Sticks'n'Sushi has been on my bucket list for quite some time, thanks to a great reputation and its claim that they're a sushi restaurant 'even for those who don't like fish'. As both a vegetarian and sushi-lover it can be hard to find restaurants that fit the bill, so I was eager to see if their menu lived up to this statement. And there was no better way to find out than visiting their new Islington location, found on Upper Street, which opened in September of 2024.
These venues are fames for combining Japanese cuisine with Danish interiors, created in 1994 by brothers Jens and Kim Rahbek and Thor Andersen. They've had quite the success story since then, with 13 destinations in London and many more across the country - as well as having become one of the most successful restaurant groups in Denmark.
All the Sticks'n'Sushi locations boast stylish Scandinavian surrounds.
DesignMyNight Review Of Sticks'n'Sushi Islington
We were welcomed in with a cry of 'Irasshaimase' from all the waiters, which we were told afterwards means 'welcome to the house', and is a standard greeting when you enter a business in Japan. The interiors here follow their usual pattern of sleek Scandinavian style, flaunting hanging metal lamps over modern wooden tables, casting a low, warm light over the contemporary space. We were led to a table in front of the open kitchen, though there was also an enticing bar area with counter-style seating available.
We spent a very long time browsing the menu, which provided helpful pictures of each dish, and there really was a lot to choose from. First things first though: cocktails. I chose the Japanese Spring Punch (£12.50), a tart blend of Bombay bramble gin, Chambord, yuzu and raspberry sencha cordial, topped up with prosecco. My boyfriend went for a Blackberry Mule (£13), a rum-based concoction featuring blackberry liqueur, mint and ginger beer.
There's all sorts to choose from on the Sticks'n'Sushi Islington menu.
To start, I enjoyed one of the more Danish-inspired bites on their menu - the Kinoko Korokke (£8.90). These were mushroom croquettes filled with Danish Red Krystal cheese and dusted with truffle, dipped in a miso aioli. This really kicked off my meal with a bang, providing a tangy flavour and gooey, cheesy texture - my only regret was that I didn't order a second portion of these. My partner tried the karaage (£10.80) instead, which he absolutely loved, encasing tender chicken in a crispy breadcrumb coating - finished with pickled red onion and wasabi Caesar dip.
After a reserved start, I will admit that we went a little over-the-top with the mains - though it's pretty difficult not to. They brought out the sushi first, and my personal favourite was the inari (£3), a fresh, taco-shaped parcel of tofu, ginger, rice and shiitake mushrooms. We also devoured an aka piman (£5 for two) each from the nigiri section, which was topped with grilled red pepper and yuzu-kosho, pairing very well with soy sauce.
Alongside these scrumptious bites was a four-piece of the red'n'green maki rolls (£12.50), combining roasted pepper, avocado and cucumber in a seaweed wrap. This had a lovely light flavour to it, much like the mamma mia uramaki (£9.50), made up of avocado, cucumber and chives, coated in a soya sesame exterior. Both options were delicious, but in hindsight they were quite similar so I'd advise ordering just one or the other.
Chocolate fondant and cookie crumble - that's a matcha made in heaven.
We obviously had to try some items from the 'sticks' section too, and we opted for the shishito yaki (£6.80 for two), chargrilled Padron peppers in a spicy gochujang, tsume and zesty lime sauce. Next was the imo yaki (£5.20 for two), which consisted of circular sweet potato discs served quite firm with a teriyaki drizzle. My partner also tucked into the shoyu tebasaki (£6.40 for two) - marinated chicken wings in garlic and soya sesame seeds, and we combined this all with a portion of fluffy white rice with a teriyaki dip (£3.90).
To end a truly fantastic meal, we ordered another round of the same cocktails (£25.50 for both), as well as a matcha dessert (£9.80). This was a rich dark chocolate fondant filled with a bright green, oozing matcha centre - served with vanilla ice cream and a matcha cookie crumble. Surprisingly the matcha flavour wasn't all that strong as the chocolate was so flavourful, but it was a combination that worked beautifully.
Sticks'n'Sushi: Overall
After much anticipation of my visit, the Sticks'n'Sushi menu certainly did not disappoint. The decor and atmosphere at their new Islington venue is similar to their other locations, but with its own unique charm that made us feel at home right away. It's the kind of place where it's almost impossible not to over-order, though we had no problem finishing it all, and I'd definitely recommend leaving room for that stunning matcha dessert.
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💰 Price: £132.80 for two, including two drinks each. 📍 Address: 77 Upper Street, London N1 0NU. 👌 Perfect for: Sharing, with a menu full of small plates. ⭐ Need to know: They also serve a number of reasonably priced set menus. |
For more great picks like Sticks'n'Sushi Islington, check our our guide to the capital's best sushi restaurants.
