If you love Japanese food, you’ve probably found yourself Googling 'what is omakase' before. Loosely translating to ‘I’ll leave it to you’, the style of dining allows the chef to take control of the entire menu from start to finish. And lucky for you, your city serves up some top-tier experiences – we’re talking sky-high haunts serving over 20-course meals to quaint hideaways slinging out the freshest sushi and chicken skewers. So go ahead, read on as you find out some of the best places for omakase in London.
Bloomsbury Street Kitchen
Boasting Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine, Bloomsbury Street Kitchen has
one of the best omakase in London on their tasting menus. Book a
seat at the Kitchen Table, where you’ll be able to watch the chef
whip up some of the finest eats for up to eight people at a time –
we mean everything from yellowfin tuna sashimi ribbons to seared
beef gyoza tacos and crispy king prawns with wasabi mayonnaise. The
great atmosphere here is added to by live DJs playing while you eat
on weekends, and you can try a selection of fruity, elegant
cocktails to pair with your meal.
The omakase
dinner menu is just a luxe as Bloombury Street Kitchen's
interiors.
Mayha
This restaurant was once found in Lebanon, having moved to Marylebone in 2020. But make no mistake, the dishes at Mayha are authentically Japanese, thanks to chefs Yuichi Nakaya and Jurek Wasio. Take a seat at their 11-seater wooden counter for multiple courses of carefully crafted sushi, available for lunch from 12 'til 2.30pm and dinner at 6 or 8.30pm. Prices start from £100 per person, and you can even enjoy creative concoctions afterwards in their stylish cocktail bar downstairs.
The cocktails are just as enticing as the sushi here.
Junsei
If you’re a fan of chicken, then this next one will surely wet your whistle. Located in Marylebone, Junsei is a yakitori restaurant that embraces a zero-waste approach to cooking by serving over 20 different variations of chicken parts. Decked out with Japanese artwork and sleek leather seats, the venue is great for intimate date nights and anniversaries. And to make your evening more special, nab a cocktail on their menu – the passionfruit margarita is especially refreshing. Their omakase offering will set you back just £70 per person, with dishes like crispy chicken skin and tofu marinated in ginger up for grabs.
At £70 per head, Junsei has some of the best affordable omakase in London.
Cubé
Situated in Mayfair, Cubé is hands down one of London’s best restaurants with omakase menus. With a namesake meaning ‘a place where one's heart can rest’, it’s no wonder why the Japanese eatery is a must-visit for date night. Quaint and stylish and spanning across two floors, the venue fronts two sushi bars with room for six diners at a time. You can enjoy omakase at all times of day for between £35 and £93 per person, with delicious lunch and dinner menus chosen by the chef, as well as an exclusive sushi course. Expect to be wowed by the freshest fish – think sea urchin roe, slabs of salmon sashimi and plump scallops.
For omakase in Mayfair, Cube is your spot.
Nobu
For omakase in London by Michelin-starred restaurants, make your way to one of Nobu's venues. These swish destinations promise beautiful bites for as little as £75 per person – we mean the likes of tuna tataki sashimi, umami Chilean sea bass and lobster wasabi pepper. There are a number of different options to choose from, and if you fancy pushing the boat out then be sure to try their premium menu. And if you visit their Shoreditch location? Then wash it all down with a cocktail or two at NAMI Bar afterwards.
Nobu is one of the more so-fish-ticated places on our list.
Taku
Founder of the Michelin Star restaurant Jin Paris, Takuya Watanbe is doing equally impressive things in London with Taku, located in Mayfair. This stylish spot is filled with simple wooden benches and dark walls, letting the food be the star of the show. There are three different omakase menus to choose from, a lunch offering that costs £160 for 17 courses and both signature and premium dinner options that consist of 20 dishes, setting you back £300 and £400 respectively. All of these menus feature seasonal ingredients, with the exact items changing on a daily basis.
You can count on eating only the freshest food at Taku.
Maru
A visit to Maru promises some of the best Japanese eats whipped up by chefs Yasuhiro Ochiai and Taiji Maruyama. And if you’ve got an empty stomach or you're a huge foodie, the restaurant features a 21-course omakase-tasting menu from Tuesday to Saturday. For £210, the luxe meal showcases British ingredients in a unique aesthetic using classic Japanese training and techniques. You can also try a smaller sushi selection for £160 person, if you can't quite manage all that. And the best part? You'll have a front-row seat as chef works his magic.
Take a seat at the chef's table and get ready to be wined and dined.
Sushi Atelier
Moments away from Oxford Circus, Sushi Atelier slings out delicious Japanese-style ceviche and indulgent wagyu sliders. But did you know this destination also has a killer omakase menu? You can choose from a chef-picked selection of six, nine or ten sushi rolls, while pairing your experience with a premium sake or one of their bespoke cocktails. This is also one of the most affordable omakase restaurants in the city, as their mystery sushi sets start from just £36 per person.
Gorgeous sashimi slices and cocktails make Sushi Atelier's offering one of the best omakase menus in London.
