Angel, Japanese Restaurant Guide

“Fresh, innovative sushi and sashimi” share billing with “fantastic wagyu beef cooked on stones”, according to fans of this “buzzy dining room”, which has moved from Islington to Fitzrovia in a reshuffle of ex-Zuma chef Padam Raj Rai’s restaurant portfolio. Even supporters feel “the voucher system – and the upsell when using the vouchers – can be annoying” though, while critics reckon “the food doesn’t live up to the hype, hence the constant discounted offers”.

“Proper Kyushu-style ramen with a thick, silky broth” is the secret behind this small London noodle chain from former pro cyclist Kazuhiro Kanada. “Especially great on a typical cold, rainy London day”, it’s “a go-to for a quick, cheap and (relatively) healthy supper in town” (“I’ve stopped for ramen at all the main chains and a few indies, and for my money this is the very best bowl at a great price”). The sixth branch opened in summer 2024 at Westfield Shepherd’s Bush.

“An amazing variety of small, tasty and unusual combination dishes served in a very cool environment” continues to win a thumbs up – if from a tiny fan club – for this Israeli-Japanese one-year-old in the shiny new Islington Square development.

2021 Review: “Not the most attractive area” – the traffic arteries south of King’s Cross station – “but the food in this outwardly fairly nondescript-looking restaurant is fabulous”, and this makes a very handy and good value Vietnamese refuelling spot.

2023 Review: Kaz Tateishi’s “conscientious and consistent” (and therefore very Japanese) sushi shop with eat-in seats is tucked away in Islington’s cute Camden Passage. A meal here (or taken away in a box) “always feels like money well spent”. There is now a second outlet in Shoreditch.