu seaweed.

Start with

Kinoko Udon

A staple choice featuring 'famed handmade udon' in a deep, nutty mushroom broth. Foodism notes that as soon as these noodles slide in front of you, you'll feel like it's just you and the bowl.

Start with

Spider Roll

Called the 'must have dish,' this roll combines soft shell crab, avocado, and fish roe with a touch of spicy sauce for what critics call the 'ultimate sushi roll.'

Start with

Fatty Tuna Nigiri

Praised for 'excellent quality fish' that reviewers claim rivals 'proper omakase counter places' costing well over £100 per head.

Start with

English Breakfast Udon

The restaurant's iconic dish, tweaked here into a 'kamatama style' where the heat of the noodles 'cooks' a raw egg yolk into a sauce, accompanied by bacon and mushrooms—critics warn 'don't call it a Japanese carbonara'.

Start with

Creamy Miso Ramen

Reviewers describe the broth as rich, thick, and velvety, noting that the addition of tofu skin elevates the deep umami flavor.

Start with

Pork Katsu

Described as a 'perfect marriage of pork, batter, and evenly applied panko,' this dish features a crispy outer layer and soft panko flakes that melt in your mouth.

Start with

Nigiri & Sashimi

Reviewers highlight the 'finest cuts of fish' that 'just melt in your mouth.' The tuna is specifically praised for being 'identifiably-fresh' rather than a 'mayonnaise-chili-mash' found elsewhere.

Start with

Tonkotsu Ramen

Regarded by critics as the 'best Tonkotsu ramen in the UK,' this 'original, safe-bet' 18-hour bone broth is 'gloriously rich, milky, and salty.' Experts recommend ordering the noodles 'hard' to ensure the 'right amount of bite' for an authentic experience.

Start with

Sushi

Described as 'generous' and one of the 'classics of the cuisine,' this is a reliable staple at what critics call a 'tip-top Japanese' spot.

Start with

Chicken Katsu Curry

Identified as a staple of this small chain, combining two of the restaurant's namesake menu items.

Start with

Five Course Set Menu

Described as an 'incredibly reasonable price for the number of courses and quality of ingredients,' it is the best way to experience the restaurant's 'Wakon yōsai' (Japanese spirit with Western learnings) philosophy.

Start with

Chicken Nanban

Consistently identified as the standout dish on the menu in reviewer feedback.

Start with

Chicken Katsu Curry

Described as delightfully crisp and solid across multiple reviews, this is the reliable anchor of the hot menu.

Start with

Chirashi Bowl

Carved right in front of you with a generous mix of high-quality fish including akami, chutoro, and hot eel; hits everything you want from a lunchtime chirashi.

Start with

Horenso Salad

Deep-fried rock shrimp covered in a spicy mayo dressing on baby spinach—an essential way to start your meal.

Start with

Full Bento

A standout choice that 'actually tastes of Japan' rather than an 'out of a box formula', featuring 'warm and seasoned' rice and high-quality fish like wild seabass or salmon.

Start with

Miso Ramen

The critics' favorite: a delicate pork and chicken broth topped with chewy chashu and bamboo shoots.

Start with

Yang Yum Chicken

Medium size Korean crispy fried chicken in a sticky gochichang sauce that is so decadent that 'fingers are required' and you'll need plenty of kitchen paper.

Start with

Spider Roll

Explicitly recommended 'in particular' as good quality, fresh, and tasty.

Start with

Prawn Tempura

Described by Tom Parker Bowles as 'gossamer-light' and the 'best I’ve eaten for months,' serving as a highlight in an otherwise mediocre menu.

Start with

Kaisen Don

The consensus favorite; a bowl of fresh sashimi over perfectly vinegared rice that reviewers claim rivals dining in Japan.