Endo At Rotunda
With a Michelin star under its belt, Endo At Rotunda has two omakase sittings in the evning, as well as a special 15-course lunch offering on Saturdays. Located on the top floor of the Television Centre, the White City restaurant boasts some of the prettiest views of west London with the decor to match - we're talking a lit-up cloud fixture that hangs above a 200-year-old wooden counter. For £250, you and your pals can scarf down 20 courses, all of which are whipped up by chef Endo Kazutoshi.
An omakase London restaurant with a view? Yes please.
May Fair Kitchen
The May Fair Kitchen and Bar can be found in the stylish hotel of the same name, located just minutes away from Green Park station. The sophisticated venue is decked out in silver furnishings, boasting shelves stocked with premium spirits that are used to whip up their appealing cocktail menu. You can choose between a traditional or vegetarian omakase menu, both of which cost £85 per person, featuring six courses of authentic Japanese cuisine prepared by expert chefs. And if you fancy something more exclusive, they've got multiple private dining options here as well.
The dishes are just as elegant as the surrounds at this exclusive Mayfair destination.
Kurisu
On the hunt for hidden gems? Housed inside Ichiban Sushi Brixton, Kurisu is a one-of-a-kind experience. Serving only eight people at a time at the counter, with two sittings per day at 6pm and 8:30pm, the family-owned restaurant offers an omakase menu for £155. They use the freshest ingredients to hand, creating a menu that changes on a daily basis. And guess what? There are 18 glorious courses per person. If you're lucky, you'll get to try the cuttlefish or scallops (or both) - they're sublime.
Kurisu’s omakase menu is absolutely
unmissable.
Roji
With husband and wife duo Tamas Naszai and Tomoko Hasegawa at the helm of this joint, Roji highlights a brilliant omakase menu. Fronting minimalistic décor and Japanese counters, the Molten Street dining den is ideal for catch-ups with friends. Their two dinner sittings are at 6 and 8:30pm, coming in at £195 per person for eight courses, or £290 with an added wine pairing. Nibble on homemade tofu, hand-dived scallops with seaweed and other sushi bites as you sip on a wide range of vino or sake here.
Gather round for dinner and show at Roji London.
Sushi Kanesaka
This elegant eatery can be found on Park Lane, tucked away behind a discreet doorway. Sushi Kanesaka is a Michelin-starred dining experience prepared by the renowned sushi chef Shinji Kanesaka and his team from Tokyo, coming in at £420 for 17 gourmet courses. This secluded spot is perfect for a sophisticated night out with some of the best fine dining this city has to offer, available at either a 6pm or an 8:30pm sitting. The menu changes on a daily basis depending on the ingredients to hand, but sample dishes include Cornish king crab with beluga caviar and miso shiru with chives.
Though it's a little on the pricier side, you won't find a more lovingly prepared menu.
The Araki
The Araki are so committed to omakase that it's all they do. Sushi master Mitsuhiro Araki opened this restaurant in 2014, after the success of his three Michelin star venue in Tokyo. He's brought the art of 'edomae sushi' to London - a traditional method of preparation that's been around for 240 years - working with local ingredients to create a stunning seasonal meal. Their set offering costs £310 per person, with one menu of exclusively fish-based dishes to suit all.
Tuck into some of the best omakase London's Soho has to offer at The Araki.
Engawa
You can choose between three or five-course omakase menus at Engawa, with both sushi and wagyu options available. This swish eatery can be found in Soho's Ham Yard Village, with simple yet stylish decor to enjoy your Japanese dishes in. You'll begin with a special appetizer that changes daily, before a sashimi course of 11 mini bites and a sumptuous main course, with a tasty dessert included in their larger menu. Prices start from £90 per person, with the option to add on sake or wine pairings chosen by the sommelier.
You'll find some of the best omakase sushi in London at Engawa.
Sushi on Jones
Found on the Goods Way food court in King's Cross, Sushi on Jones offers 45-minute omakase sessions that include 12 delicious courses. Head Chef Mattia has expertly crafted a menu to showcase the very best that this restaurant has to offer, from juicy seared wagyu to fresh cuts of fish, all of which is hand-selected on the day. The experience caters for groups of two to eight guests at a time, with plenty of Japanese sake, whiskey, beer and tea up for grabs too.
As their name suggests, these guys know their stuff when it comes to sushi.
Sushi Kamon at Arcade Food Hall
With venues in Soho and at Battersea Power Station, Sushi Kamon is making its mark at Arcade Food Hall. The term Kamon refers to ancestral Japanese trademarks displayed in family homes, demonstrating the traditional nature of this restaurant, brought to you by the founders of Yashin Sushi. Their affordable omakase menu costs just £45 per person for a 45-minute session, available for up to eight guests with three different evening time slots. Expect small plates of tuna maki rolls, tempura prawns and more, all prepared in front of you.
With two different locations to choose from, there's no excuse not to try Sushi Kamon.
Los Mochis
Nestled inside their Notting Hill venue, Los Mochis are hiding one of the most intimate omakase offerings in the city. Their Juno experience involves an exclusive private room for up to six people at a time, with a central wooden table to dine on. Their £180 menu focuses on Japanese delicacies with an innovative Mexican twist, with 15 inventive courses to get stuck into - all created by Executive Chef Leonard Tanyag. To top it all off, you can also nab wine, sake or agave pairings from the expert sommelier.
Los Mochis offers a spicy twist on traditional Japanese dishes.
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